Elite Power Stakes


The Elite Power Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four years old or older at a distance of six furlongs on the dirt run annually in November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The event currently offers a purse of $250,000.

History

The event was inaugurated on 10 May 2014 as the Diablo Stakes and was won by Royal Currier who started at 7/1. The following year the event was not held. The event was resumed on 14 May 2014 and was won by the favorite Sensational Slam who defeated four other runners including Royal Currier over 6 furlongs in a time of 1:09.07. The event was marred by the disqualification of the second place finisher Green Grotto who was placed third and Royal Currier installed in second for interference mile from the finishing post. The event was named after the versatile sprinter Diablo who won the 1991 Grade II True North Handicap and the 1992 Grade III Finger Lakes Budweiser Breeders' Cup.
In 2018 the event was renamed to the Runhappy Stakes in honor of the 2015 US Champion Sprint Horse Runhappy.
The event was upgraded to Grade III in 2020 but was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Belmont Park ran a shortened meeting and the event was cancelled in favor of the rescheduled Carter Handicap being moved from Aqueduct Racetrack.
In 2024 the event was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.
In 2025 NYRA moved the event from May to November and renamed the event to the Elite Power Stakes after the two-time Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Elite Power.

Records

Speed record:
  • 6 furlongs - 1:08.12 Firenze Fire
Margins:
Most wins:
  • 2 - Stallwalkin' Dude
  • 2 - Firenze Fire
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by an owner:
  • 2 - David Jacobson
  • 2 - Mr. Amore Stable