Elite Power Stakes

Elite Power Stakes
ClassGrade III
LocationAqueduct Racetrack
Queens, New York, United States
Inaugurated2012 (as Diablo Stakes)
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
WebsiteNYRA
Race information
Distance6 furlongs
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationFour-years-old and older
Weight124 lbs. with allowances
PurseUS$250,000 (since 2025)

The Elite Power Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four years old or older at a distance of six furlongs on the dirt run annually in November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The event currently offers a purse of $250,000.

History

The event was inaugurated on 10 May 2014 as the Diablo Stakes and was won by Royal Currier who started at 7/1.[1] The following year the event was not held.[2] The event was resumed on 14 May 2014 and was won by the favorite Sensational Slam who defeated four other runners including Royal Currier over 6 furlongs in a time of 1:09.07.[3] The event was marred by the disqualification of the second place finisher Green Grotto who was placed third and Royal Currier installed in second for interference 1⁄8 mile from the finishing post. [4] The event was named after the versatile sprinter Diablo who won the 1991 Grade II True North Handicap and the 1992 Grade III Finger Lakes Budweiser Breeders' Cup. [5]

In 2018 the event was renamed to the Runhappy Stakes in honor of the 2015 US Champion Sprint Horse Runhappy.[2]

The event was upgraded to Grade III in 2020[6] but was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Belmont Park ran a shortened meeting and the event was cancelled in favor of the rescheduled Carter Handicap being moved from Aqueduct Racetrack.[7]

In 2024 the event was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.[8]

In 2025 NYRA moved the event from May to November and renamed the event to the Elite Power Stakes after the two-time Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Elite Power.[9]

Records

Speed record:

  • 6 furlongs – 1:08.12 Firenze Fire (2019)

Margins:

  • 4+3⁄4 lengths – Firenze Fire (2019)

Most wins:

  • 2 – Stallwalkin' Dude (2015, 2017)
  • 2 – Firenze Fire (2019, 2021)

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

  • 2 – David Jacobson (2015, 2017)

Most wins by an owner:

  • 2 – David Jacobson (2015, 2017)
  • 2 – Mr. Amore Stable (2019, 2021)

Winners

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time Purse Grade Ref
At Aqueduct – Elite Power Stakes
2025 Just Beat the Odds 5 Manuel Franco Gregory Sacco Donna Wright 1:09.99 $242,500 III [10]
Runhappy Stakes
2024 Joey Freshwater 4 Jose Lezcano Linda L. Rice Winning Move Stable 1:09.41 $169,750 III [11]
At Belmont Park
2023 Candy Man Rocket 5 Junior Alvarado William I. Mott Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc. 1:09.33 $175,000 III [12]
2022 Drafted 8 José Ortiz David P. Duggan Dublin Fjord Stables, Racepoint Stables, Kevin D. Hilbert, & Thom O'Keefe 1:10.84 $139,500 III [13]
2021 Firenze Fire 6 Irad Ortiz Jr. Kelly Breen Mr. Amore Stable 1:09.76 $145,500 III [14]
2020 Race not held
2019 Firenze Fire 4 Irad Ortiz Jr. Jason Servis Mr. Amore Stable 1:08.12 $150,000 Listed [15]
2018 Westwood 4 John R. Velazquez Kiaran P. McLaughlin Godolphin 1:09.45 $147,000 Listed [16]
Diablo Stakes
2017 Stallwalkin' Dude 7 Joe Bravo David Jacobson David Jacobson & Head of Plains Partners 1:10.16 $100,000 Listed [17]
2016 Joking 7 Manuel Franco Charlton Baker Charlton Baker 1:09.44 $100,000 Listed [18]
2015 Stallwalkin' Dude 5 Angel Cruz David Jacobson David Jacobson 1:09.48 $98,000 [19]
2014 Sensational Slam 6 Cornelio Velasquez Patrick Quick Paradise Farms 1:09.07 $98,000 [3]
2013 Race not held
2012 Royal Currier 4 Rajiv Maragh Patricia Farro MAT Stables 1:08.42 $83,300 Listed [1]

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

  1. ^ a b "2012 Diablo Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b "DIABLO STAKES - BELMONT PARK, NY". Thoroughbred Database. 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b "2014 Diablo Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Sensational Slam wins Belmont's Diablo Stakes". ESPN. Associated Press. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Diablo Results History". Equibase. 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  6. ^ Schweigardt, Andrew (2019). "TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2020". Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  7. ^ Ehalt, Bob (19 May 2020). "Belmont Park to Open for Racing June 3". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  8. ^ "NYRA sets 2024 calendar, with Belmont Stakes at Saratoga". nyra.com. New York Racing Association. January 24, 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  9. ^ Grening, David (16 August 2025). "NYRA releases fall stakes for Belmont at the Big A, Aqueduct meets". drf.com. Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  10. ^ "2025 Elite Power Stakes Grade 3 - (race 5)". Equibase. 6 December 2025. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  11. ^ "2024 Runhappy Stakes Grade 3 - (race 4)". Equibase. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  12. ^ "2023 Runhappy Stakes Grade 3 - (race 5)". Equibase. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  13. ^ "2022 Runhappy Stakes Grade 3 - (race 5)". Equibase. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  14. ^ "2021 Runhappy Stakes Grade 3 - (race 4)". Equibase. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  15. ^ "2019 Runhappy Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  16. ^ "2018 Runhappy Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  17. ^ "2017 Diablo Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 7 May 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  18. ^ "2016 Diablo Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  19. ^ "2015 Diablo Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
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