The Cougar II Stakes is a
Grade III American
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...
for three-year-olds over a distance of one and one-half miles on the dirt, scheduled annually in late July or early August at
Del Mar Racetrack
The Del Mar Fairgrounds is an event venue in Del Mar, California. It hosts the annual San Diego County Fair. The venue sits on a property along the Pacific Ocean coastline. It includes the Del Mar Racetrack, built in 1936 by the Del Mar Thoroug ...
in
Del Mar, California
Del Mar (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Of the Sea") is a beach city in San Diego County, California, located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Established in 1885 as a seaside resort, the city incorporated in 1959. The population was 3,954 ...
. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.
History
The event was inaugurated during the first racing season at Del Mar race track on 31 July 1937 as the Escondido Handicap over a distance of six furlongs for horses three-year-old or older. The event was an under card event on Del Mar Handicap day. The winner was Clean Out and the second and third place getters were mares.
[ The event was held once more in 1938 but was interrupted for 11 years and did not resume until 1949 as an event for three-year-old fillies.][ In 1950 the event was held for two-year-olds as the Escondido Stakes.][
The event was idle for three years from 1952 and when it was resumed in 1955 the distance was set to miles.][
In 1956 the Irish-bred Poona set a new track record for the -mile distance of 1:40.20.][
In 1962 the event was moved to the new turf track and run over the mile and one-eighth distance.][
Between 1963 and 1984 the event was held in split divisions eight times.][ and in 1985 when the event was not held due to a boycott by trainers.]National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred horse racing, Thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and Horse trainer, trainers. In 1955, the museum ...
inductee, the Chilean-bred Cougar II
Cougar II (1966–1989) was a Chilean Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse who also competed in the
United States, where he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Cougar was noted for his late running style and versati ...
as the Cougar II Handicap who had set a course record when winning this event in 1970.[
The race from 1988 to 2007 was run as an overnight restricted handicap for horse three-years-old who had not won a sweepstakes during the year over a distance of miles.][
In 2008 the event was moved to the new Polytrack artificial dirt surface which was installed at the track and the distance of the event was extended to miles. The event continued to be held on this surface until 2014.]COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
On December 31, 2019, China announced the discovery of a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan. The first American case was reported on January 20, and United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health and Human Services Secreta ...
, the event was canceled and not rescheduled.[
]
Records
Time record:
* miles (dirt): 2:30.09 – Heywoods Beach (2022)
* miles (polytrack): 2:29.01 – Irish Surf (2014) (Track record)
* miles (turf): 2:12.06 - †Laura's Lucky Boy (2005)
* miles (turf): 1:49.00 - Cougar II
Cougar II (1966–1989) was a Chilean Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse who also competed in the
United States, where he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Cougar was noted for his late running style and versati ...
( CHI) (1970)
* miles (turf): 1:42.00 - Advocatum (1981)
* miles (dirt): 1:40.20 - Poona II ( IRE) (1956) (Track record)
* furlongs (turf): 1:27.40 - Buck Price (1975)
Margins:
* lengths: – Midnight Mammoth (2024)
Most wins:
* 2 – Big John A (1968, 1969)
* 2 – Dowty (1997, 1998)
* 2 – Richard's Kid (2012, 2013)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 – Juddmonte (1988, 1991, 2002)
* 3 – Glen Hill Farm (1974, 1977, 2003)
* 3 – Gary A. Tanaka (1996, 2004, 2007)
Most wins by a jockey
A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used ...
:
* 4 – Fernando Toro (1970, 1978, 1987, 1988)
* 4 – Rafael Bejarano (2012, 2015, 2018, 2019)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 4 – Robert J. Frankel (1975, 1991, 1993, 2002)
* 4 – Richard E. Mandella (1987, 2001, 2005, 2021)
* 4 – John W. Sadler (2008, 2016, 2019, 2022)
Winners
''Legend:''
''Notes:''
§ Ran as an entry
Entry may refer to:
*Entry, West Virginia, an unincorporated community in the United States
*Entry (cards), a term used in trick-taking card-games
*Entry (economics), a term in connection with markets
*Entry (film), ''Entry'' (film), a 2013 Indian ...
ƒ Filly or Mare
‡ In 1949 the event was for three-year-old fillies
♯ In 1950 the event was for two-year-olds as Escondido Stakes
† In the 2005 running, Sarafan was first past the post but was disqualified for interference in the straight and Laura's Lucky Boy was declared the winner.
See also
List of American and Canadian Graded races
External links
2022 Del Mar Media Guide
References
{{reflist, 2
Del Mar Racetrack
Horse races in California
Graded stakes races in the United States
Open middle distance horse races
Recurring sporting events established in 1937
Grade 3 stakes races in the United States
1937 establishments in California