W. L. McKnight Stakes
# W. L. McKnight Stakes

The W. L. McKnight Stakes is an American Grade 3 Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Inaugurated in 1973 at Calder Race Course it remained there through 2013 when the track closed. In 2017 a race condition was changed from being open to horses age three and older to those who were four and older. A race on turf at a distance of a mile and one-half, due to safety concerns it was shifted from the turf course to the main dirt track in 1993, 2005, and 2013.

The race was named for William L. McKnight, the founder of Tartan Farms. Prior to 2019, it was run as the W. L. McKnight Handicap.

## Historical notes

Twilight Eclipse has the distinction of winning the McKnight Handicap back-to-back on two different racing surfaces. At Calder Race Course, the gelding won the race on grass in 2012 and in 2013 on dirt after it was switched from a soggy grass course to the dirt track. It was only the second time in his career that Twilight Eclipse had run on dirt.

In 1995, Flag Down set the race record that still stood when the Calder track closed. Flag Down was bred by Windfields Farm and raced by Allen Paulson who at the time was also racing the great future U. S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Cigar.

Of its fifty-three runnings, no female horse has won the McKnight.

## Records

Speed record:

* 2:25.90 @ 11⁄2 miles on Gulfstream Park turf course: Taghleeb (2017)
* 2:24.11 @ 11⁄2 miles on Calder turf course: Flag Down (1995)

Most wins:

* 2 – Flying Pidgeon (1985, 1986)
* 2 – Twilight Eclipse (2012, 2013)
* 2 – Presious Passion (2007, 2008)

Most wins by a jockey:

* 4 – José Santos (1985, 1986, 1990, 1995)

Most wins by a trainer:

* 5 – Michael J. Maker (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023)

Most wins by an owner:

* 2 – Buckram Oak Farm (Mahmoud Fustok) (1980, 1982)
* 2 – Constance Daparma & Marjan Stable, Inc. (1985, 1986)
* 2 – Patricia A. Generazio (2007, 2008)
* 2 – West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc. (Terry Finley CEO) (2012, 2013)
* 2 – Ken & Sarah Ramsey (2015, 2018)
* 2 – Michael M. Hui (2017, 2019)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Dist. (Miles) | Time | Win$ | Gr. |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2023 | Red Knight | 9 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Michael J. Maker | Trinity Farm | 11⁄2 | 2:25.11 | $116,500 | G3 |
| 2022 | Abaan | 5 | Luis Saez | Todd Pletcher | Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Alex Daigneault | 11⁄2 | 2:29.53 | $115,320 | G3 |
| 2021 | Tide Of The Sea | 5 | Tyler Gaffalione | Michael J. Maker | Three Diamonds Farm | 11⁄2 | 2:24.57 | $87,420 | G3 |
| 2020 | Spooky Channel | 5 | Julien Leparoux | Brian A. Lynch | Terry Hamilton | 11⁄2 | 2:26.16 | $116,560 | G3 |
| 2019 | Zulu Alpha | 6 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Michael J. Maker | Michael M. Hui | 11⁄2 | 2:36.80 | $114,080 | G3 |
| 2018 | Oscar Nominated | 5 | José Ortiz | Michael J. Maker | Ken & Sarah Ramsey | 11⁄2 | 2:30.08 | $119,040 | G3 |
| 2017 | Taghleeb | 6 | Tyler Gaffalione | Michael J. Maker | Michael M. Hui | 11⁄2 | 2:25.90 | $115,320 | G3 |
| 2016 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 2015 | Charming Kitten | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | Ken & Sarah Ramsey | 11⁄2 | 2:27.76 | $59,520 | G3 |
| 2014 | Divine Oath | 3 | Javier Castellano | Todd Pletcher | Let's Go Stable (Kevin Scatuorchio & Bryan Sullivan) | 11⁄2 | 2:34.25 | $57,040 | G3 |
| 2013 | Twilight Eclipse | 4 | Jose Lezcano | Thomas Albertrani | West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc. (Terry Finley CEO) | 11⁄2 | 2:23.66 | $75,175 | G3 |
| 2012 | Twilight Eclipse | 3 | Manoel Cruz | Thomas Albertrani | West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc. (Terry Finley CEO) | 11⁄2 | 2:26.71 | $90,210 | G2 |
| 2011 | Musketier | 9 | Luis Saez | Roger L. Attfield | Stella Perdomo | 11⁄2 | 2:28.25 | $90,520 | G2 |
| 2010 | Prince Will I Am | 3 | Javier Castellano | Michelle K. Nihei | Casa Farms I (Susan A. Atkins) | 11⁄2 | 2:38.40 | $93,000 | G2 |
| 2009 | Cloudy's Knight | 9 | Rosemary Homeister Jr. | Jonathan E. Sheppard | S J Stables LLC (Shirley & Jarrold Schwartz) | 11⁄2 | 2:27.63 | $88,350 | G2 |
| 2008 | Presious Passion | 5 | Elvis Trujillo | Mary E. Hartmann | Patricia A. Generazio | 11⁄2 | 2:25.64 | $86,490 | G2 |
| 2007 | Presious Passion | 4 | Elvis Trujillo | Mary E. Hartmann | Patricia A. Generazio | 11⁄2 | 2:26.13 | $115,320 | G2 |
| 2006 | Devil's Preacher | 3 | Rafael Bejarano | George R. Weaver | R. A. Hill Stable (Randy Hill) | 11⁄2 | 2:38.28 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 2005 | Meteor Storm | 6 | Javier Castellano | Wallace A. Dollase | The Horizon Stable (M. Jarvis, G. Margolis, K. Smole, J. Conway) | 11⁄2 | 2:25.91 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 2004 | Dreadnaught | 4 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Thomas H. Voss | Trillium Stable (Douglas Joyce) | 11⁄2 | 2:26.60 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 2003 | Balto Star | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | Anstu Stables, Inc. | 11⁄2 | 2:24.87 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 2002 | Man From Wicklow | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | Richard A. Violette Jr. | Richard A. Violette Jr. | 11⁄2 | 2:28.05 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 2001 | Profit Option | 6 | Mark Guidry | Kenneth E. Hoffman | Mark Conway, K. E. Hoffman, Team Canonie, Inc. | 11⁄2 | 2:27.95 | $90,000 | G2 |
| 2000 | A Little Luck | 6 | Mike E. Smith | Barclay Tagg | Kathleen Crompton | 11⁄2 | 2:29.01 | $90,000 | G2 |
| 1999 | Wicapi | 7 | Cornelio Velásquez | Joseph G. Calascibetta | Acclaimed Racing Stable (Michael R. Berry) | 11⁄2 | 2:26.28 | $90,000 | G2 |
| 1998 | Wild Event | 5 | Shane Sellers | Louis M. Goldfine | Arthur I. Appleton | 11⁄2 | 2:26.93 | $90,000 | G2 |
| 1997 | Panama City | 3 | Pat Day | Patrick B. Byrne | Robert Sangster & Joseph Lacombe | 11⁄2 | 2:27.00 | $90,000 | G2 |
| 1996 | Diplomatic Jet | 4 | Jorge F. Chavez | James E. Picou | Fred W. Hooper | 11⁄2 | 2:24.20 | $90,000 | G2 |
| 1995 | Flag Down | 5 | José Santos | Christophe Clement | Allen E. Paulson | 11⁄2 | 2:24.00 | $90,000 | G2 |
| 1994-1 | Star of Manila | 3 | Craig Perret | Burk Kessenger Jr. | New Phoenix Stable (Gary Drake) | 11⁄2 | 2:28.40 | $90,000 | G2 |
| 1994-2 | Cobblestone Road | 5 | José Ferrer | Oliver E. Edwards | Bruce Watkins & Stanley Stahl | 11⁄2 | 2:27.80 | $90,000 | G2 |
| 1993 | Antartic Wings | 5 | Rene Douglas | Michael Lerman | Sandy Price | 11⁄2 | 2:32.40 | $60,000 | G2 |
| 1992 | Bye Union Avenue | 6 | Rene Douglas | Reynaldo H. Nobles | Due Process Stable | 11⁄2 | 2:27.20 | $90,000 | G2 |
| 1991 | Stolen Rolls | 5 | Pedro A. Rodriguez | Lawrence W. Jennings | Esquire Farms | 11⁄2 | 2:27.00 | $60,000 | G2 |
| 1990 | Drum Taps | 5 | José Santos | Neil J. Howard | William S. Farish III | 11⁄2 | 2:29.80 | $60,000 | G2 |
| 1989 | Mataji | 4 | Douglas Valiente | Happy Alter | Alters Racing Stable | 11⁄2 | 2:25.60 | $90,000 | G2 |
| 1988 | All Sincerity | 4 | Constantino Hernandez | Angel M. Medina | Almost Heaven Stable, Inc. | 11⁄2 | 2:25.40 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 1987 | Creme Fraiche | 6 | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Brushwood Stable (Elizabeth Moran) | 11⁄2 | 2:27.00 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 1986 | Flying Pidgeon | 5 | José Santos | Luis Olivares | Constance Daparma & Marjan Stable, Inc. | 11⁄2 | 2:39.60 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 1985-1 | Jack Slade | 4 | Gerland Galitano | David C. Kassen | Andrew Adams | 11⁄2 | 2:26.20 | $69,900 | G2 |
| 1985-2 | Flying Pidgeon | 5 | José Santos | Luis Olivares | Constance Daparma & Marjan Stable, Inc. | 11⁄2 | 2:25.80 | $70,800 | G2 |
| 1984-1 | Open Call | 6 | Jorge Velásquez | Robert J. Reinacher Jr. | Greentree Stable | 11⁄2 | 2:30.20 | $63,755 | G2 |
| 1984-2 | Nijinsky's Secret | 5 | José Vélez Jr. | Kent H. Stirling | Hedley McDougald | 11⁄2 | 2:31.20 | $63,675 | G2 |
| 1983 | Current Blade | 6 | Jerry D. Bailey | John P. Campo | Buckland Farm | 11⁄2 ± | 2:29.20 | $70,020 | G2 |
| 1982-1 | Ghazwan | 6 | Constantino Hernandez | Leonard Imperio | Buckram Oak Farm (Mahmoud Fustok) | 11⁄2 | 2:28.80 | $61,920 | G2 |
| 1982-2 | Russian George | 5 | Miguel A. Rivera | Jean Cruguet | Sea Salt Farm, Inc. | 11⁄2 | 2:29.80 | $61,320 | G2 |
| 1981-1 | El Barril | 5 | Jacinto Vásquez | Angel A. Penna Jr. | Walnut Hill Farm | 11⁄2 | 2:28.40 | $51,630 | G3 |
| 1981-2 | Buckpoint | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | J. Bert Sonnier | Owen Helman | 11⁄2 | 2:28.00 | $52,230 | G3 |
| 1980-1 | Old Crony | 5 | Don Brumfield | Edward I. Kelly Sr. | Bwamazon Farm (Millard A. Waldheim) | 11⁄8 ± | 1:48.40 | $35,565 | G3 |
| 1980-2 | Drum's Captain | 5 | Jeffrey Fell | Leonard Imperio | Buckram Oak Farm (Mahmoud Fustok) | 11⁄8 ± | 1:48.00 | $34,875 | G3 |
| 1979 | Bob's Dusty | 5 | Richard DePass | William E. Adams | Robert N. Lehmann | 11⁄8 ± | 1:48.00 | $55,800 | G3 |
| 1978 | Practitioner | 5 | Jesus S. Rodriguez | Leo Sierra | Dogwood Stable | 11⁄8 ± | 1:48.00 | $56,520 | G3 |
| 1977 | Hall of Reason | 5 | Mickey Solomone | Dukas "Duke" Davis | Malcolm Woldenberg | 11⁄8 ± | 1:47.20 | $52,200 | G3 |
| 1976 | Toonerville | 3 | Gene St. Leon | Norman St. Leon | Frank & Mike Ryan & Norman St. Leon | 11⁄8 ± | 1:44.60 | $55,800 | G3 |
| 1975 | Snurb | 5 | Gene St. Leon | Reed M. Combest | B.L.T. Stable (Art Bruns, et al.) | 11⁄8 ± | 1:46.00 | $37,800 | LR |
| 1974 | Shane's Prince | 5 | Eddie Maple | Frank J. McManus | Red Hand Stable | 11⁄8 ± | 1:46.00 | $35,700 | |
| 1973 | Getajetholme | 4 | Joseph E. Imparato | J. Bert Sonnier | Ralph Sessa | 11⁄8 ± | 1:47.20 | $38,700 | |
