Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series > Sword Dancer Stakes
Sword Dancer Stakes Race Facts
- Location: Saratoga Race Course, Sarasota Springs, NY
- Inaugural Race: 1975
- Distance: 1 & 1/2 miles (12 furlongs)
- Track Type: Left-handed, Turf
- Age Qualifications: Three Year Olds and up
- 2021 Purse: $750,000
- 2021 Race Date: Saturday, August 28th
2021 Sword Dancer Stakes Race Results
| POST | HORSE | JOCKEY / TRAINER | WIN / PLACE / SHOW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Gufo | Joel Rosario / Christophe Clement | $7.10 / $3.80 / $2.80 |
| 6 | Japan (GB) | Ryan L. Moore / Aidan P. O'Brien | $4.00 / $3.10 |
| 7 | Cross Border | Luis Saez / Michael J. Maker | $3.70 |
| 3 | Rockemperor (IRE) | Irad Ortiz, Jr. / Chad C. Brown | |
| 1 | Tribhuvan (FR) | Flavien Prat / Chad C. Brown | |
| 4 | Channel Maker | Manuel Franco / William I. Mott | |
| 5 | Moretti | Jose L. Ortiz / Todd A. Pletcher |
Exotic Payoffs:
- $1.00 Exacta (2-6) Paid: $14.60
- $0.50 Trifecta (2-6-7) Paid: $34.25
- $0.10 Superfecta (2-6-7-3) Paid: $19.17
Watch the 2021 Sword Dancer Stakes
Sword Dancer Stakes Race History
Founded in 1975, the Sword Dancer Stakes is a Grade I race run each year at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The race is named in honor of the legendary stallion Sword Dancer, who is known for his incredible three year old season in which he won the Belmont Stakes and took second place in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. That year he was named US Champion 3-Yr-old Colt and Horse of the Year.
Before settling at its current distance of 12 furlongs, the race was contested both 6 and 8 1/2 furlongs. At its current distance, Awad holds the speed record when he turned in a 2:23.20 time in the 1997 edition. Currently six horses are tied for most wins at two: Majesty’s Prince (1983, 1984), El Senor (1989, 1990), With Anticipation (2001, 2002), Grand Couturier (2007, 2008), Telling (2009, 2010), and Flintshire (2015, 2016). Pat Day holds the record for most wins by a jockey with four (1987, 1997, 2001, 2002), while Chad C. Brown (2013, 2016, 2019) and William I. Mott (1987, 1992, 1996) share the record for most wins by an owner with three each.
As part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, the race has been a “win and you’re in” qualifying race for the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Sword Dancer Stakes Past Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey / Trainer | Distance / Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Gufo | Joel Rosario / Christophe Clement | 1 1/2 M / 2:28.30 |
| 2020 | Channel Maker | Manuel Franco / William Mott | 1 1/2 M / 2:34.86 |
| 2019 | Annals of Time | Javier Castellano / Chad C. Brown | 1 1/2 M / 2:27.50 |
| 2018 | Glorious Empire | Julien Leparoux / James L. Lawrence, II | 1 1/2 M / 2:24.41 |
| 2017 | Sadler's Joy | Julien Leparoux / Thomas Albertrani | 1 1/2 M / 2:24.58 |
| 2016 | Flintshire (GB) | Javier Castellano / Chad C. Brown | 1 1/2 M / 2:23.45 |
| 2015 | Flintshire (GB) | Vincent Cheminaud / André Fabre | 1 1/2 M / 2:23.77 |
| 2014 | Main Sequence | Rajiv Maragh / H. Graham Motion | 1 1/2 M / 2:24.72 |
| 2013 | Big Blue Kitten | Joe Bravo / Chad C. Brown | 1 1/2 M / 2:26.46 |
| 2012 | Point of Entry | John Velazquez / Claude R. McGaughey III | 1 1/2 M / 2:26.40 |
| 2011 | Winchester | Cornelio Velásquez / Christophe Clement | 1 1/2 M / 2:26.74 |
| 2010 | Telling | Garrett Gomez / Steve Hobby | 1 1/2 M / 2:25.29 |
| 2009 | Telling | Javier Castellano / Steve Hobby | 1 1/2 M / 2:25.43 |
| 2008 | Grand Couturier | Alan Garcia / Robert Ribaudo | 1 1/2 M / 2:32.21 |
| 2007 | Grand Couturier | Calvin Borel / Robert Ribaudo | 1 1/2 M / 2:26.59 |
| 2006 | Go Deputy | Eibar Coa / Todd Pletcher | 1 1/2 M / 2:26.78 |
| 2005 | King's Drama | Jorge Chavez / Robert J. Frankel | 1 1/2 M / 2:27.38 |
| 2004 | Better Talk Now | Ramon Domínguez / H. Graham Motion | 1 1/2 M / 2:28.49 |
| 2003 | Whitmore's Conn | Jean-Luc Samyn / Randy Schulhofer | 1 1/2 M / 2:28.14 |
| 2002 | With Anticipation | Pat Day / Jonathan Sheppard | 1 1/2 M / 2:24.06 |
| 2001 | With Anticipation | Pat Day / Jonathan Sheppard | 1 1/2 M / 2:26.41 |
| 2000 | John's Call | Jean-Luc Samyn / Thomas H. Voss | 1 1/2 M / 2:32.17 |
| 1999 | Honor Glide | José A. Santos / Christophe Clement | 1 1/2 M / 2:28.23 |
| 1998 | Cetewayo | John Velazquez / Michael Dickinson | 1 1/2 M / 2:29.56 |
| 1997 | Awad | Pat Day / David G. Donk | 1 1/2 M / 2:23.20 |
| 1996 | Broadway Flyer | Mike E. Smith / William I. Mott | 1 1/2 M / 2:32.08 |
| 1995 | Kiri's Clown | Mike Luzzi / Philip G. Johnson | 1 1/2 M / 2:25.08 |
| 1994 | Alex The Great | Pat Valenzuela / Rodney Rash | 1 1/2 M / 2:28.66 |
| 1993 | Spectacular Tide | Julie Krone / Stanley M. Hough | 1 1/2 M / 2:30.39 |
| 1992 | Fraise | Jerry Bailey / William I. Mott | 1 1/2 M / 2:25.88 |
| 1991 | Dr. Root | Jean-Luc Samyn / Vincent L. Blengs | 1 1/2 M / 2:25.43 |
| 1990 | El Senor | Ángel Cordero Jr. / William W. Wright | 1 1/2 M / 2:28.00 |
| 1989 | El Senor | Herb McCauley / William W. Wright | 1 1/2 M / 2:27.00 |
| 1988 | Anka Germania | Craig Perret / Tom Skiffington | 1 1/2 M / 2:32.20 |
| 1987 | Theatrical | Pat Day / William I. Mott | 1 1/2 M / 2:26.00 |
| 1986 | Southern Sultan | Robbie Davis / Ross Pearce | 1 1/2 M / 2:39.60 |
| 1985 | Tri For Size | Robert Thibeau Jr. / Michael Sedlacek | 1 1/2 M / 2:33.20 |
| 1984 | Majesty's Prince | Eddie Maple / Joseph B. Cantey | 1 1/2 M / 2:31.00 |
| 1983 | Majesty's Prince | Eddie Maple / Joseph B. Cantey | 1 1/2 M / 2:34.40 |
| 1982 | Lemhi Gold | Chris McCarron / Lazaro S. Barrera | 1 1/2 M / 2:26.00 |
| 1981 | John Henry | Bill Shoemaker / Lefty Nickerson | 1 1/2 M / 2:26.80 |
| 1980 | Tiller | Ruben Hernandez / David A. Whiteley | 1 1/2 M / 2:25.20 |
| 1979 | Darby Creek Road | Ángel Cordero Jr. / Howard M. Tesher | 1 1/16 M / 1:41.60 |
| 1978 | True Colors | Michael Venezia / Willard C. Freeman | 1 1/16 M / 1:41.00 |
| 1977 | Effervescing | Ángel Cordero Jr. / John W. Russell | 1 1/16 M / 1:39.60 |
| 1976 | Arabian Law | Jacinto Vásquez / David A. Whiteley | 3/4 M / 1:10.60 |
| 1975 | Gallant Bob | Gerard Gallitano / Joseph Marquette | 3/4 M / 1:09.60 |