The H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes is a Grade I American thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run over a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt held in August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The current purse for the event is $500,000.

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 18 August 1984 as the seventh race on the undercard of Travers Stakes day as The King's Bishop Stakes and was won by Commemorate who was trained by Hall of Fame trainer Lazaro Barrera in a time of 1:22. King's Bishop was originally owned by Houston Astros founding president Craig F. Cullinan Jr. and trained by H. Allen Jerkens, who trained the horse to wins in the 1973 Carter Handicap and Fall Highweight Handicap for Allaire du Pont.

The event was not held in 1986.

In 1987 the event was classified as Grade III, upgraded to Grade II in 1992 and since 1999 the race has been a Grade I event.

In 2017 the New York Racing Association renamed the race for the late Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens, who over a career spanning seven decades, his horses had upset racing champions – such as Onion's victory over Secretariat in the 1973 Whitney Handicap – earning him the nickname "the Giant Killer".

Several winners of the race have gone on to win American Champion Sprint Horse honors that same year, including Housebuster (1990), Lost in the Fog (2005), Runhappy (2015) and Drefong (2016). Hard Spun (2007) went on to top that year's World's Best Racehorse Rankings for three-year-old sprinters.

Records Speed record: 1:20.54 – Runhappy (2015)

Margins: lengths – Tale of the Cat (1997)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 – John Velazquez (2002, 2006, 2010, 2019) 4 – Mike E. Smith (1991, 1992, 1993, 2016)

Most wins by a trainer: 5 – D. Wayne Lukas (1985, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996)

Most wins by an owner: 2 – Lloyd R. French Jr. (1985, 1989) 2 – Michael Tabor (1996, 2004) 2 – Klaravich Stables (2017, 2024)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes2026EnglishmanJosé OrtizCherie DeVauxCRK Stables, LLC7 furlongs 1:20.71$500,000I2025Patch AdamsLuis SaezBrad H. CoxWinStar Farm & China Horse Club7 furlongs 1:21.61$500,000I2024Domestic Product Flavien PratChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables7 furlongs1:21.71$500,000I2023One in VermillionIrad Ortiz Jr.Esteban MartinezJonathan Kalman7 furlongs1:22.63$485,000I2022Jack ChristopherJosé OrtizChad C. BrownPeter M. Brant, Coolmore Stud, Gerry Isbister, Gerald Isbister, & Jim Bakke 7 furlongs1:21.15$500,000I2021Jackie's Warrior Joel RosarioSteven AsmussenJ Kirk & Judy Robison7 furlongs1:21.39$490,000I2020Echo Town Ricardo Santana Jr. Steven AsmussenL & N Racing 7 furlongs1:22.53$300,000I2019Mind ControlJohn R. VelazquezGregory D. SaccoRed Oak Stable (Brunetti), Madaket Stables 7 furlongs1:21.43$500,000I2018Promises FulfilledLuis SaezDale L. RomansRobert J. Baron7 furlongs1:21.44$501,500I2017Practical JokeJoel RosarioChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables & William H. Lawrence7 furlongs1:21.96$500,000IKing's Bishop Stakes2016DrefongMike E. SmithBob BaffertCharles Chu7 furlongs1:21.25$500,000I2015RunhappyEdgar S. PradoMaria BorellJames McIngvale7 furlongs1:20.54$500,000I2014The Big BeastJavier CastellanoAnthony W. DutrowAlex & JoAnn Lieblong7 furlongs1:22.35$500,000I2013Capo BastoneIrad Ortiz Jr.Todd A. PletcherEclipse Thoroughbred Partners7 furlongs1:22.22$500,000I2012Willy BeaminAlan GarciaRichard E. Dutrow Jr.James A. Riccio7 furlongs1:22.02$500,000I2011Caleb's PosseRajiv MaraghMcNeil Stables & Cheyenne Stables7 furlongs1:21.59$250,000I2010Discreetly MineTodd A. PletcherE. Paul Robsham Stables7 furlongs1:23.16$250,000I2009Javier CastellanoIan R. WilkesJoseph Rauch, David Zell7 furlongs1:22.35$300,000I2008VisionaireAlan GarciaMichael R. MatzTeam Valor & Vision Racing7 furlongs1:21.94$250,000I2007Hard SpunMario G. PinoJ. Larry JonesFox Hill Farms7 furlongs1:22.34$250,000I2006Henny HughesJohn R. VelazquezKiaran P. McLaughlinZabeel Racing7 furlongs1:21.96$250,000I2005Lost in the FogRussell BazeGreg GilchristHarry J. Aleo7 furlongs1:22.56$250,000I2004PomeroyEdgar S. PradoPatrick L. BianconeMichael Tabor & Derrick Smith7 furlongs1:20.99$250,000I2003Valid VideoJoe BravoDennis J. ManningMack Fehsenfeld7 furlongs1:22.14$200,000I2002GygistarJohn R. VelazquezMark A. HennigEdward P. Evans7 furlongs1:22.85$200,000I2001Squirtle SquirtJerry D. BaileyRobert J. FrankelDavid J. Lanzman7 furlongs1:21.97$200,000I2000More Than ReadyPat DayTodd A. PletcherJames T. Scatuorchio7 furlongs1:22.49$200,000I1999ForestryChris AntleyBob BaffertAaron U. & Marie Jones7 furlongs1:21.00$200,000I1998Secret FirmEdgar S. PradoH. Graham MotionMea Culpa Stables7 furlongs1:22.78$200,000II1997Tale of the CatJulie KroneJohn H. ForbesPhantom House Farm7 furlongs1:21.71$150,000II1996Honour and GloryJosé A. SantosD. Wayne LukasMichael Tabor7 furlongs1:21.78$108,200II1995Top AccountPat DayNeil J. HowardWilliam S. Farish III7 furlongs1:22.50$113,500II1994Chimes BandJerry D. BaileyD. Wayne LukasFares Farm7 furlongs1:21.80$109,500II1993Mi CieloMike E. SmithPeter M. VestalTom M. Carey7 furlongs1:21.60$123,800II1992Salt LakeMike E. SmithD. Wayne LukasWilliam T. Young7 furlongs1:21.40$122,400II1991Take Me OutMike E. SmithWilliam I. MottBertram R. Firestone7 furlongs1:21.60$124,000III1990HousebusterCraig PerretJimmy CrollRobert P. Levy7 furlongs1:21.80$90,150III1989HoustonPat DayD. Wayne LukasLloyd R. French Jr.7 furlongs1:22.00$86,550III1988King's NestChris McCarronRichard E. Dutrow Sr.Sandra D. Bender7 furlongs1:21.80$88,800III1987Templar HillChris McCarronPaul D. SeefeldtErvin Kowitz7 furlongs1:23.00$86,150III1986Race not held1985Pancho VillaD. Wayne LukasLloyd R. French Jr.7 furlongs1:22.20$55,900 Listed1984CommemorateFrank Lovato Jr.Laz BarreraWindfields Farm7 furlongs1:22.60$55,700 Listed

Notes:

† In the 2009 event Vineyard Haven was first past the post but disqualified for drifting out in the straight and twice bumping Capt. Candyman Can. Capt. Candyman Can was declared the winner.

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links at Hello Race Fans

References