The Pelican Stakes

$100,000 Pelican Stakes

Fastest Time: 1:08.75 SIBELIUS (2023)

Slowest Time: 1:12.1 BRISCO JACK (1997)

Longest Priced Winner: $132.40 ABOVE THE WIND (2003)

Shortest Priced Winner: $ 2.80 X Y JET (2018)

Closest Winning Margin: Nose LORD TRY ON STAR HARBOUR (1993) (2015)

Largest Winning Margin: 11 ½ Lengths NOT SURPRISING (1995)

Shortest Priced Loser: $ .20 IMPERIAL HINT (2019)

Track Condition: Fast Good Sloppy

All except 1995 1997

Richest Purse: $100,000 2015-present

Other Notes: As much as the connections of Sibelius enjoyed winning the Pelican in stakes-record time, they were beyond exultant 6 weeks later after capturing the Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Nakheel at Meydan Racecourse. n 2022, trainer Carlos David joined John Terranova, II, Carlos Garcia, Jamie Ness, Ronnie Allen, Sr., Gerald Bennett and Jud Van Worp as trainers to win back-to-back runnings of the Pelican (Allen won three in a row with Above the Wind from 2003-2006). In the final race of his career, six weeks after the 2021 Pelican, Zenden won the $1.5-million Dubai Golden Shaheen in the United Arab Emirates, but suffered a fatal injury just past the wire. In 2020, the 6-year-old gray horse Killybegs Captain became the fifth repeat winner of the Pelican, joining Not Surprising (1994-95), Brisco Jack (1997 and 1999), Above the Wind (three in a row, 2003, 2005 and 2006) and Action Andy (2012-13). The upset 2019 victory by 5-year-old horse Killybegs Captain in his career stakes debut was one of two stakes triumphs on the card for owner Curragh Stables and trainer John P. Terranova, II. The 6-year-old Florida- bred gelding X Y Jet tuned up for his second consecutive runner-up effort in the Dubai Golden Shaheen, missing the stakes record by .03 seconds. In addition to his 2017 Pelican Stakes victory, the 4-year-old Tiger Blood – a grandson of 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones –won the Florida Cup Hilton Garden Inn Sprint in 1:08.92, a quarter-second off the six-furlong track record. The 2016 Pelican winner, Barbados, won the Grade III Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park as a 3-year-old. Star Harbour’s sire is the late Indian Charlie, who won the 1998 Santa Anita Derby and finished third in the Kentucky Derby. Palace Barista won the 2014 Pelican in only his third lifetime start. Before setting the stakes record in December of 2012, Action Andy enjoyed a stellar 2012 campaign. In addition to his first Pelican victory in January of 2012, he won the Super Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs, the Maryland Million Sprint Handicap at Laurel and the $350,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel. Jockey Federico Mata won four consecutive editions of the Pelican: on Secret Romeo in 2002, followed by three in a row on Above the Wind. William Henry won this race three times, twice (1994 and 1995) with the combination of Not Surprising, owner Robert Van Worp and trainer Judson Van Worp. Not Surprising’s 1995 Pelican victory kicked off a year in which he won the Eclipse Award as the nation’s top sprinter with eight victories, including four graded stakes in New York. Above the Wind, who was trained by Ronnie Allen, Sr., was not the favorite in any of his Pelican triumphs; he paid $132.40 to win in 2003 as the longest shot in a 12-horse field. That remains the race’s all-time mark. Trainer Gerald Bennett has won the Pelican three times. Jockey Daniel Centeno and trainer Jamie Ness have won the Pelican twice together: in 2008 with Lookinforthesecret and 2010 with Sneaking Uponyou. Ness won the Pelican a third time in 2011 with See I A.