HOPEFUL STAKES · UNITED STATES
Hopeful Stakes prize money
The Hopeful Stakes is worth $300,000 for the 2021 running . That makes it the 298th richest of the 997 races on this site and the 113th richest in the United States.
Every figure here is the money the race announces, in the currency it announces it in. The currency control at the top swaps the whole page.
TOTAL PRIZE MONEY $300,000
WORLD RANK 298th
RUNNINGS HELD 126
FIRST RUN 1903
What the Hopeful Stakes is
Grade I · 7 furlongs · Dirt · Saratoga Race Course
- Racecourse
- Saratoga Race Course
- Country
- United States
- Grade
- Grade I
- Distance
- 7 furlongs
- Surface
- Dirt
- Race type
- Thoroughbred, Flat racing
- Open to
- Two-year-olds
- Direction
- left-handed
- First run
- 1903
We hold the total fund for the Hopeful Stakes and no separate winner's cheque. What the winner takes is a rule the racecourse sets rather than a national one, and it varies race by race.
Run in 1:24.08 in 2026, the Hopeful Stakes pays $3,568 for every second of the race, which is 204th of the 611 races in horse racing prize money per second and 111th in the United States.
Every Hopeful Stakes winner
126 runnings, 1903 to 2026, newest first
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | The Good Life1:24.08 | Manuel_Franco_(jockey) | Brad H. Cox | WinStar Farm |
| 2025 | Ted Noffey1:22.35 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Spendthrift Farm |
| 2024 | Chancer McPatrick1:23.44 | Flavien Prat | Chad C. Brown | Flanagan Racing |
| 2023 | Nutella Fella1:24.41 | Junior Alvarado | Gary C. Contessa | Bell Gable Stable |
| 2022 | Forte1:22.58 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable |
| 2021 | Gunite1:23.08 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds |
| 2020 | Jackie's Warrior1:21.29 | Joel Rosario | Steven M. Asmussen | J. Kirk & Judy Robison |
| 2019 | Basin1:23.48 | José Ortiz | Steven M. Asmussen | Jackpot Farm (Terry Green) |
| 2018 | Mind Control1:22.99 | John R. Velazquez | Gregory D. Sacco | Red Oak Stable (Steve Brunetti) & Madaket Stables, LLC |
| 2017 | Sporting Chance1:23.71 | Luis Saez | D. Wayne Lukas | Robert C. Baker & William L. Mack |
| 2016 | Practical Joke1:23.39 | José Ortiz | Chad Brown | Klaravich Stables & William Lawrence |
| 2015 | Ralis1:22.30 | Javier Castellano | Doug F. O'Neill | Reddam Racing |
| 2014 | Competitive Edge1:24.11 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Nancy Favreau, Kathy Psoinos LLC, Michael Tabor |
| 2013 | Strong Mandate1:23.55 | José Ortiz | D. Wayne Lukas | Robert C. Baker & William L. Mack |
| 2012 | Shanghai Bobby1:22.72 | Rosie Napravnik | Todd A. Pletcher | Starlight Racing (Jack & Laurie Wolf) |
| 2011 | Currency Swap1:26.16 | Rajiv Maragh | Terri Pompay | Klaravich Stables & William Lawrence |
| 2010 | Boys At Tosconova1:23.27 | Ramon Domínguez | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | Jay Em Ess Stable, et al. |
| 2009 | Dublin1:23.52 | Jamie Theriot | D. Wayne Lukas | Robert C. Baker & William L. Mack |
| 2008 | Vineyard Haven1:23.40 | Alan Garcia | Robert J. Frankel | Robert J. Frankel, Louis Lazzinnaro, Diamond Pride LLC |
| 2007 | Majestic Warrior1:23.04 | Garrett Gomez | William I. Mott | Kinsman Stable |
| 2006 | Circular Quay1:23.00 | Garrett Gomez | Todd A. Pletcher | Michael & Doreen Tabor |
| 2005 | First Samurai1:23.25 | Jerry D. Bailey | Frank L. Brothers | Bruce Lunsford & Lansdon B. Robbins III |
| 2004 | Afleet Alex1:23.58 | Jeremy Rose | Tim Ritchey | Cash is King LLC |
| 2003 | Silver Wagon1:23.47 | Jerry D. Bailey | Ralph Ziadie | Buckram Oak Farm |
| 2002 | Sky Mesa1:23.08 | Edgar Prado | John T. Ward | John C. Oxley |
| 2001 | Came Home1:21.94 | Chris McCarron | J. Paco Gonzalez | Trudy McCaffery |
| 2000 | Yonaguska (DH)1:24.52 | Jerry D. Bailey | D. Wayne Lukas | Michael Tabor |
| 2000 | City Zip (DH)1:24.52 | José A. Santos | Linda L. Rice | Charles R. Thompson & Carl T. Bowling |
| 1999 | High Yield1:22.85 | Jerry D. Bailey | D. Wayne Lukas | Bob & Beverly Lewis |
| 1998 | Lucky Roberto1:23.81 | Robbie Davis | Frank A. Alexander | Jesse Robinson |
| 1997 | Favorite Trick1:23.87 | Pat Day | Patrick B. Byrne | Joseph LaCombe |
| 1996 | Smoke Glacken1:23.63 | Craig Perret | Henry L. Carroll | Karkenny Levy et al. |
| 1995 | Hennessy1:23.44 | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Bob & Beverly Lewis |
| 1994 | Wild Escapade1:23.24 | Jorge F. Chavez | Leo O'Brien | Dogwood Stable |
| 1993 | Dehere1:15.80 | Chris McCarron | Reynaldo Nobles | Due Process Stable |
| 1992 | Great Navigator1:15.71 | Aaron Gryder | John F. Mazza | Roron Stables (Ron & Rosemary Shockley) |
| 1991 | Salt Lake1:17.74 | Mike E. Smith | D. Wayne Lukas | William T. Young |
| 1990 | Deposit Ticket1:16.20 | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm |
| 1989 | Summer Squall1:16.80 | Pat Day | Neil J. Howard | Dogwood Stable |
| 1988 | Mercedes Won1:16.60 | Robbie Davis | Arnold Fink | Christopher Spencer |
| 1987 | Crusader Sword1:18.60 | Randy Romero | MacKenzie Miller | Rokeby Stable |
| 1986 | Gulch1:16.40 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | LeRoy Jolley | Peter M. Brant |
| 1985 | Papal Power1:18.40 | Don MacBeth | Charles Peoples | Bayard Sharp |
| 1984 | Chief's Crown1:16.00 | Don MacBeth | Roger Laurin | Star Crown Stable (Andrew Rosen, et al.) |
| 1983 | Capitol South1:17.40 | Jerry D. Bailey | Lou Rondinello | Darby Dan Farm |
| 1982 | Copelan1:16.60 | Jerry D. Bailey | Mitchell Griffin | Fred W. Hooper |
| 1981 | Timely Writer1:16.20 | Roger Danjean | Dominic Imprescia | Peter Martin |
| 1980 | Tap Shoes1:17.00 | Ruben Hernandez | Howard M. Tesher | Leone J. Peters |
| 1979 | J.P. Brother1:16.20 | Joseph Imparato | John P. Campo | Diamond Peg Stable (Mrs. John P. Campo) |
| 1978 | General Assembly1:16.40 | Darrel McHargue | LeRoy Jolley | Bertram R. Firestone |
| 1977 | Affirmed1:15.40 | Steve Cauthen | Laz Barrera | Harbor View Farm |
| 1976 | Banquet Table1:16.20 | Jean Cruguet | George T. Poole Jr. | Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney |
| 1975 | Jackknife1:16.60 | Jean Cruguet | John P. Campo | Elmendorf Farm |
| 1975 | Eustace1:16.40 | James Nichols | Wayne Rose | Eugene Cashman |
| 1974 | The Bagel Prince1:16.80 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | John Pappalardo | Edward Shamie |
| 1974 | Foolish Pleasure1:16.00 | Braulio Baeza | LeRoy Jolley | John L. Greer |
| 1973 | Gusty O'Shay1:16.40 | Robert Kotenko | Harrison E. Johnson | Helen Hopkins |
| 1972 | Secretariat1:16.20 | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin | |Meadow Stable |
| 1971 | Rest Your Case1:17.40 | Jacinto Vásquez | MacKenzie Miller | Cragwood Stables |
| 1970 | Proudest Roman1:18.60 | John L. Rotz | Woody Stephens | Mrs. John A. Morris |
| 1969 | Irish Castle1:17.20 | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Wheatley Stable |
| 1968 | Top Knight1:16.00 | Manuel Ycaza | Raymond Metcalf | Steven B. Wilson |
| 1967 | What A Pleasure1:16.40 | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Wheatley Stable |
| 1966 | Bold Hour1:17.20 | John L. Rotz | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. |
| 1965 | Buckpasser1:16.00 | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Ogden Phipps |
| 1964 | Bold Lad1:15.60 | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Wheatley Stable |
| 1963 | Traffic1:18.60 | Manuel Ycaza | Lucien Laurin | Reginald N. Webster |
| 1962 | Outing Class1:17.00 | Donald Pierce | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable |
| 1961 | Jaipur1:16.40 | Bill Shoemaker | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. |
| 1960 | Hail To Reason1:16.00 | Bobby Ussery | Hirsch Jacobs | Patrice Jacobs |
| 1959 | Tompion1:17.40 | Bill Shoemaker | Sylvester Veitch | C. V. Whitney |
| 1958 | First Landing1:17.80 | Eddie Arcaro | Casey Hayes | Christopher Chenery |
| 1957 | Rose Trellis1:18.40 | Frank Lovato | Richard E. Handlen | Foxcatcher Farm |
| 1956 | King Hairan1:18.40 | Eddie Arcaro | Raymond Metcalf | Leo Edwards |
| 1955 | Needles1:18.20 | John Choquette | Hugh L. Fontaine | D & H Stable (Jack Dudley & Bonnie Heath) |
| 1954 | Nashua1:17.80 | Eddie Arcaro | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud |
| 1953 | Artismo1:18.00 | Dave Gorman | Robert L. Dotter | James Cox Brady Jr. |
| 1952 | Native Dancer1:18.80 | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt Jr. |
| 1951 | Cousin1:19.20 | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt Jr. |
| 1950 | Battlefield1:18.00 | Eric Guerin | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. |
| 1949 | Middleground1:18.40 | Dave Gorman | Max Hirsch | King Ranch |
| 1948 | Blue Peter1:19.20 | Eric Guerin | Andy Schuttinger | Joseph M. Roebling |
| 1947 | Relic1:17.40 | John H. Adams | George P. "Maj" Odom | Circle M. Farm (Edward S. Moore) |
| 1946 | Blue Border1:17.00 | Abelardo DeLara | James W. Smith | Edward R. Bradley |
| 1945 | Star Pilot1:16.60 | Arnold Kirkland | Tom Smith | Maine Chance Farm |
| 1944 | Pavot1:18.80 | George Woolf | Oscar White | Walter M. Jeffords |
| 1943 | Bee Mac1:18.40 | Sterling Young | James W. Smith | Beatrice MacGuire |
| 1942 | Devil's Thumb1:18.40 | Conn McCreary | Cecil Wilhelm | |William Edward Boeing |
| 1941 | Devil Diver1:18.60 | Jack Skelly | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable |
| 1940 | Whirlaway1:18.00 | Johnny Longden | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm |
| 1939 | Bimelech1:18.80 | Fred A. Smith | William A. Hurley | Edward R. Bradley |
| 1938 | El Chico1:18.40 | Nick Wall | Matthew Peter Brady | William Ziegler Jr. |
| 1937 | Sky Larking1:20.80 | Alfred Robertson | Robert McGarvey | Milky Way Farm Stable |
| 1936 | Maedic1:20.20 | Eddie Litzenberger | William A. Hurley | Maemere Farm (DeWitt Page) |
| 1935 | Red Rain1:19.80 | Raymond Workman | Thomas J. Healey | C. V. Whitney |
| 1934 | Psychic Bid1:18.80 | Mack Garner | Robert A. Smith | Brookmeade Stable |
| 1933 | Bazaar1:19.00 | Don Meade | Herbert J. Thompson | Edward R. Bradley |
| 1932 | Ladysman1:19.40 | Robert Jones | Bennett W. Creech | William R. Coe |
| 1931 | Tick On1:20.40 | Pete Walls | Max Hirsch | Loma Stable (Marie Kaufman) |
| 1930 | Epithet1:17.60 | Willie Kelsay | Henry McDaniel | Gifford A. Cochran |
| 1929 | Boojum1:17.00 | Raymond Workman | James G. Rowe Jr. | Harry Payne Whitney |
| 1928 | Jack High1:19.40 | George Ellis | A. Jack Joyner | George D. Widener Jr. |
| 1927 | Brooms1:20.00 | John Maiben | Gwyn R. Tompkins | Brookmeade Stable |
| 1926 | Lord Chaucer1:19.80 | Frank Coltiletti | J. H. "Bud" Stotler | Sagamore Farm |
| 1925 | Pompey1:17.80 | Laverne Fator | William H. Karrick | Shoshone Stable |
| 1924 | Master Charlie1:13.00 | George Babin | Andrew G. Blakely | William Daniel |
| 1923 | Diogenes1:12.60 | Clyde Ponce | Robert A. Smith | Walter M. Jeffords |
| 1922 | Dunlin1:12.40 | Clarence Kummer | William M. Garth | Joshua S. Cosden |
| 1921 | Morvich1:12.60 | Albert Johnson | Fred Burlew | Benjamin Block |
| 1920 | Leonardo II1:12.40 | Andy Schuttinger | Kimball Patterson | Xalapa Farm (Edward F. Simms) |
| 1919 | Man o' War1:13.00 | Johnny Loftus | Louis Feustel | Glen Riddle Farm |
| 1918 | Eternal1:13.60 | Andy Schuttinger | Kimball Patterson | James W. McClelland |
| 1917 | Sun Briar1:15.60 | Willie Knapp | Henry McDaniel | Willis Sharpe Kilmer |
| 1916 | Campfire1:14.60 | John McTaggart | Thomas J. Healey | Richard T. Wilson Jr. |
| 1915 | Dominant1:13.80 | Joe Notter | James G. Rowe Sr. | Lewis S. Thompson |
| 1914 | Regret1:16.40 | Joe Notter | James G. Rowe Sr. | Harry Payne Whitney |
| 1913 | Bringhurst1:12.40 | Johnny Loftus | J. Oliver Keene | Johnson N. Camden Jr. |
| 1912 | No races held due to the Hart-Agnew Law. | |||
| 1910 | Novelty1:14.00 | A. Thomas | Sam Hildreth | Sam Hildreth |
| 1909 | Rocky O'Brien1:13.20 | Vincent Powers | Kimball Patterson | James MacManus |
| 1908 | Helmet1:12.20 | Joe Notter | James G. Rowe Sr. | James R. Keene |
| 1907 | Jim Gaffney1:15.00 | David Nicol | Frank D. Weir | Frank J. Farrell |
| 1906 | Peter Pan1:12.20 | Willie Knapp | James G. Rowe Sr. | James R. Keene |
| 1905 | Mohawk II1:13.40 | Arthur Redfern | Hubert H. Hyner | John Sanford |
| 1904 | Tanya1:13.20 | Gene Hildebrand | John W. Rogers | Herman B. Duryea |
| 1903 | Delhi1:13.20 | Willie Gannon | James G. Rowe Sr. | James R. Keene |
125 of the 126 runnings name the rider, 125 name the trainer and 125 name the owner, who is the one of the three the prize money actually belongs to.
Who wins the Hopeful Stakes more than once
The fact the table above holds and cannot show
No horse has won the Hopeful Stakes twice in the 126 runnings on this page.
Most wins by a trainer
Races worth about the same
Either side of the Hopeful Stakes in the world money order
| # | Race | Country | Prize money | As published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 288 | Premio Vittorio di CapuaSan Siro Racecourse | Italy | $312,607 | €275,000 |
| 289 | Singapore DerbySingapore Turf Club | Singapore | $309,305 | S$400,000 |
| 290 | American OaksSanta Anita Park | United States | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| 291 | American Pharoah StakesSanta Anita Park | United States | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| 292 | Clásico del CaribeVariable | $300,000 | $300,000 | |
| 293 | Del Mar Debutante StakesDel Mar Racetrack | United States | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| 294 | Del Mar FuturityDel Mar Racetrack | United States | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| 295 | Del Mar OaksDel Mar Racetrack | United States | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| 296 | Goodwood StakesSanta Anita Park | United States | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| 297 | Gotham StakesAqueduct Racetrack | United States | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| 299 | Indiana DerbyHorseshoe Indianapolis | United States | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| 300 | Jebel HattaMeydan Racecourse | United Arab Emirates | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| 301 | La Brea StakesSanta Anita Park | United States | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| 302 | Malibu StakesSanta Anita Park | United States | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| 303 | Matriarch StakesDel Mar Racetrack | United States | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| 304 | Pennine Ridge StakesBelmont Park | United States | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| 305 | Santa Anita HandicapSanta Anita Park | United States | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| 306 | Shoemaker Mile StakesSanta Anita Park | United States | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| 307 | Spinaway StakesSaratoga Race Course | United States | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| 308 | Thorndon MileTrentham | New Zealand | $293,199 | NZ$500,000 |
The 20 races closest to the Hopeful Stakes in what they pay, above and below it. Follow the ranking all the way up on the richest races in the world.
The rest of the money in the United States
196 races, 113th of them is this one
| Race | Racecourse | Grade | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Del Mar Futurity | Del Mar Racetrack | Grade I | $300,000 |
| Del Mar Oaks | Del Mar Racetrack | Grade 1 | $300,000 |
| Goodwood Stakes | Santa Anita Park | Grade I | $300,000 |
| Gotham Stakes | Aqueduct Racetrack | Grade III | $300,000 |
| Indiana Derby | Horseshoe Indianapolis | Grade III | $300,000 |
| La Brea Stakes | Santa Anita Park | Grade I | $300,000 |
| Malibu Stakes | Santa Anita Park | Grade I | $300,000 |
| Matriarch Stakes | Del Mar Racetrack | Grade 1 | $300,000 |
Every race in the United States we hold a purse for is on the United States prize money list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the total Hopeful Stakes prize money?
$300,000, for the 2021 running.
Where does the Hopeful Stakes rank among the richest races in the world?
298th of 997. 297 races pay more, the nearest of them Premio Vittorio di Capua. In the United States it is 113th of 196.
Which jockey has won the Hopeful Stakes most often?
Jerry D. Bailey, with 6 wins between 1982 and 2005.
When was the Hopeful Stakes first run?
1903. This page holds 126 runnings, from 1903 to 2026.
How far is the Hopeful Stakes?
7 furlongs, on dirt, at Saratoga Race Course.
Where to next
The rest of the racing money