Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap
Grade 1 race | |
Location | Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Springs, New York, United States |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1975 |
Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
Website | www.nyra.com |
Race information | |
Distance | 1 1⁄2 miles (12 furlongs) |
Surface | Turf |
Track | Left-handed |
Qualification | Three-year-olds & up |
Weight | Assigned |
Purse | $1,000,000 (2015) |
The Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap is an American race for thoroughbred horses, aged three and up, run annually in mid August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. A prep for the Breeders' Cup Turf, it is set at a distance of one and one-half miles (12 furlongs) on the turf. A Grade I event, the race currently offers a purse of $1,000,000.
The Sword Dancer is named for the best three-year-old colt or gelding of 1959, best three-year-old, best handicap horse, and the American Horse of the Year. Sword Dancer was elected to the United States Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York in 1977.
The event was inaugurated at Aqueduct Racetrack in 1975 as a six furlong sprint on dirt for three-year-old horses. Beginning in 1977, it was hosted by Belmont Park then in 1992 was moved to the Saratoga Race Course. Since inception, the Sword Dancer has been contested at various distances:
- 6 furlongs : 1975-1976 (on dirt)
- 8.5 furlongs (1 1⁄16 miles) : 1977-1979
- 12 furlongs (1 1⁄2 miles) : 1980–present (on turf)
The race has been run as an Invitational Handicap since 1994.
In 2000, nine-year-old John's Call became the oldest horse to win this race.
Records
Speed record: (at current distance of 1 1⁄2 miles)
- 2:23.20 - Awad (1997)
Most wins:
- 2 - Majesty's Prince (1983, 1984)
- 2 - El Senor (1989, 1990)
- 2 - With Anticipation (2001, 2002)
- 2 - Grand Couturier (2007, 2008)
- 2 - Telling (2009, 2010)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 - John DeWitt Marsh (1983, 1984)
- 2 - Augustin Stable (2001, 2002)
- 2 - Marc Keller (2007, 2008)
- 2 - Alex & JoAnn Lieblong (2009, 2010)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 3 - Angel Cordero, Jr. (1977, 1979, 1990)
- 3 - Jean-Luc Samyn (1991, 2000, 2003)
- 3 - Pat Day (1997, 2001, 2002)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 3 - William I. Mott (1987, 1992, 1996)
Winners of the Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap since 1975
Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Distance (Miles) |
Time |
Grade |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | Flintshire | 5 | Vincent Cheminaud | Andre Fabre | Juddmonte Farms | 1-1/2 | 2:23.77 | I |
2014 | Main Sequence | 5 | Rajiv Maragh | H. Graham Motion | Flaxman Holdings | 1-1/2 | 2:24.72 | I |
2013 | Big Blue Kitten | 5 | Joe Bravo | Chad C. Brown | Sarah & Kenneth Ramsey | 1-1/2 | 2:26.46 | I |
2012 | Point of Entry | 4 | John Velazquez | Claude R. McGaughey III | Phipps Stable | 1-1/2 | 2:26.40 | I |
2011 | Winchester | 6 | Cornelio Velasquez | Christophe Clement | Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone | 1-1/2 | 2:26.74 | I |
2010 | Telling | 6 | Garrett Gomez | Steve Hobby | Alex & JoAnn Lieblong | 1-1/2 | 2:25.29 | I |
2009 | Telling | 5 | Javier Castellano | Steve Hobby | Alex & JoAnn Lieblong | 1-1/2 | 2:25.43 | I |
2008 | Grand Couturier | 5 | Alan Garcia | Robert Ribaudo | Marc Keller | 1-1/2 | 2:32.21 | I |
2007 | Grand Couturier | 4 | Calvin Borel | Robert Ribaudo | Marc Keller | 1-1/2 | 2:26.59 | I |
2006 | Go Deputy | 6 | Eibar Coa | Todd Pletcher | Wertheimer et Frere | 1-1/2 | 2:26.78 | I |
2005 | King's Drama | 5 | Jorge Chavez | Robert J. Frankel | Gary A. Tanaka | 1-1/2 | 2:27.38 | I |
2004 | Better Talk Now | 5 | Ramon Dominguez | H. Graham Motion | Bushwood Stables | 1-1/2 | 2:28.49 | I |
2003 | Whitmore's Conn | 5 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Randy Schulhofer | Michael & Lynn Shanley | 1-1/2 | 2:28.14 | I |
2002 | With Anticipation | 7 | Pat Day | Jonathan Sheppard | Augustin Stable | 1-1/2 | 2:24.06 | I |
2001 | With Anticipation | 6 | Pat Day | Jonathan Sheppard | Augustin Stable | 1-1/2 | 2:26.41 | I |
2000 | John's Call | 9 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Thomas H. Voss | Trillium Stable | 1-1/2 | 2:32.17 | I |
1999 | Honor Glide | 5 | Jose Santos | Christophe Clement | Robert G. Schaedle | 1-1/2 | 2:28.23 | I |
1998 | Cetewayo | 4 | John Velazquez | Michael Dickinson | John A. Chandler | 1-1/2 | 2:29.56 | I |
1997 | Awad | 7 | Pat Day | David G. Donk | Ryehill Farm | 1-1/2 | 2:23.20 | I |
1996 | Broadway Flyer | 5 | Mike E. Smith | William I. Mott | Sultan & Bienstock | 1-1/2 | 2:32.08 | I |
1995 | Kiri's Clown | 6 | Mike Luzzi | Philip G. Johnson | Cobble View Stable | 1-1/2 | 2:25.08 | I |
1994 | Alex The Great | 5 | Pat Valenzuela | Rodney Rash | Vistas Stables | 1-1/2 | 2:28.66 | I |
1993 | Spectacular Tide | 4 | Julie Krone | Stanley M. Hough | Royal Lines Stable | 1-1/2 | 2:30.39 | I |
1992 | Fraise | 4 | Jerry Bailey | William I. Mott | Madeleine Paulson | 1-1/2 | 2:25.88 | I |
1991 | Dr. Root | 4 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Vincent L. Blengs | Barry K. Schwartz | 1-1/2 | 2:25.43 | I |
1990 | El Senor | 6 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | William W. Wright | William W. Wright | 1-1/2 | 2:28.00 | I |
1989 | El Senor | 5 | Herb McCauley | William W. Wright | Frances W. Luro | 1-1/2 | 2:27.00 | I |
1988 | Anka Germania | 6 | Craig Perret | Tom Skiffington | Fernwood Stable | 1-1/2 | 2:32.20 | I |
1987 | Theatrical | 5 | Randy Romero | William I. Mott | Bertram R. Firestone | 1-1/2 | 2:26.00 | I |
1986 | Southern Sultan | 5 | Robbie Davis | Ross Pearce | Buckland Farm | 1-1/2 | 2:39.60 | I |
1985 | Tri For Size | 4 | Robert Thibeau, Jr. | Michael Sedlacek | Rory Green Stable | 1-1/2 | 2:33.20 | I |
1984 | Majesty's Prince | 5 | Eddie Maple | Joseph B. Cantey | John DeWitt Marsh | 1-1/2 | 2:31.00 | I |
1983 | Majesty's Prince | 4 | Eddie Maple | Joseph B. Cantey | John DeWitt Marsh | 1-1/2 | 2:34.40 | II |
1982 | Lemhi Gold | 4 | Chris McCarron | Lazaro S. Barrera | Aaron U. Jones | 1-1/2 | 2:26.00 | II |
1981 | John Henry | 6 | Bill Shoemaker | Lefty Nickerson | Dotsam Stable | 1-1/2 | 2:26.80 | III |
1980 | Tiller | 6 | Ruben Hernandez | David A. Whiteley | William Haggin Perry | 1-1/2 | 2:25.20 | |
1979 | Darby Creek Road | 4 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Howard M. Tesher | H. Joseph Allen | 1-1/16 | 1:41.60 | |
1978 | True Colors | 4 | Michael Venezia | Willard C. Freeman | Robert Billips | 1-1/16 | 1:41.00 | |
1977 | Effervescing | 4 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | John W. Russell | Ogden Phipps | 1-1/16 | 1:39.60 | |
1976 | Arabian Law | 3 | Jacinto Vasquez | David A. Whiteley | Lazy F Ranch | 6 fur. | 1:10.60 | |
1975 | Gallant Bob | 3 | Gerard Gallitano | Joseph Marquette | Robert Horton | 6 fur. | 1:09.60 |
- In 1987, Theatrical was awarded first place following the disqualification of Dance of Life.