The Forty Niner Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and older run over a distance of one mile (8 furlongs) on the dirt held annually in late October at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event offers a purse of $175,000.

History

The event was originally named the Kelso Handicap in honor of Kelso, Allaire du Pont's five-time winner of American Horse of the Year honors. Kelso won the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park five times (1960–1964) consecutively at the then distance of 2 miles on the dirt. Fittingly NYRA scheduled the inaugural running of the Kelso Handicap over two miles at Aqueduct on 23 October 1980. At the time the event was the only $100,000 two mile event on the dirt in the US. The former claimer Peat Moss won the inaugural event as a 24-1 longshot in a time of 3:24. Peat Moss would repeat his winning ways the following year carrying a high-weight of 126 pounds. The 1982 running would be the last time the event would be held at the marathon distance. In 1983 the event was not held.

On 20 October 1984 the event was renewed as a miles turf race on an all stakes card at Belmont Park which included the Jockey Club Gold Cup inheriting the classification status of Grade III from the Brighton Beach Handicap which became defunct with its last race on 24 August 1983.

In 1988 the event was shortened to one mile.

In 1997 the event was upgraded to Grade II. In 2009, it had been originally being scheduled for turf before being moved to the main track due to extremely heavy rain the day before and consequently was down graded to Grade III. In 2010 the event was moved to the main dirt track.

Of the more notable winners of the event is Lure. Lure ran in the event three times winning in 1993 and finishing second twice in 1992 and 1994. In 1992 although finishing second as a three-year-old later that year he went on to win the Breeders' Cup Mile. In 1993 after winning this event he followed up in his next start winning the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita Park. In 1994 Lure just failed to win the event, beaten by a nose carrying 128 pounds and giving 14 pounds to the winner Nijinsky's Gold in a thrilling stretch battle.

The event in 2022 was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park. The event was moved to late October and the conditions of the changed from a handicap to a stakes allowance.

In 2023 NYRA renamed the event to the Forty Niner Stakes after the late stallion Forty Niner, a winner of several NYRA Grade 1 stakes. Saratoga Race Course's Forbidden Apple Stakes was in turn renamed to the Kelso Stakes.

In 2025 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Grade III status.

Records Speed record: 1 mile (dirt) 1:32.90 – Anchor Down (2016) 1 mile (turf) 1:32.07 – Ashkal Way (2006) miles (turf) – 2:01.20 – Who's For Dinner (1984) 2 miles (dirt) – 3:20.80 Peat Moss (1981)

Margins: 5 lengths – Tizway (2010)

Most wins: 2 – Peat Moss (1980, 1981) 2 – I'm a Banker (1985, 1986) 2 – Forbidden Apple (2000, 2001)

Most wins by an owner: 2 – Murray M. Garren (1980, 1981) 2 – Godolphin Racing (1986, 1987) 2 – Arthur I. Appleton (2000, 2001) 2 – Klaravich Stables (2018, 2020)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 – Javier Castellano (2007, 2008, 2012, 2016)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 – Todd A. Pletcher (2011, 2013, 2016, 2021)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Aqueduct – Forty Niner Stakes2025Bishops Bay 5Flavien PratBrad H. CoxSpendthrift Farm, Steve Landers, Martin S. Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing, Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing, Rick Kanter, Michael J. Caruso & WinStar Farm1 mile1:35.31$169,750III2024Coastal Mission 5Arnaldo BocachicaJeff C. RuncoJeff C. Runco1 mile1:36.10$250,000II20233Cristian A. TorresBrad H. CoxQatar Racing1 mile1:35.32$310,538II Kelso Handicap2022Double Crown5J. D. AcostaNorman L. CashLola Cash & Lynn Cash1 mile1:37.16 $300,000IIAt Belmont Park 2021 Life Is Good 3 Irad Ortiz Jr. Todd A. PletcherWinStar Farm & China Horse Club1 mile 1:34.37 $279,000II2020Complexity 4Jose L. OrtizChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables1 mile1:33.82$139,500II2019Pat On the Back5Dylan DavisJeremiah C. EnglehartHarold Lerner, AWC Stables & Nehoc Stables1 mile1:33.97$300,000II2018Patternrecognition5Tyler GaffalioneChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables & William H. Lawrence1 mile1:34.16$300,000II2017Sharp Azteca4Paco LopezJorge NavarroIvan Rodriguez1 mile1:34.12$300,000II2016Anchor Down5Javier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherAlto Racing1 mile1:32.90$343,000II2015Appealing Tale5Joseph TalamoPeter L. MillerGary Barber1 mile1:34.86$400,000II2014Vyjack4Irad Ortiz Jr.Rudy R. RodriguezPick Six Racing1 mile1:34.05$400,000II2013Graydar4Edgar S. PradoTodd A. PletcherTwin Creeks Racing Stable 1 mile1:34.08$400,000II2012Jersey Town6Javier CastellanoBarclay TaggCharles E. Fipke1 mile1:35.24$400,000II2011Uncle Mo3John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherRepole Stable1 mile1:33.82$190,000II2010Tizway5Rajiv MaraghH. James BondWilliam L. Clifton Jr.1 mile1:34.42$250,000II2009Le Grand Cru4Jose LezcanoH. Allen JerkensJudson Streicher1 mile1:37.36$225,000III2008Tam Lin (GB)5Javier CastellanoSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin Racing1 mile1:39.13$248,000II2007Trippi's Storm4Javier CastellanoStanley M. HoughE. Paul Robsham Stables1 mile1:32.36$249,200II2006Ashkal Way (IRE)5Michael J. LuzziSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin Racing1 mile1:32.07$250,000II2005Funfair (GB)6Edgar S. PradoH. Graham MotionCheveley Park Farm1 mile1:32.95$334,200II2004Mr O'Brien (IRE)5Eibar CoaRobin L. GrahamSkeedattle Stable1 mile1:32.69$270,000II2003Freefourinternet5Jose L. EspinozaJoan ScottEquirace.com LLC1 mile1:34.73$347,000II2002Green Fee6John R. VelazquezDaniel C. PeitzRobert & Lawana Low1 mile1:33.83$350,000II2001Forbidden Apple6José A. SantosChristophe ClementArthur I. Appleton1 mile1:36.77$250,000II2000Forbidden Apple5Jean-Luc SamynChristophe ClementArthur I. Appleton1 mile1:34.39$250,000II1999Middlesex Drive4Shane SellersPhilip M. HauswaldC. Steven Duncker1 mile1:35.45$250,000II1998Dixie Bayou5Jorge F. ChavezRobert BarbaraSabine Stable1 mile1:36.21$200,000II1997Lucky Coin4Robbie DavisRichard S. NieminskiEdward I. Kelly Sr.1 mile1:33.72$200,000II1996Same Old Wish6Shane SellersRobert BarbaraFriendship Stable1 mile1:34.42$175,000III1995Mighty Forum (GB)4Eddie DelahoussayeMark A. HennigTeam Valor International1 mile1:39.58$200,000III1994Nijinsky's Gold5José A. SantosRichard A. Violette Jr.Stanton P. Powell1 mile1:34.18$200,000III1993Lure 4Mike E. SmithClaude R. McGaughey IIIClaiborne Farm1 mile1:35.86$200,000III1992Roman Envoy4Craig PerretJames E. PicouFred W. Hooper1 mile1:36.39$200,000III1991Star of Cozzene3José A. SantosD. Wayne LukasClover Racing Stable1 mile1:33.37$116,200III1990Expensive Decision4Jean-Luc SamynStanley R. ShapoffEdward Shapoff1 mile1:32.40$95,700III 1989I Rejoice6Jerry D. BaileyEdward I. Kelly Sr.Brookfield Farms1 mile1:36.40$125,600III1988San's the Shadow4Chris AntleyTimothy A. HillsJ. Scott Rutan1 mile1:42.00$120,400III1987I'm a Banker5Antonio GraellGasper S. MoscheraAlbert Davis miles2:10.80$128,200III1986I'm a Banker4Antonio GraellGasper S. MoscheraAlbert Davis miles2:03.20$91,200III1985Mourjane (IRE)5Richard MiglioreThomas J. SkiffingtonFernwood Stables miles2:02.00$91,800III1984Who's for Dinner5Walter GuerraJan H. NerudTartan Farms miles2:01.20$96,000III 1983Race not heldAt Aqueduct1982Worthy Too4Jean-Luc SamynMichael J. Kelly Adele L. Rand 2 miles3:24.40$116,400 1981Peat Moss6Frank Lovato Jr.Gilbert PuentesMurray M. Garren2 miles3:20.80$110,400 1980Peat Moss5Frank Lovato Jr.Gilbert PuentesMurray M. Garren2 miles3:24.60$113,600

Legend:

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References