Challenger Stakes


The Challenger Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses four years old or older over a distance of miles on the dirt track in early March at Tampa Bay Downs, Oldsmar, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $125,000.

History

The race was inaugurated in 1987 as a late season two-year-old event in the last week of December. For five years between 1992 and 1996 the event was not held.
In 1997 the event was renewed as a three-year-old event and scheduled in February over the shorter distance of 7 furlongs and in 1998 the event received sponsorship from Budweiser which continued until 2007. In 1999 the event was moved to the turf track at a longer distance of one mile.
In 2004 the conditions of the event were changed, in that four-year-olds and older could enter. The distance was extended to the now miles and the running was on the dirt track.
In 2020 the event was upgraded to a Grade III event.

Records

Speed record:
  • miles - 1:41.20 – Skippylongstocking
  • 1 mile - 1:33.79 – Lucky J J
Margins:
  • lengths - Darian's Reason
Most wins by a horse:
  • 3 – Skippylongstocking
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
  • 4 – Todd A. Pletcher
Most wins by an owner:
  • 3 – Daniel Alonzo

    Winners

Legend:




Notes:


† Cannon Dancer was first past the post but was disqualified and placed second and Strike the Knight declared the winner

External sites