| Restricted State-bred Stakes race | |
| Location | Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland, United States OR Laurel Park Racecourse, Laurel, Maryland, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1973 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 mile (8 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds & up; fillies and mares |
| Purse | $125,000 |
Geisha Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in April since 1973 primarily at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore or at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel. To be eligible for the Geisha Handicap, a horse must be bred in Maryland. Due to that restriction the race is classified as a non-graded or "listed" stakes race and is not eligible for grading by the American Graded Stakes Committee.
In 2012 the Geisha Stakes is run at one mile. The race was run at 1+1⁄16 miles for its first 30 years in existence from 1973–2003. The race was run on the turf one year in 1988.
In its 39th running in 2010, the race was named in honor of Alfred G. Vanderbilt's Geisha, a Maryland-bred daughter of Discovery and bred by John P. Grier. She was foaled at the famed Sagamore Farm in Glyndon, Maryland in 1943. She was bred to Preakness Stakes winner Polynesian and produced Native Dancer in 1950, one of the greatest race horses and sires of the 20th century.
Records
Speed record:
- 1+1⁄16 miles (8.5 furlongs) : 1:42.20 – Any Spray (1984)
- 1+1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs) : 1:51.40 – Prominade Girl (2004)
Most wins by an owner:
- 4 – Stephen Quick (2004, 2007, 2008 & 2009)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 4 – William J. Passmore (1974, 1975, 1976 and 1980)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 4 – Christopher W. Grove (2004, 2007, 2008 & 2009)
Winners of the Geisha Stakes
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
Dist. (Miles) |
Time | Purse$ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Kiss the Girl | 5 | Victor Carrasco | Michael Trombetta | Three Diamonds Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:40.69 | $100,000 |
| 2021 | Gale | 4 | Sheldon Russell | Jonathan Thomas | Robert V. LaPenta | 1-1/16 | 1:39.24 | $100,000 |
| 2020 | Artful Splatter | 4 | Alex Cintron | Kieron Magee | James C. Wolf | 1-1/16 | 1:39.46 | $100,000 |
| 2019 | Race not held | |||||||
| 2018 | Victory Rally | 4 | Jose Vargas | Michael R. Matz | Richard L. Golden | 1-1/16 | 1:38.08 | $75,000 |
| 2017 | My Magician | 5 | Jomar Torres | Claudio Gonzalez | Euro Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:37.20 | $75,000 |
| 2016 | Rockin Jojo | 4 | Frankie Pennington | James Ness | Michael Cox | 1-1/16 | 1:39.42 | $100,000 |
| 2015 | Brenda's Way | 5 | Jevian Toledo | Damon Dilodovico | Big Bertha Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:46.78 | $100,000 |
| 2014 | Celtic Kate | 5 | Javier Santiago | Christopher Grove | Lewis Family Racing | 1-1/16 | 1:46.67 | $100,000 |
| 2013 | Access To Charlie | 5 | Julian Pimentel | Lawrence E. Murray | Howard M. Bender | 1 mile | 1:39.56 | $125,000 |
| 2012 | Bold Affair | 4 | Abel Castellano Jr. | Howard Wolfendale | Charles Reed & M.Zanella | 1 mile | 1:38.31 | $125,000 |
| 2011 | Baltimore Belle | 4 | Julian Pimentel | Michael Trombetta | R. Larry Johnson | 1 mile | 1:37.72 | $75,000 |
| 2010 | Fascinatin' Rhythm | 5 | Forest Boyce | Richard W. Small | Buckingham Farm | 1 mile | 1:37.14 | $75,000 |
| 2009 | Princess Nyla | 4 | Julian Pimentel | Christopher W. Grove | Stephen Quick | 1-1/16 | 1:45.43 | $75,000 |
| 2008 | Lexi Star | 6 | Jeremy Rose | Christopher W. Grove | Stephen Quick | 1-1/16 | 1:43.76 | $75,000 |
| 2007 | Lexi Star | 5 | J. D. Acosta | Christopher W. Grove | Stephen Quick | 1-1/8 | 1:53.40 | $75,000 |
| 2006 | Sassy Love | 5 | Luis Garcia | Casey J. Randall | Michael J. Harrison | 1-1/8 | 1:54.00 | $75,000 |
| 2005 | Promenade Girl | 3 | Erick Rodriguez | Lawrence E. Murray | Sondra D. Bender | 1-1/8 | 1:51.40 | $75,000 |
| 2004 | Silmaril | 3 | Abel Castellano Jr. | Christopher W. Grove | Stephen E. Quick | 1-1/8 | 1:53.80 | $100,000 |
| 2003 | Cruise Along | 5 | Abel Castellano Jr. | Lawrence E. Murray | Sondra D. Bender | 1-1/16 | 1:42.80 | $100,000 |
| 2002 | Shiny Sheet | 4 | Jeremy Rose | Charles H. Hadry | Henry T. Rathburn | 1-1/16 | 1:44.40 | $100,000 |
| 2001 | Shine Again | 4 | Jean-Luc Samyn | H. Allen Jerkens | Bohemia Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:43.60 | $100,000 |
| 2000 | Unbridled Lady | 4 | Mario Pino | Robin L. Graham | Alan S. Kline | 1-1/16 | 1:44.80 | $100,000 |
| 1999 | Truth and Nobility | 4 | Steve Capanas | Roger J. Seeger | Briter Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:43.60 | $100,000 |
| 1998 | Weather Vane | 4 | Mario Pino | Richard W. Delp | Par Four Racing Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:43.80 | $100,000 |
| 1997 | Churchbell Chimes | 6 | Edgar S. Prado | J. William Boniface | Susan Y. Granville | 1-1/16 | 1:42.80 | $100,000 |
| 1996 | Urbane | 4 | Jose Valdivia Jr. | Randy Bradshaw | Siegel Family | 1-1/16 | 1:44.00 | $100,000 |
| 1995 | Calipha | 4 | Kent Desormeaux | Grover G. Delp | Nancy Bayard | 1-1/16 | 1:50.00 | $100,000 |
| 1994 | Stars Knockout | 5 | Richard Migliore | Michael E. Hushion | Liberation Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:43.60 | $100,000 |
| 1993 | Green Darlin | 4 | Joe Bravo | Lawrence E. Murray | Howard & Sondra Bender | 1-1/16 | 1:43.80 | $100,000 |
| 1992 | Brilliant Brass | 5 | Edgar Prado | Carlos A. Garcia | Elaine L. Bassford | 1-1/16 | 1:43.00 | $100,000 |
| 1991 | Capp the Power | 4 | Mike Luzzi | Ronald Cartwright | C. Oliver Goldsmith | 1-1/16 | 1:43.60 | $100,000 |
| 1990 | Thirty Eight Go Go | 5 | Donnie A. Miller Jr. | King T. Leatherbury | Janet Wayson | 1-1/16 | 1:42.60 | $100,000 |
| 1989 | Thirty Eight Go Go | 4 | Kent Desormeaux | King T. Leatherbury | Janet Wayson | 1-1/16 | 1:42.40 | $100,000 |
| 1988 | Thirty Eight Go Go | 3 | Donnie A. Miller Jr. | King T. Leatherbury | Janet Wayson | 1-1/16 | 1:43.20 | $80,000 |
| 1987 | Alden's Ambition | 6 | Jesse Davidson | Jerry Robb | Hal C. B. Clagett | 1-1/16 | 1:44.00 | $60,000 |
| 1986 | Owned by All | 6 | Vincent Bracciale Jr. | Richard W. Small | Baird C. Brittingham | 1-1/16 | 1:44.80 | $60,000 |
| 1985 | Owned by All | 5 | Danny Wright | Richard W. Small | Baird C. Brittingham | 1-1/16 | 1:42.40 | $60,000 |
| 1984 | Any Spray | 4 | Dave Byrnes | Beverly P. Hacker | John A. Manfuso | 1-1/16 | 1:42.20 | $60,000 |
| 1983 | Kattegat's Pride | 4 | Donnie A. Miller Jr. | Joseph A. Devereux | Stephen E. Quick | 1-1/16 | 1:45.40 | $60,000 |
| 1982 | Zvetlana | 4 | Leroy Moyers | Filemon Veriay | Mrs. Augustus Riggs IV | 1-1/16 | 1:45.00 | $60,000 |
| 1981 | Weber City Miss | 4 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Howard M. Tesher | H. Joseph Allen | 1-1/16 | 1:44.00 | $60,000 |
| 1980 | Jameela | 4 | William J. Passmore | Hyman M. Ravich | Richard W. Worthington | 1-1/16 | 1:44.40 | $60,000 |
| 1979 | Pearl Necklace | 5 | Ruben Hernandez | Roger Laurin | Reginald N. Webster | 1-1/16 | 1:43.20 | $60,000 |
| 1978 | Luck Penny | 5 | Ronald Ardoin | Bernard P. Bond | Thomas J. Barry | 1-1/16 | 1:47.00 | $35,000 |
| 1977 | Gala Lil | 5 | George Cusimano | Bernard P. Bond | Mrs. Gertude Leviton | 1-1/16 | 1:42.60 | $27,500 |
| 1976 # | Gala Lil | 4 | Leroy Moyers | Bernard P. Bond | Mrs. Gertude Leviton | 1-1/16 | 1:51.00 | $100,000 |
| 1976 # | Crackerfax | 5 | William J. Passmore | Thomas C. Patterson | Fourbros Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:44.00 | $25,000 |
| 1975 | Twixt | 6 | William J. Passmore | Katherine M. Voss | Mrs. John M. Franklin | 1-1/16 | 1:44.60 | $35,000 |
| 1974 | Twixt | 5 | William J. Passmore | Katherine M. Voss | Mrs. John M. Franklin | 1-1/16 | 1:45.00 | $35,000 |
| 1973 | Alma North | 5 | Ron Turcotte | Frank J. Zitto | East Acres Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:42.80 | $28,000 |
See also
References
- Maryland Million 2008, October 4, Laurel Park, Official Souvenir Guide for 23rd Running, page 4 and 5.