Tropical Turf Stakes

The Tropical Turf Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years olds and older at the distance of one mile on the turf held annually in January at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.

Tropical Turf Stakes

Grade III race
Location	Gulfstream Park Hallandale Beach, Florida, United States
Inaugurated	1972 (at Calder Race Track as Christmas Day Handicap)
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing - Turf
Website	Gulfstream Park
Race information
Distance	1 mile
Surface	Turf
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Three-year-olds and older
Weight	124 lbs with allowances
Purse	$100,000 (since 1994)

History

It was run as the Christmas Day Handicap through 1992.

Open to three-year-old horses and up, it is set at a distance of one and one-eighth miles (9 furlongs) and currently offers a purse of $100,000.

The Tropical Turf is the last of the four $100,000 stakes races on Gulfstream West's "Grand Slam I program." The My Charmer Handicap is the first, the Three Ring Stakes second, and the Foolish Pleasure Stakes third.

In 2015 this race was run at Gulfstream Park West at one and one-sixteenth mile.

Records

Speed record:

• 1 mile – 1:32.83 – Tusk (2020)
• 1+1⁄16 miles – 1:42.47 - Lubash (2017)
• 1+1⁄8 miles – 1:44.95 - Carterista (1993)

Margins:

• 7 lengths – Sir Cat (1997)

Most wins by an owner

• 2 - S A Of South Florida (1992, 1993)
• 2 - Joseph J. Sullivan (1994, 1995)
• 2 - Moyglare Stud Farm (1999, 2013)
• 2 - Richard C. Thompson (2006, 2007)
• 2 - Aliyu Ben J Stables (2014, 2016)

Most wins by a jockey

• 3 – Rene R. Douglas (1994, 1999, 2003)
• 3 – Javier Castellano (2008, 2011, 2019)

Most wins by a trainer

• 5 – Christophe Clement (1999, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
At Gulfstream Park – Tropical Turf Stakes
2022	Clear Vision	6	Julien Leparoux	Matthew O'Connor	MeB Racing Stables	abt. 1 mile	1:35.36	$100,000	III	^[1]
2021	Ride a Comet	6	Tyler Gaffalione	Mark E. Casse	John C. Oxley & My Meadowview Farm	1 mile	1:33.62	$100,000	III	^[2]
2020	Tusk	7	Tyler Gaffalione	Saffie A. Joseph Jr.	Jordan V. Wycoff	1 mile	1:32.83	$100,000	III	^[3]
2019	Doctor Mounty	6	Javier Castellano	Claude R. McGaughey III	Larry Pratt & Dave Alden	1 mile	1:34.62	$100,000	III	^[4]
2018	Race not held due to schedule change
2017	Shakhimat	4	Edgard J. Zayas	Roger L. Attfield	Dan Gale, Roger L. Attfield & William K. Werner	1 mile	1:36.03	$100,000	III	^[5]
At Calder/Gulfstream Park West – Tropical Turf Handicap
2016	† Lubash	9	Joe Bravo	Christophe Clement	Aliyu Ben J Stables	1+1⁄16 miles	1:42.47	$100,000	III	^[6]
2015	Lochte	5	Matthew Rispoli	Marcus J. Vitali	Crossed Sabres Farm	1+1⁄16 miles	1:50.95	$100,000	III	^[7]
2014	Lubash	7	Brice Blanc	Christophe Clement	Aliyu Ben J Stables	1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.72	$100,000	III	^[8]
2013	Speaking of Which (IRE)	4	Joe Bravo	Christophe Clement	Moyglare Stud Farm	1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.03	$100,000	III	^[9]
2012	Philly Ace	4	Luis Saez	Christophe Clement	Brushwood Stable	1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.22	$100,000	III	^[10]
2011	Silver Medallion	3	Javier Castellano	Todd A. Pletcher	Black Rock Stables	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.84	$100,000	III	^[11]
2010	Twilight Meteor	6	Luis Saez	Martin D. Wolfson	Peachtree Stable	1+1⁄8 miles	1:46.85	$100,000	III	^[12]
2009	Race not held
2008	Spice Route (GB)	4	Javier Castellano	Roger L. Attfield	Harlequin Ranches	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.41	$100,000	III	^[13]
2007	Ballast (IRE)	6	Kent J. Desormeaux	H. Graham Motion	Richard C. Thompson	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.54	$100,000	III	^[14]
2006	Ballast (IRE)	5	Rafael Bejarano	H. Graham Motion	Richard C. Thompson	1+1⁄8 miles	1:47.54	$100,000	III	^[15]
2005	Silver Tree	5	Jerry D. Bailey	William I. Mott	Peter Vegso	1+1⁄8 miles	1:46.28	$100,000	III	^[16]
2004	Host (CHI)	4	John R. Velazquez	Todd A. Pletcher	Eugene & Laura Melnyk	1+1⁄8 miles	1:45.74	$100,000	III	^[17]
2003	Political Attack	4	Rene R. Douglas	Michael R. Matz	Erdenheim Farm	1+1⁄8 miles	1:45.81	$100,000	III	^[18]
2002	Krieger	4	Eibar Coa	Joe Orseno	Stronach Stables	1+1⁄8 miles	1:47.02	$100,000	III	^[19]
2001	Band Is Passing	5	Carlos Gonzalez	Stanley M. Ersoff	Stanley M. Ersoff	1+1⁄8 miles	1:46.90	$100,000	III	^[20]
2000	Stokosky	4	Carlos Alberto Hernandez	Juan P. Rizo	Santa Cruz Ranch	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.77	$100,000	III	^[21]
1999	Hibernian Rhapsody (IRE)	4	Rene R. Douglas	Christophe Clement	Moyglare Stud Farm	1+1⁄8 miles	1:46.17	$100,000	III	^[22]
1998	Unite's Big Red	4	Eduardo O. Nunez	Randy Mills	Break Away Racing Stable & Dream Catcher	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.96	$100,000	III	^[23]
1997	Sir Cat	4	Jose Alberto Rivera II	William I. Mott	John R. Murrell	1+1⁄8 miles	1:54.08	$100,000	III	^[24]
1996	Mecke	4	Robbie Davis	Emanuel Tortora	James R. Lewis Jr.	1+1⁄8 miles	1:46.51	$100,000	III	^[25]
1995	The Vid	5	Herb McCauley	Martin D. Wolfson	Joseph J. Sullivan	1+1⁄8 miles	1:44.99	$100,000	III	^[26]
1994	The Vid	4	Rene R. Douglas	Martin D. Wolfson	Joseph J. Sullivan	1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.06	$100,000	III	^[27]
1993	Carterista	5	Wigberto S. Ramos	Ronald B. Spatz	S A Of South Florida	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:44.95	$75,000	III	^[28]
Christmas Day Handicap
1992	Carterista	4	Michael Andre Lee	Ronald B. Spatz	S A Of South Florida	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:46.35	$50,000	III	Division 1^[29]
	Bidding Proud	3	Jose A. Santos	Jimmy Croll	John C. Sessa		1:46.02	$50,000		Division 2^[30]
1991	Race not held
1990	Stolen Rolls	4	Pedro A. Rodriguez	Lawrence W. Jennings Jr.	Esquire Farms	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:45.20	$59,500	III	^[31]
1989	Vaguely Double	4	Walter Guerra	Edward Plesa Jr.	Elizabeth A. Sessa	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.80	$55,490	III	^[32]
1988	Equalize	6	Jose A. Santos	Angel Penna Sr.	Tartan Farms	1+1⁄8 miles	1:45.00	$58,350	III	^[33]
1987	Race not held
1986	Arctic Honeymoon	3	Robert Neal Lester	Luis Olivares	Beverly Green	1+1⁄8 miles	1:54.00	$54,250	III	^[34]
1985	Ban the Blues	6	Gene St. Leon	William C. Knuck	Harold Kitchen	1+1⁄8 miles	1:53.20	$56,900	III	^[35]
1984	Biloxi Indian	3	Bryan Fann	Dianne Carpenter	Dianne Carpenter	1+1⁄8 miles	1:54.00	$61,250	III	^[36]
1983	‡ Eminency	5	Pat Day	Claude R. McGaughey III	Happy Valley Farm	1+1⁄8 miles	1:51.20	$54,250	III	^[37]
1982	Rivalero	6	Jacinto Vasquez	David A. Whitely	Calumet Farm	1+1⁄8 miles	1:53.60	$55,450	III	^[38]
1981	The Liberal Member	6	Jerry D. Bailey	Angel Penna Sr.	Ogden Phipps	1+1⁄8 miles	1:51.80	$58,550	III	^[39]
1980	Yosi Boy	4	Alfredo Smith Jr.	Jose A. Mendez	Miraflores Stable	1+1⁄8 miles	1:51.80	$55,300		^[40]
1979	Lot o' Gold	3	Don Brumfield	William E. Adams	Frederick E. Lehmann	1+1⁄8 miles	1:52.60	$55,550		^[41]
1976–1978		Race not held
1975	Proud Birdie	2	Jack Fieselman	Rosemary G. Henderson	Thomas Edmondson	1+1⁄16 miles	1:47.00	$31,500		2YOs only^[42]
1974	L. Grant Jr.	4	Jimmy Combest	Reed M. Combest	Elkcan Stable	1+1⁄16 miles	1:45.80	$30,500		^[43]
1973	Proud and Bold	3	Robert Woodhouse	John Zarthar	Robert Van Worp Sr.	1+1⁄16 miles	1:45.60	$28,500		^[44]
1972	Prince of Truth	4	Jacinto Vasquez	Lawrence W. Jennings	Lucky Irish Stable	1+1⁄16 miles	1:46.00	$29,500		^[45]

Legend:
  Turf   Dirt
Notes:
† In the 2017 running of the event Rose Briar was first past the post but drifted out in the late stretch and was disqualified and placed second. Lubash was declared the winner of the event.
‡ In the 1983 running of the event World Appeal was first past the post was disqualified and placed second. Eminency was declared the winner of the event.

See also

• List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links

• 2020–21 Gulfstream Park Media Guide

References

1. "2021 Tropical Turf Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
2. "2021 Tropical Turf Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
3. "2020 Tropical Turf Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 11 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
4. "2019 Tropical Turf Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 12 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
5. "2017 Tropical Turf Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 16 December 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
6. "2016 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
7. "2015 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 6)". Equibase. 21 November 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
8. "2014 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 22 November 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
9. "2013 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 6)". Equibase. 7 December 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
10. "2012 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
11. "2011 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 2 December 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
12. "2010 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 4 December 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
13. "2008 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 6 December 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
14. "2007 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
15. "2006 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 2 December 2006. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
16. "2005 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 3 December 2005. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
17. "2004 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 4 December 2004. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
18. "2003 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 6 December 2003. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
19. "2002 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 7 December 2002. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
20. "2001 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 8 December 2001. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
21. "2000 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 9 December 2000. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
22. "1999 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 27 November 1999. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
23. "1998 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 28 November 1998. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
24. "1997 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 29 November 1997. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
25. "1996 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 30 November 1996. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
26. "1995 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 25 November 1995. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
27. "1994 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 26 November 1994. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
28. "1993 Tropical Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 11 December 1993. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
29. "1992 Christmas Day Handicap (Division 1) Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 25 December 1992. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
30. "1992 Christmas Day Handicap (Division 2) Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 25 December 1992. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
31. "'Rolls' wins Christmas Handicap (1990 Christmas Day Handicap – race 8: held 25 December 1990)". South Florida Sun Sentinel. 26 December 1990. p. 39. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
32. "Vaguely Double wins at Calder (1989 Christmas Day Handicap – race 10: held 25 December 1989)". South Florida Sun Sentinel. The Associated Press. 26 December 1989. p. 33. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
33. "Equalize wins by 4 lengths in Christmas Day Handicap (1988 Christmas Day Handicap – race 10: held 25 December 1988)". South Florida Sun Sentinel. The Associated Press. 26 December 1988. p. 34. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
34. "16-1 shot Arctic Honeymoon wins Christmas 'Cap at Calder (1986 Christmas Day Handicap – race 9: held 25 December 1986)". South Florida Sun Sentinel. The Associated Press. 26 December 1986. p. 44. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
35. "'Blues' edges Jim Bracken to win Christmas Handicap (1985 Christmas Day Handicap – race 10: held 25 December 1985)". South Florida Sun Sentinel. The Associated Press. 26 December 1985. p. 30. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
36. "Biloxi Indian wins at Calder (1984 Christmas Day Handicap – race 9: held 25 December 1984)". South Florida Sun Sentinel. The Associated Press. 26 December 1984. p. 41. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
37. Evans, Luther (27 December 1983). "Eminency wins as World Appeal is disqualified (1983 Christmas Day Handicap – race 9: held 26 December 1983)". Miami Herald. p. 24. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
38. Evans, Luther (26 December 1982). "'Relaxed' Rivalero earns Christmas Handicap victory (1982 Christmas Day Handicap – race 9: held 25 December 1982)". Miami Herald. p. 52. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
39. Evans, Luther (26 December 1981). "The Liberal Member outclasses the Christmas field (1981 Christmas Day Handicap – race 9: held 25 December 1981)". Miami Herald. p. 52. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
40. Evans, Luther (26 December 1980). "Smith escapes injury, ... (1980 Christmas Day Handicap – race 9: held 25 December 1980)". Miami Herald. p. 96. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
41. Evans, Luther (26 December 1979). "With Bid Gone, Lot O' Gold Wins (1979 Christmas Day Handicap – race 9: held 25 December 1979)". Miami Herald. p. 54. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
42. Moran, Paul (26 December 1975). "Birdie Pays $55 on Christmas (1975 Christmas Day Handicap – race 9: held 25 December 1975)". Fort Lauderdale News. p. 48. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
43. "Grant Jr. Captures Christmas Day Stakes (1974 Christmas Day Handicap – race 9: held 25 December 1974)". Fort Lauderdale News. The Associated Press. 26 December 1974. p. 67. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
44. "Favorite Captures Christmas Feature (1973 Christmas Day Handicap – race 9: held 25 December 1973)". Fort Lauderdale News. The Associated Press. 26 December 1973. p. 56. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
45. "Prince of Truth Is Winner (1972 Christmas Day Handicap – race 9: held 25 December 1972)". Lexington Leader. The Associated Press. 26 December 1972. p. 13. Retrieved 5 January 2021.