The Acorn Stakes is an American Grade I race at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies. It is raced on dirt over a distance of one mile and a sixteenth with a current purse of $500,000. It is the first leg of the US Triple Tiara and is followed by the Coaching Club American Oaks then the Alabama Stakes. The filly must win all three races to win the Triple Tiara, as well as the third leg of the "National" Triple Tiara (Kentucky Oaks and George E. Mitchell Stakes are the others).
The Acorn Stakes was run at Aqueduct Racetrack from 1960 to 1967 and 1969 to 1975. There were two divisions in 1951, 1970 and 1974. There was a dead heat for first place in 1954 and again in 1956. The race was run at one mile from its inception until 2022. In 2023, the New York Racing Association lengthened the race to miles. The 2024 Acorn was held at Saratoga Race Course at miles due to construction at Belmont Park.
Historic notes The inaugural running of the Acorn Stakes took place on May 16, 1931, and was won by Baba Kenney. The filly was owned by Edward R. Bradley and trained by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Herbert J. Thompson.
Gallorette won the 1945 running of the Acorn and went on to earn American Champion Older Female Horse honors in 1946 and a career that would see her induction into the U. S. Racing Hall of Fame in 1962.
Ruffian, the ill-fated future Hall of Fame inductee, got her eighth straight career win in the 1975 edition of the Acorn. She did it in a new stakes record time, continuing her streak of either beating or equaling the record in every one of her major race victories, those being the Fashion, Astoria, Sorority and the Spinaway Stakes.
Riding her father's filly Mom's Command, in 1985 Abigail Fuller became the first female jockey to win the Acorn Stakes. It would be another 28 years before a female rider accomplished the feat when Rosie Napravnik won the 2013 edition aboard Midnight Lucky .
Records Speed record (at previous one mile distance): 1:32.55 – Gamine (2020)
Most wins by an owner: 6 – Calumet Farm (1941, 1943, 1944, 1956*, 1979) 5 – Wheatley Stable (1933, 1939, 1955, 1960, 1964) *Two horses owned by Calumet Farm finished in a dead heat for first in 1956
Most wins by a jockey: 5 – Eddie Arcaro (1945, 1946, 1948, 1955, 1961) 5 – Mike E. Smith (1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2017) 5 - John R. Velazquez (2000, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2020)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner (Miles) Time Win$ Gr.2026Counting StarsIrad Ortiz Jr.Mark E. CasseWest Point Thoroughbreds m1:48.85$275,000G12025La CaraDylan DavisMark E. CasseTracy Farmer m1:49.20$275,000G12024 Thorpedo AnnaBrian Hernandez Jr.Kenneth G. McPeek Nader Alaali, Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks & Magdalena Racing m1:49.02 $275,000G12023Pretty MischievousTyler GaffalioneBrendan WalshGodolphin m1:43.33$275,000G12022MatareyaFlavien PratBrad H. CoxGodolphin1 m1:35.77$275,000G12021Search ResultsJavier CastellanoChad BrownKlaravich Stables 1 m1:35.50$275,000 G12020GamineJohn VelazquezBob BaffertMichael Lund Petersen 1 m1:32.55$165,000 G12019GuaranaJosé OrtizChad C. BrownThree Chimneys Farm1 m1:33.58$375,000 G12018Monomoy GirlFlorent GerouxBrad H. CoxStuart Grant, Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, LLC1 m1:34.10 $375,000 G1 2017 Abel TasmanMike E. SmithBob BaffertChina Horse Club International Ltd./Clearsky Farms1 m1:35.37 $375,000 G1 2016 Carina Mia Julien Leparoux William Mott Three Chimneys Farm1 m1:34.97 $375,000 G12015 Curalina John Velazquez Todd Pletcher Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners (Aron Wellman et al.)1 m1:35.13 $375,000 G12014 Sweet Reason Irad Ortiz Jr Leah Gyarmati Treadway Racing Stable1 m1:34.98 $400,000 G12013 Midnight Lucky Rosie Napravnik Bob Baffert Mike Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman1 m1:35.11 $180,000 G12012 Contested Javier Castellano Bob Baffert Natalie J. Baffert1 m1:34.61 $180,000 G12011 It's Tricky Eddie Castro Kiaran McLaughlin Darley Stable1 m1:35.48$180,000 G12010 Champagne d'Oro Martin Garcia Eric Guillot Southern Equine Stables (Eric Guillot & Mike Moreno)1 m1:37.44$180,000 G12009 Gabby's Golden Gal Javier Castellano Bob Baffert Arnold Zetcher 1 m1:34.79$180,000 G12008 Zaftig John Velazquez James A. Jerkens Susan Moore et al.1 m1:34.50$150,000 G12007 Cotton Blossom John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Dogwood Stable1 m1:34.70$150,000 G12006 Bushfire Alex Solis Eddie Kenneally Ron & Ricki Rashinski1 m1:35.89$150,000 G12005 Round Pond Stewart Elliott John Servis Fox Hill Farms, Inc. (Rick Porter)1 m1:35.20$150,000 G12004 Island Sand Terry J. Thompson J. Larry Jones James Osbrone1 m1:34.80$150,000 G12003 Bird Town Edgar Prado Nick Zito Marylou Whitney Stable1 m1:35.20$150,000 G12002 You Jerry Bailey Robert J. Frankel Edmund A. Gann1 m1:34.00$150,000 G12001 Forest Secrets Chris McCarron John Ward Jr. Debby M. Oxley1 m1:34.80$150,000 G12000 Finder's Fee John Velazquez C. R. McGaughey III Ogden Phipps1 m1:37.20$120,000 G11999 Three Ring Jerry Bailey Edward Plesa Jr. Barry K. Schwartz1 m1:36.00$150,000 G11998 Jersey Girl Mike E. Smith Todd A. Pletcher Ackerley Bros. Farm1 m1:36.20$90,000 G11997 Sharp Cat Gary Stevens D. Wayne Lukas The Thoroughbred Corp.1 m1:34.40$90,000 G11996 Star de Lady Ann Mike E. Smith William W. Perry John D. Murphy1 m1:34.60$90,000 G11995 Cat's Cradle Chris Antley David Hofmans Georgia B. Ridder1 m1:37.40$90,000 G11994 Inside Information Mike E. Smith C. R. McGaughey III Ogden Mills Phipps1 m1:34.26$90,000 G11993 Sky Beauty Mike E. Smith H. Allen Jerkens Georgia E. Hofmann1 m1:35.40$90,000 G11992 Prospectors Delite Pat Day Neil J. Howard James Elkins, W. S. Farish III & W. Temple Webber1 m1:35.00$113,400 G11991 Meadow Star Jerry Bailey LeRoy Jolley Carl Icahn1 m1:37.40$103,680 G11990 Stella Madrid Ángel Cordero Jr. D. Wayne Lukas Peter M. Brant1 m1:36.00$104,580 G11989 Open Mind Ángel Cordero Jr. D. Wayne Lukas Eugene V. Klein1 m1:35.40$111,960 G11988 Aptostar Robbie Davis H. Allen Jerkens Centennial Farms (Donald Little)1 m1:34.80$109,980 G11987 Grecian Flight Craig Perret Joseph H. Pierce Jr. Henry C. Lindh1 m1:35.20$113,580 G11986 Lotka Jerry Bailey Woody Stephens Henryk de Kwiatkowski1 m1:35.20$109,080 G11985 Mom's Command Abigail Fuller Edward T. Allard Peter D. Fuller1 m1:35.80$113,040 G11984 Miss Oceana Eddie Maple Woody Stephens Newstead Farm1 m1:35.80$108,720 G11983 Ski Goggle Chris McCarron A. Thomas Doyle Zenya Yoshida1 m1:35.00$69,360 G11982 Cupecoy's Joy Angel Santiago Alfredo Callejas Ri-Ma-Ro Stables (Robert DeFilippis) & Robert Perez1 m1:34.20$51,750 G11981 Heavenly Cause Laffit Pincay Jr. Woody Stephens Ryehill Farm (Jim & Eleanor Ryan)1 m1:35.20$50,850 G11980 Bold 'n Determined Ed Delahoussaye Neil Drysdale Saron Stable1 m1:36.80$50,400 G11979 Davona Dale Jorge Velásquez John M. Veitch Calumet Farm1 m1:36.00$50,130 G11978 Tempest Queen Jorge Velásquez Lou Rondinello Darby Dan Farm1 m1:35.40$31,920 G11977 Bring Out The Band Don Brumfield James W. Murphy Hickory Tree Stable1 m1:36.80$33,690 G11976 Dearly Precious Jorge Velásquez Stephen A. DiMauro Richard E. Bailey1 m1:35.80$33,390 G11975 Ruffian Jacinto Vásquez Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. Locust Hill Farm1 m1:34.40$33,660 G11974-1 Chris Evert Jorge Velásquez Joseph A. Trovato Carl Rosen1 m1:36.00$33,960G11974-2 Special Team Miguel A. Rivera James E. Picou Fred W. Hooper1 m1:35.40$33,960G11973 Windy's Daughter Braulio Baeza Laz Barrera Bernice Blackman1 m1:35.40$36,540 G11972 Susan's Girl Victor Tejada John W. Russell Fred W. Hooper1 m1:34.60$33,720 1971 Deceit John L. Rotz Del W. Carroll Windfields Farm1 m1:36.60$38,970 1970-1 Royal Signal Garth Patterson Stephen A. DiMauro Mary Louise Knapp Jr.1 m1:36.20$36,967 1970-2 Cathy Honey Laffit Pincay Jr. Evan S. Jackson Hastings Harcourt1 m1:36.00$36,967 1969 Shuvee Jesse Davidson Willard C. Freeman Anne Minor Stone1 m1:35.60$38,707 1968 Dark Mirage Manuel Ycaza Everett W. King Lloyd I. Miller1 m1:34.80$39,065 1967 Furl Sail Jacinto Vásquez John L. Winans Emma Louise Thomas1 m1:35.60$44,330 1966 Marking Time Bill Shoemaker Edward A. Neloy Ogden Phipps1 m1:36.00$38,642 1965 Ground Control Donald Pierce Edward A. Neloy Jules D. Michaels1 m1:37.20$38,220 1964 Castle Forbes John L. Rotz Edward A. Neloy Wheatley Stable1 m1:37.00$39,098 1963 Spicy Living Jimmy Combest Jimmy Rowe Eleonora Sears1 m1:37.20$39,098 1962 Cicada Bill Shoemaker Casey Hayes Meadow Stable1 m1:35.60$37,992 1961 Bowl of Flowers Eddie Arcaro J. Elliott Burch Brookmeade Stable1 m1:37.40$37,537 1960 Irish Jay Hedley Woodhouse James E. Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable1 m1:35.80$38,292 1959 Quill Bobby Ussery Lucien Laurin Reginald N. Webster1 m1:37.40$38,075 1958 Big Effort Pete D. Anderson J. Elliott Burch Brookmeade Stable1 m1:37.40$22,952 1957 Bayou Bobby Ussery Moody Jolley Claiborne Farm1 m1:37.00$26,000 1956 Beyond (DH) Conn McCreary Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm1 m1:37.80$12,650 Princess Turia (DH) Henry Moreno Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm1 m1:37.80$12,650 1955 High Voltage Eddie Arcaro James E. Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable1 m1:38.80$22,9001954 Happy Mood (DH) Pete Moreno Monte S. Parke Fannie Hertz1 m1:38.80$10,925 1954 Riverina (DH) William Boland Max Hirsch King Ranch1 m1:38.80$10,925 1953 Secret Meeting James Nichols Robert L. Dotter James Cox Brady Jr.1 m1:39.40$18,450 1952 Parading Lady James Hardinbrook John B. Theall Joe W. Brown1 m1:38.80$18,650 1951-1 Kiss Me Kate Warren Mehrtens Oscar White Walter M. Jeffords1 m1:36.40$16,7501951-2 Nothirdchance Bennie Green Hirsch Jacobs Isidor Bieber1 m1:38.80$16,550 1950 Siama Ted Atkinson Moody Jolley Cain Hoy Stable1 m1:37.20$12,600 1949 Nell K Douglas Dodson John B. Partridge Spring Hill Farm1 m1:38.00$13,725 1948 Watermill Eddie Arcaro Bert Mulholland George D. Widener Jr.1 m1:37.00$12,525 1947 But Why Not Warren Mehrtens Max Hirsch King Ranch1 m1:38.00$14,300 1946 Earshot Eddie Arcaro Willie BoothWilliam G. Helis Sr.1 m1:37.20$9,840 1945 Gallorette Eddie Arcaro Edward A. Christmas William L. Brann1 m1:37.20$9,480 1944 Twilight Tear Conn McCreary Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm1 m1:37.00$10,815 1943 Nellie L Wendell Eads Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm1 m1:38.60$10,650 1942 Zaca Rosa Charles Wahler Frank J. Baker William W. Crenshaw1 m1:38.20$11,300 1941 Proud One Wendell Eads Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm1 m1:37.60$7,2751940 Damaged Goods John Gilbert John M. Milburn Starmount Stable (Edward Benjamin)1 m1:37.00$12,025 1939 Hostility Leon Haas James E. Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable1 m1:39.80$12,100 1938 Handcuff Charley Kurtsinger Hugh L. Fontaine Brookmeade Stable1 m1:39.80$10,325 1937 Dawn Play Lester Balaski Max Hirsch King Ranch1 m1:38.80$10,100 1936 Blue Sheen James Stout James E. Fitzsimmons Whitney A. Stone1 m1:38.80$10,600 1935 Good Gamble Sam Renick Bud Stotler Alfred G. Vanderbilt II1 m1:39.00$7,325 1934 Fleam James Stout James E. Fitzsimmons Belair Stud1 m1:38.00$8,575 1933 Iseult Hank Mills James E. Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable1 m1:40.60$10,650 1932 Top Flight Raymond Workman Thomas J. Healey C. V. Whitney1 m1:39.00$12,850 1931 Baba Kenney Willie Cannon Herbert J. Thompson Edward R. Bradley1 m1:41.00$3,375
References