Hilltop Stakes
# Hilltop Stakes

The Hilltop Stakes is an American ungraded Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of one mile on turf held annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.

## History

The Hilltop Stakes was run on the second Saturday of May each year exactly one week prior to the Preakness Stakes. In 2015 the race was scheduled on the Friday, the day before the Preakness. when the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is held. The race is named in honor of the nickname for Pimlico Race Course. The nickname "Old Hilltop" was given to the venerable track in Baltimore, Maryland because of a large hill in the infield that was very prominent and gave race goers a 360" bird's-eye view of the entire track. In 1938 the hill top was leveled so that movie cameras and patrons in the grandstand could see the race on the backside of the track while the horses were racing.

The race was run on the main track on a dirt surface prior to 1988. It was also run on the main track in 1995 and 2003 due to a yielding turf and poor weather. In 1997, Francine Villeneuve became the first female jockey to win the race.

## Records

Speed record:

* 1+1⁄16 miles - 1:41.40 - Captive Miss (1992)
* 1 mile - 1:36.20 - Another Paddock (1988)

Most wins by a jockey:

* 3 - Gregg McCarron (1974, 1978, 1989)
* 3 - Mario Pino (1987, 1999, 2002)
* 3 - John R. Velazquez (2011, 2012, 2015)

## Winners of the Hilltop Stakes

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Dist. (Miles) | Time | Win $ |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2022 | Pizza Bianca | 3 | José Ortiz | Christophe Clement | Bobby Flay | 1 mile | 1:36.54 | $100,000 |
| 2021 | Alda | 3 | John R. Velazquez | H. Graham Motion | Wertheimer and Frere | 1 mile | 1:35.06 | $100,000 |
| 2020 | Evil Lyn | 3 | Horacio Karamanos | Michael Maker | Paradise Farms Corp. | 1 mile | 1:42.25 | $100,000 |
| 2019 | Dogtag | 3 | Javier Castellano | Chad Brown | LNJ Foxwoods | 1 mile | 1:36.71 | $100,000 |
| 2018 | Souper Striking | 3 | Julian Pimetel | Michael Trombetta | Live Oak Plantation | 1-1/8 | 1:51.72 | $100,000 |
| 2017 | Happy Mesa | 3 | Javier Castellano | H. Graham Motion | Great Point Stables | 1 mile | 1:33.61 | $100,000 |
| 2016 | Gone Away | 3 | Florent Geroux | Michael Matz | Augustin Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:41.68 | $100,000 |
| 2015 | Miss Temple City | 3 | John R. Velazquez | H. Graham Motion | Sagamore Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:41.94 | $100,000 |
| 2014 | Our Epiphany | 3 | Grant Whitacre | Dane Kobiskie | PTK LLC | 1-1/16 | 1:48.07 | $100,000 |
| 2013 | Emotional Kitten | 3 | Joel Rosario | Wesley Ward | Ken & Sarah Ramsey | 1-1/16 | 1:41.98 | $100,000 |
| 2012 | Coup | 3 | John Velazquez | H. Graham Motion | Augustin Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:42.71 | $100,000 |
| 2011 | Excited | 3 | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Michael B. Tabor | 1-1/16 | 1:49.48 | $75,000 |
| 2010 | Joharmony | 3 | Javier Castellano | Leigh Delacour | Gary L. Chervenell | 1-1/16 | 1:44.17 | $70,000 |
| 2009 | Blind Date | 3 | Jeremy Rose | Hamilton A. Smith | William M. Backer | 1-1/16 | 1:42.89 | $60,000 |
| 2008 | Hartigan | 3 | Luis Garcia | Richard W. Small | Robert Meyerhoff | 1-1/16 | 1:46.24 | $60,000 |
| 2007 | Street Sounds | 3 | Ramon Dominguez | Michael R. Matz | Hidden Creek Farm | 1 mile | 1:36.60 | $80,000 |
| 2006 | Ebony Rose | 3 | Chris Decarlo | Todd A. Pletcher | Gene Mello | 1-1/16 | 1:49.60 | $85,000 |
| 2005 | My Typhoon | 3 | Jerry Bailey | William I. Mott | Peter Vegso | 1-1/16 | 1:44.20 | $75,000 |
| 2004 | Western Ransom | 3 | Ryan Fogelsonger | Michael Dickinson | Dr. John A. Chandler | 1-1/16 | 1:43.20 | $50,000 |
| 2003 | City Fire | 3 | Jeremy Rose | Mark Shuman | Michael Gill | 1-1/16 | 1:44.20 | $50,000 |
| 2002 | Ntombi | 3 | Mario Pino | Michael Dickinson | Dr. John A. Chandler | 1-1/16 | 1:42.20 | $50,000 |
| 2001 | Guillotine | 3 | Mark T. Johnston | Hamilton A. Smith | Janis Gerace | 1-1/16 | 1:45.00 | $75,000 |
| 2000 | Azireprice | 3 | Sidney Lejeune, Jr. | Thomas Amoss | On Target Racing Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:43.20 | $50,000 |
| 1999 | Polish Miss | 3 | Mario Pino | Bruce C. Jackson | Mary Kernan | 1-1/16 | 1:44.80 | $50,000 |
| 1998 | Proud Owner | 3 | Darci Rice | Richard W. Small | Thomas Bowman& Small | 1-1/16 | 1:43.00 | $57,000 |
| 1997 | Cozy Blues | 3 | Fran Villeneuve | James E. Baker | Adam Wachtel | 1-1/16 | 1:44.00 | $75,000 |
| 1997 | Earth to Jackie | 3 | Robert Colton | J. William Boniface | Jacquelyn Schipke | 1-1/16 | 1:44.00 | $75,000 |
| 1996 | Silent Greeting | 3 | Larry Reynolds | H. Graham Motion | Joe L. Allbritton | 1-1/16 | 1:46.40 | $58,000 |
| 1995 | Jhenais Jewel | 3 | Raphael Verderosa | Josephine Owens | Mrs. Jack Jeweler | 1-1/16 | 1:45.60 | $58,000 |
| 1994 | Irish Forever | 3 | Jorge Chavez | J. William Boniface | Roger Schipke | 1-1/16 | 1:43.60 | $57,000 |
| 1993 | Open Toe | 3 | Mike Luzzi | James W. Murphy | Pomerosa Farms | 1-1/16 | 1:42.40 | $57,000 |
| 1992 | Captive Miss | 3 | Joe Bravo | Philip M. Serpe | Live Oak Stud | 1-1/16 | 1:41.40 | $60,000 |
| 1991 | Grab the Green | 3 | Edgar Prado | Barclay Tagg | Samuel H. Rogers Jr. | 1-1/16 | 1:44.60 | $58,000 |
| 1990 | Valay Maid | 3 | Marco Castaneda | Carlos A. Garcia | C. Oliver Goldsmith | 1-1/16 | 1:42.60 | $58,000 |
| 1989 | Seraglio | 3 | Gregg McCarron | Richard W. Small | Robert E. Meyerhoff | 1-1/16 | 1:48.80 | $68,500 |
| 1988 | Another Paddock | 3 | Nick Santagata | George Pagano | George Steinbrenner | 1 mile | 1:36.20 | $60,000 |
| 1987 | Artic Cloud | 3 | Mario Pino | | William T. Fitzgibbons | 1-1/16 | 1:44.40 | $50,000 |
| 1986 | Country Recital | 3 | Vincent Bracciale | | | 1-1/16 | 1:46.00 | $36,500 |
| 1985 | A Joyful Spray | 3 | Philip Grove | | John A. Manfuso | 1-1/16 | 1:43.60 | $36,500 |
| 1984 | Squan Song | 3 | Fernando Hernandez | Carlos A. Garcia | Mrs. Peter F. Green | 1-1/16 | 1:44.60 | $36,500 |
| 1983 | Final Chapter | 3 | Danny Wright | Richard W. Small | | 1-1/16 | 1:45.40 | $36,500 |
| 1982 | Martie's Double | 3 | Rudy Turcotte | | | 1-1/16 | 1:43.60 | $36,500 |
| 1981 | Anti Phil | 3 | Danny Wright | | Anthony E. Verdi | 1-1/16 | 1:46.40 | $36,500 |
| 1980 | Weber City Miss | 3 | Vincent Bracciale | | | 1-1/16 | 1:45.00 | $36,500 |
| 1979 | Heavy Sugar | 3 | Mark Drury | | | 1-1/16 | 1:45.20 | $36,500 |
| 1978 | Caesar's Wish | 3 | Gregg McCarron | Richard W. Small | Sally M. Gibson | 1-1/16 | 1:45.00 | $35,000 |
| 1977 | Enthused | 3 | Chris McCarron | | | 1-1/16 | 1:45.40 | $28,000 |
| 1976 | Dance My Love | 3 | George Cusimano | | | 1-1/16 | 1:46.40 | $30,700 |
| 1975 | Quick Selection | 3 | George Cusimano | | | 1-1/16 | 1:45.00 | $36,000 |
| 1974 | Four Bells | 3 | Gregg McCarron | | | 1-1/16 | 1:43.20 | $30,500 |
| 1973 | Maybe Crafty | 3 | Eldon Nelson | | | 1-1/16 | 1:46.60 | $30,000 |
