MassCap History section

Massachusetts Handicap
C O M M E N T AT O R W I N S 6 6 TH M A S S C A P I N R E C O R D - S E T T I N G F A S H I O N
Commentator and jockey John Velazquez sat patiently in second position before taking the lead entering
the far turn and driving home to a record-setting 14-length victory in the 66th running of the $500,000
Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs on Saturday, September 20, 2008 before an exuberant crowd of
17,712.
Commentator’s 14-length margin of victory easily surpassed the MassCap record set in 1938 by
Menow, who won by eight lengths over a field that included the heavily-favored War Admiral, who
finished fourth.
“He relaxed very well,” said Velazquez, who won his second MassCap. “I really didn’t want to be in a
speed duel, so I was very content with the way we were going up the backside. I eased him away and
he moved very confidently.”
Commentator, trained by Hall of Famer Nick Zito for owner Tracy Farmer, was sent off at odds of 1-to-10,
joining Cigar (1996) as the heaviest-favorite in the history of the race. The seven-year-old gelded son of
Distorted Humor covered the mile-and-an-eighth in 1:48.97 and returned $2.20 across the board. Won
Awesome Dude (4.60 and 3.00) was second, a length ahead of Cuba (2.80).
Riversrunrylee and jockey Pedro Gonzalez set fast fractions of 23.04 for the first quarter and 46.11 for the
half mile before relinquishing the lead to Commentator and fading to the back of the pack.
“It’s a wonderful blessing for me to have a horse like this,” said Zito, who added his first MassCap victory
to his illustrious resume. “He ranks up there with all the other great ones I’ve had. We have a horse at
the top of his game. You’d have to say that Curlin, Big Brown and Commentator are the top three.”
Dr. Pleasure, third in the 2007 MassCap and the second choice this year, was fourth.
Commentator wins
the 2008 MassCap
by a record-setting
14 lengths.
Commentator and jockey
John Velazquez in the
winner’s circle.
25
Massachusetts Handicap
1935—From humble beginnings and a $25,000 purse, the
Massachusetts Handicap is born. Top Row wins by a nose,
followed by Whopper and 7-to-10 favorite Discovery. The 1:49 2/5
time establishes a track record for 1 1/8 miles.
1936—Time Supply provides all the early pace for a 7-to-2
score, three lengths ahead of 69-to-1 bomb Gov. Sholtz. Stand
Pat, at 8-to-1, completes the order of finish. Conspicuous
by their absence from the top three placings are the 11-to10 favored entry of Discovery and Good Gamble, although
Discovery can blame crowding on the first turn as a legitimate
excuse for his eighth-place performance.
1937—Seabiscuit caps off his career-best seven-race win
streak, besting 12 others as the even-money favorite before an
exuberant crowd of 40,000. Under jockey Red Pollard, Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit, 1937
breaks the track record for 1 1/8 miles, stopping the clock in
1:49. The winner’s purse of $51,780 is the largest of Seabiscuit’s career, and would only be surpassed in winning his final race,
the 1940 Santa Anita Handicap.
1938—A throng of 60,000 shows up as Seabiscuit returns to Boston to defend his MassCap title. However, the eagerly-anticipated
meeting between Seabiscuit and War Admiral, the 1937 Triple Crown winner, will have to wait as Seabiscuit is scratched due
to an injury just minutes before post time. Menow (10-1) scores an upset victory in the field of six, as 2-5 favorite War Admiral
finishes fourth, ending a string of 11 consecutive wins. It is the only time that War Admiral will run out of the money in his 26race career. Seabiscuit and War Admiral would ultimately square off in their famed match race at Pimlico in November.
1939—Preakness winner Challedon finishes off the board behind Fighting Fox. In the 1940 MassCap, he will again lose the
race. But despite the defeats, Challedon will be named Horse of the Year in both seasons.
1940—Eight Thirty equals Seabiscuit’s 1:49 track mark for the 1 1/8 miles while registering a one-length score over Hash,
with Challedon another 1 1/2 lengths behind. The hard-luck Challedon earns a “sterling effort” comment from the MassCap
chartcaller.
1941—War Relic skips home under 102 pounds, the lightest weight assignment for any MassCap winner. His victory shaves
another 2/5 of a second off the previous stakes and track mark for 1 1/8 miles.
1942—Whirlaway becomes the only Triple Crown winner to score in the MassCap, setting a track record of 1:48 1/5 for the
1 1/8 miles. The only other Triple Crown winners to race in the MassCap, War Admiral (1938) and Assault (1949), will both
run fourth. The winner’s share of the MassCap purse establishes Whirlaway as the leading money-earner of all time, replacing
Seabiscuit. Whirlaway will be named Horse of the Year after winning ten other stakes races during the season. This is the second
MassCap riding win for George Woolf, who also tallied in 1935 with Top Row.
1943—The 6-to-5 Market Wise makes a last-to-first rush for a one-length win over Salto, the longest shot on the MassCap board
at 24-to-1. Don Bingo checks in third at 19-to-10.
1944—First Fiddle “responded readily when roused for the drive” to win the tenth MassCap over Alex Barth and Alquest.
Legendary jockey Johnny Longden rides the first of his two MassCap victories aboard First Fiddle.
1945—First Fiddle follows his 1944 tally in this race with a repeat victory, becoming the first two-time winner of the MassCap.
The afternoon is marred however, as fans riot after the last race when favorite Johnny Jr. is disqualified. Rocks and bottles are
thrown and the stewards’ stand is toppled. The tote board is wrecked before police can restore order.
1946—Champion two-year-old colt and Belmont Stakes winner Pavot wins his showdown with the great racemare Gallorette,
who checks in third. The second-place finisher is once again Dinner Party, who was also the bridesmaid in the 1945 MassCap.
1947—Stymie, claimed for $1,500 as a two-year-old, becomes the first horse to eclipse the $700,000 earnings mark with a $2.60
MassCap win. Stymie is so heavily bet that a minus show pool of $25,887 is created. The tote board actually jams briefly due to
the flood of money bet on the favorite.
1948—Beauchef becomes the first foreign-bred horse (Chile) to win the MassCap, in the first 1 1/4 miles edition of the race.
The 2-to-1 favorite broke last in a field of twelve, “rallied under stout pressure, caught the leader inside the final sixteenth and
won drawing out.” The MassCap will remain at ten furlongs through 1969, switch to 1 1/2 miles on the turf in 1970 and 1971,
then return to its original distance from 1972 onward.
1949—First Nighter, sired by 1940 MassCap winner Eight Thirty, ekes out a neck victory over Going Away and Michigan II over a
“heavy” track. Assault, the Horse of the Year in ’46, is 2-to-5 in the five-horse field and can manage no better than fourth.
1950—The three betting favorites finish in order in the MassCap, with Cochise four lengths in front of My Request, who is a
half-length better than Loser Weeper. At 98 pounds, Bernie Moose is the lightest weight-bearer ever in the history of the race.
This year’s purse is halved to $25,000 added, and will remain at that level until 1952.
1951—One Hitter provides jockey Ted Atkinson with his second MassCap win. He also scored in 1941 with War Relic. This year’s
edition is the second consecutive MassCap win for breeder Greentree Stud, who also bred 1950 winner Cochise.
1952—Market Wise becomes the second MassCap winner (1943) to sire another winner of this race, with To Market. His progeny
will strike again in 1954, when Wise Margin also tallies in the MassCap. This year’s purse is boosted to $35,000 added.
1953—Royal Vale (England) is the second foreign-bred horse to win the MassCap, which is once again contested for $50,000
added. The 1951 Kentucky Derby winner, Count Turf, gets in the MassCap at an astoundingly light 107 pounds, but the Classic
winner can only manage third in a five-horse field.
1954—Wise Margin joins To Market as the second son of 1943 MassCap winner Market Wise to score in the MassCap. Find and
Royal Vale are second and third.
1955—Against three others in the smallest MassCap field ever, Helioscope establishes a track record for 1 1/4 miles, with a 2:01
clocking. His mark still stands.
1956—Bill Boland gets his second MassCap riding win with Midafternoon after scoring in 1952 with To Market. According to
the chartcaller’s notes, the four-year-old bay colt “opened up a clear advantage into the stretch and was in hand at the finish,
winning in the easiest sort of manner.”
1957—Greek Spy emerges from the MassCap victorious, a length in front of Illusionist. Tick Tock is third.
1958—Hirsch Jacobs gets his second MassCap training win with 4-to-5 favorite Promised Land. He had previously conditioned
’47 race winner Stymie. One-Eyed King and Clem round out the order of finish.
1959—The first and only disqualification for win in the MassCap occurs in its silver anniversary running, which now carries
a $75,000 added purse. Day Court crosses the finish wire first, but has his number taken down after his jockey, Henry Moreno,
grabs Jack Leonard, the rider of Air Pilot, several times inside the sixteenth pole. The official order of finish will be Air Pilot, Day
Court and Bald Eagle.
1960—Danada Farm (breeder), Ada L. Rice (owner) Clyde Troutt (trainer) and Olympia (sire) all get their second consecutive
winner of the MassCap in the form of Talent Show. Polylad and Battle Neck run second and third. The MassCap purse dips back
to its previous $50,000 level.
1961—Eddie Arcaro, who guided Cochise to a MassCap win in 1950, scores again aboard last year’s runner-up, Polylad.
1962—Air Pilot becomes the second repeat winner of the MassCap (he also won in 1959 via disqualification), and also the
oldest winner, at age eight. This time he turns the trick for different connections, having changed ownership in the interim
between victories. The pesky Polylad again finishes in the money, getting second, while Ambiopoise runs third.
1963—Crimson Satan wins the MassCap, pulling away at the finish for a 2 1/2-length margin. There are some interesting alsorans in the race, however. Polylad, at age seven and three times in the MassCap money, runs fifth. Smart, who will win this race
the next two seasons, is sixth.
1964—Smart edges a desperate head in front at the wire to best Sunrise County and Steel Viking in the 30th edition of the
MassCap.
1965—Smart wins the MassCap in consecutive years, joining First
Fiddle and Air Pilot as the third repeat winner of this race. This time
his victory margin is diminished to only a nose, just ahead of 3-to-10
favorite Gun Bow, who is five lengths clear of third-place Tenacle.
1966—An odds-on favorite loses the MassCap for the third straight
year. Fast Count, at 18-to-1, heads the 7-to-10 Pluck at the finish. The
purse has been elevated once again to the $75,000-added plateau.
1967—Good Knight, who will win only six times from 87 career
starts, runs the race of his life to win the 33rd MassCap. His winning
mutuel of $115.20 is the highest ever for this showcase race, which is
once again a $50,000-added contest.
1968—Out Of The Way provides a second MassCap training win
for Max Hirsch, who also graced the winner’s circle in 1952 with To
Market. Big Rock Candy and King’s Palace round out the order of
Whirlaway, 1942
finish.
26
Massachusetts Handicap
1969—Beau Marker wins the last 1 1/4 miles MassCap, giving
jockey Leroy Moyers his second score in this race. He also won in
1962 with Air Pilot.
1970—Semillant (France) becomes the third foreign-bred horse
to win the MassCap, which is now contested at 12 furlongs on the
grass for a $75,000-added purse. Drumtop was second; Jungle
Cove third.
1971—Chompion, who had failed in three previous attempts,
makes a fourth start in the MassCap and finally gets the job
done. He sets a stakes record for the 1 1/2 miles turf distance
with a 2:34 2/5 clocking. Chompion is the fourth MassCap
winner bred by C.V. Whitney, who also sent out First Fiddle in
Riva Ridge, 1973
1944 and 1945 and Fast Count in 1966.
1972—Hawthorne shipper Droll Role is a three-length victor over Hitchcock and Native Royalty as the MassCap is restored to
nine furlongs on the dirt with a $100,000-added purse.
1973—In a grudge match of sorts, Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Riva Ridge faces off against Bee Bee Bee, who
stole the Preakness from him the previous season. Riva Ridge leads at every call, ties Whirlaway’s stakes and track record of 1:48
1/5 for 1 1/8 miles and returns a slim $2.80 to win. It is the second MassCap training win for Lucien Lauren, who also won in
1969 with Beau Marker. The purse is back to $50,000-added.
1974—Billy Come Lately pulls off a mild upset at 11-to-1, but perhaps more dubious is the fourth-place finish of 3-to-5 favorite
True Knight, who begins a long losing streak for MassCap chalk players. Favorites will lose 15 consecutive MassCaps (including
both divisions in 1977), until Lost Code wins at 4-to-5 in 1988. The purse has been upped to $75,000 guaranteed.
1975—Ron Turcotte earns his second win as a jockey in the MassCap, guiding 5-to-1 Stonewalk home two years after his tally
astride Riva Ridge. The 5-to-2 Group Plan is second. Mongongo is third at 58-to-1 in what is now a $100,000 guaranteed race.
1976—Lord Rebeau, the 9-to-2 third choice, looks ready to pounce going into the far turn, but jockey Craig Perret finds himself
caught in a sandwich between the 9-to-1 Dancing Champ, the eventual winner, and Designated Hitter, a 272-to-1 also-ran. Lord
Rebeau stumbles and drops back to eighth, while Dancing Champ and jockey Chris McCarron survive a foul claim for the local
rider’s first score in the MassCap.
1977—The MassCap is split into two divisions for the first and only time. Blue Times takes the first heat over eight others in 1:49
2/5, while Swinging Hal wires the second division one-fifth of a second faster over nine rivals.
1978—Big John Taylor “entered the home lane with a comfortable advantage and was under moderate left-handed whipping”
to stave off Giboulee and Buckfinder in the 44th MassCap.
1979—Future champion John Henry finishes tenth in a 13-horse MassCap field. He runs so poorly that he does not even earn a
comment in the chart footnotes of the race. He’s eleven lengths behind race winner Island Sultan.
1980—Ring of Light wins the MassCap, which has just been accorded Grade III status. One year later, he will become the only
horse to win both this race and the Suffolk Sprint.
1981—With the race now valued at $150,000-added, local longshot Soldier Boy, the second-highest price on the tote board at
23-to-1, upsets the 47th MassCap field. It’s bombs away all around, as second-place runner Niteange is 50-to-1 and show horse
Driving Home is 11-to-1.
1982—Silver Supreme, relegated to the two-horse mutuel field and ignored in the betting at 30-to-1, wins the MassCap by a
neck. Reef Searcher is second, and the favorites’ jinx continues as the 17-to-10 Canadian invader Frost King is third, beaten only
a neck and a head.
1983—This year’s MassCap, moved up to Grade II status, goes to another New England-based racer, as Let Burn, trained by Bill
Perry, pulls off a wire job ahead of Space Mountain and Bemedalled.
1984—The 50th MassCap is won convincingly by Dixieland Band. The 5-to-1 winner is 2 1/4 lengths faster than Ward Off
Trouble (9-to-2), with Vigumand 1 1/4 lengths farther behind.
1985—Bounding Basque stops the MassCap timer at 1:47 3/5, establishing a track record for 1 1/8 miles. that will stand for 13
years. Whirlaway (1942) and Riva Ridge (1973) had shared the previous mark with 1:48 1/5 timings for their MassCap victories.
1986—Contesting the MassCap with a beefed-up $200,000-added purse, Skip Trial wears down ’85 Belmont Stakes winner
Creme Fraiche after that rival actually puts a head in front at midstretch. El Basco is third.
1987—In what will become one of the most—if not the most—thrilling finish in Suffolk Downs history, local heroes Waquoit
and Chris McCarron outduel even-money favorite Broad Brush in a stirring stretch duel drive. Announcer Jim Hannon’s voicecracking call of the “ding-dong battle to the wire” is likely the most famous race call in New England racing history.
1988—Favorite Lost Code bests a field of five by 7 3/4 lengths, the second-largest winning margin in MassCap history. The 4-to5 public choice also breaks the losing streak of 15 consecutive MassCap favorites, going wire to wire to snag the winner’s share of
the now $250,000-added purse. Waquoit runs second; Afleet third.
1989—Private Terms is a 3/4-length winner at 7-to-5, besting a field of eight for a $300,000 guaranteed purse. It will be the last
MassCap run until 1995, when Sterling Suffolk Racecourse Ltd. revives New England’s richest race.
1995—The national spotlight shines on Suffolk Downs as Cigar, just beginning to emerge as racing’s next superstar, brings
a seven-race winning streak into the first MassCap in six years. By sweeping the MassCap Bonus Series preliminary races,
Cigar is eligible to compete for an additional $500,000 on top of the winner’s share of the $250,000 guaranteed purse. Away at
prohibitive odds of 1-to-5, Cigar is never seriously challenged en route to an easy four-length victory, leaving longshots Poor But
Honest and Double Calvados in his wake. Cigar will go on to complete an undefeated season, winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic
in October to ensure 1995 Horse of the Year honors in the Eclipse Awards.
1996—In his first start since his $4 million victory over the planet’s best in the Dubai World Cup, Cigar has Boston whipped
into a frenzy in anticipation of his 15th straight win and title defense in the 57th MassCap. Escorted to Suffolk Downs by a State
Police caravan, the champ is mobbed by backstretch well-wishers and greeted by a throng of 22,169 who enthusiastically show
their support for Cigar before he even arrives in the paddock for New England’s richest race. Facing an overwhelmed field of
five in a race with no place or show wagering, Cigar is, in essence, chasing only Citation’s modern-day win streak of 16 and the
benchmark burden of 130 pounds. Effortlessly overtaking the field at the far turn, Cigar coasts to a 1-to-10 tally, earning owner
Allen Paulson a winning share of $400,000 (including MassCap Bonus earnings) and a place in history as the fourth two-time
race winner. Personal Merit is 2 1/4 lengths farther back in second, 10 1/4 lengths clear of Prolanzier.
1997—Skip Away wins a photo finish a head in front of Formal Gold after a stirring stretch battle, 3 1/2 lengths in front of Will’s
Way in third. Regaining Grade III status and carrying an upgraded purse of $300,000, the MassCap headlines New England’s
first million-dollar day in purses, with a total of six stakes on the card. Champion Three-Year-Old the previous season, the
7-to-10 favorite is following in the footsteps of sire Skip Trial, who also won the MassCap 11 years ago for trainer Hubert “Sonny”
Hine. The powerful gray earns a purse incentive bonus, based on previous graded stakes victories, of $500,000 for his total
winner’s share. At the windows, a $5,867,414 all-sources wagering record is established.
1998—Skip Away, toting 130 pounds, is the fifth two-time MassCap winner, establishing a track record for nine furlongs in
1:47.27. He outclasses a game Puerto Madero and K.J.’s Appeal as the definitive 3-to-5 favorite and lowers the all-time track
mutuel payouts for trifecta ($7.40) and the daily double ($3.60). Trainer Hubert “Sonny” Hine also sets a record by saddling his
third MassCap winner, passing seven other trainers tied with two each.
1999—Billed as a Grade II $600,000 match race between Kentucky Derby winner Real Quiet (4-to-5) and NTRA Champions on
FOX series points leader Behrens (9-to-10), the 60th MassCap nearly turns into a robbery by European invader Running Stag,
a come-from-behind closer who unexpectedly gets loose on the lead at 8-to-1. The English challenger is game inside the eighth
pole until nailed by a half-length at the wire in the final strides by a fast-finishing Behrens, with Real Quiet 3 1/4 lengths off the
winner in third.
2000—Against one of the deepest MassCap fields in years, 8-to-5 favorite Running Stag avenges his second-place finish from
last season by blasting past pacesetter David (5-to-1) before holding off a late surge from Brazilian-bred runner-up Out of Mind
(7-to-2) in the 61st edition of the New England’s richest and most historic horse race.
2001—Include, the second choice in a field of seven, takes advantage of a speed duel between even-money favorite Broken Vow
and Sir Bear, circling both rivals on the final turn to record his fifth straight stakes victory. It is a record fourth MassCap win for
jockey Jerry Bailey and the second for trainer Grover “Bud” Delp, who captured the 1976 edition with Dancing Champ.
2002—Macho Uno, stuck behind a wall of horses at the eighth pole, finds room under jockey Gary Stevens and passes the field
with authority to win the Massachusetts Handicap by 1 3/4 lengths over Evening Attire and 2001 winner Include. The race goes
on hiatus in 2003 before returning in 2004.
2004—Offlee Wild holds off favored 2003 Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide and The Lady’s Groom in a rousing stretch
duel to post a head victory in a three-horse photo finish in the 64th MassCap in front of 17,280 fans. It is the first MassCap
victory for former local rider Edgar Prado.
2007—Brass Hat storms from off the pace under Willie Martinez to nail front-running Fairbanks inside the final furlong to win
by ¾ lengths. The crowd of 19,191 is the largest at Suffolk Downs since the 1996 MassCap.
2008 —Commentator and jockey John Velazquez power their way to a record setting 14-length victory in the 66th running of
the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap before an exuberant crowd of 17,712.
27
Massachusetts Handicap
Three-Year-Olds & Upward
One Mile & One-Eighth
Year
Horse
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
* 1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
** 1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1995
1996
1997
***1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2004
2007
2008
Age
Jockey
Weight
Winning Value
Top Row
(4)
G. Woolf
116
$18,750
Time Supply
(5)
R. Workman
121
$23,500
Seabiscuit
(4)
J. Pollard
130
$51,780
Menow
(3)
N. Wall
107
$40,550
Fighting Fox
(4)
J. Stout
113
$49,250
Eight Thirty
(4)
H. Richards
126
$46,550
War Relic
(3)
T. Atkinson
102
$48,350
Whirlaway
(4)
G. Woolf
130
$43,850
Market Wise
(5)
V. Nodarse
126
$39,650
First Fiddle
(5)
J. Longden
124
$41,850
First Fiddle
(6)
J. Longden
121
$42,750
Pavot
(4)
A. Kirkland
120
$47,750
Stymie
(6)
C. McCreary
128
$41,150
Beauchef
(5)
R. Donoso
115
$47,250
First Nighter
(4)
J. Renick
104
$39,200
Cochise
(4)
E. Arcaro
120
$21,400
One Hitter
(5)
T. Atkinson
113
$22,000
To Market
(4)
W. Boland
110
$32,600
Royal Vale
(5)
J. Westrope
125
$43,300
Wise Margin
(4)
K. Stuart
111
$43,100
Helioscope
(4)
S. Boulmetis
126
$36,000
Midafternoon
(4)
W. Boland
110
$38,200
Greek Spy
(4)
E. Guerin
118
$39,100
Promised Land
(4)
P. Anderson
119
$36,355
Air Pilot
(5)
J. Leonard
116
$53,880
Talent Show
(5)
R. Broussard
117
$35,865
Polylad
(5)
E. Arcaro
112
$37,505
Air Pilot
(8)
L. Moyers
105
$37,115
Crimson Satan
(4)
H. Hinojosa
124
$38,545
Smart
(5)
E. Nelson
115
$35,880
Smart
(6)
E. Nelson
117
$36,205
Fast Count
(3)
M. Venezia
108
$53,430
Good Knight
(5)
K. Korte
113
$40,153
Out Of The Way
(3)
J. Rotz
113
$39,682
Beau Marker
(4)
L. Moyers
109
$36,741
Semillant
(5)
J. Cruguet
113
$54,730
Chompion
(6)
J. Velasquez
116
$54,421
Droll Role
(4)
E. Maple
115
$75,920
Riva Ridge
(4)
R. Turcotte
125
$36,432
Billy Come Lately
(4)
D. McBeth
108
$45,000
Stonewalk
(4)
R. Turcotte
117
$60,000
Dancing Champ
(4)
C.J. McCarron
118
$60,000
(1st Div) Blue Times
(6)
A. Cordero Jr.
113
$42,930
(2nd Div) Swinging Hal
(4)
S. Pagano
110
$43,410
Big John Taylor
(4)
J. Vasquez
112
$67,200
Island Sultan
(4)
J. Ruane
110
$70,140
Ring of Light
(5)
F. Lovato, Jr.
121
$68,400
Soldier Boy
(5)
R. Danjean
114
$97,200
Silver Supreme
(4)
E. Beitia
111
$100,740
Let Burn
(4)
J.C. Penney
115
$98,220
Dixieland Band
(4)
D.J. Murphy
115
$126,300
Bounding Basque
(5)
A. Graell
110
$124,560
Skip Trial
(4)
J.L. Samyn
123
$128,040
Waquoit
(4)
C.J. McCarron
117
$124,560
Lost Code
(4)
C. Perret
127
$154,108
Private Terms
(4)
K. Desormeaux
119
$180,000
Cigar
(5)
J. Bailey
124
$650,000
Cigar
(6)
J. Bailey
130
$400,000
Skip Away
(4)
S. Sellers
119
$500,000
Skip Away
(5)
J. Bailey
130
$500,000
Behrens
(5)
J. Chavez
118
$400,000
Running Stag
(6)
J. Velazquez
116
$400,000
Include
(4)
J. Bailey
118
$300,000
Macho Uno
(4)
G. Stevens
117
$300,000
Offlee Wild
(4)
E. Prado
111
$300,000
Brass Hat
(6)
W.Martinez
116
$300,000
Commentator
(7)
J.Velazquez
122
$300,000
*Day Court finished first in 1959 but was disqualified and placed second. **Raced in two divisions in 1977. ***Track Record Time
Trainer
2nd
3rd
Margin
A.A. Baroni
Whopper
Discovery
nk
C.A. Roles
Gov.Sholtz
Stand Pat
3
T. Smith
CaballeroII
Fair Knightess
1
D.A. Headley
BusyK
War Minstrel
8
D. Driscoll
Pompoon
Burning Star
1/2
W.F. Mulholland
Hash
Challedon
1
W.A. Carter
Foxbrough
Royal Man
3/4
B.A. Jones
Rounders
Attention
2 1/4
G.W. Carroll
Salto
Don Bingo
1
E. Mulrenan
Alex Barth
Alquest
3/4
E. Mulrenan
Dinner Party
Megogo
1 1/2
O. White
Dinner Party
Gallorette
2 1/2
H. Jacobs
Elpis
Blue Yonder
1 1/2
R.B. Odom
Harmonica
Double Jay
1 1/4
H.O. Simmons
Going Away
Mighigan II
nk
V.W. Raines
My Request
Loser Weeper
4
J.M. Gaver
Lights Up
Outland
1/2
M. Hirsch
Tio Ciro
One Hitter
2 1/2
J.E. Ryan
Larry Ellis
Count Turf
1/2
S. Edmundson
Find
Royal Vale
nk
H. Hausner
Social Outcast
Wise Margin
1/2
T.M. Waller
Find
Mielleux
1 1/2
S.W. Ward
Illusionist
Tick Tock
1
H. Jacobs
One-Eyed King
Clem
1 1/2
C. Troutt
Day Court
Bald Eagle
DQ
C. Troutt
Polylad
Battle Neck
1 1/2
T.M. Miles
Our Hope
Nickel Boy
hd
B. Holthus
Polylad
Ambiopoise
1 1/4
C. Kerr
Admiral’s Voyage
Sunrise County
2 1/2
H.S. Clark
Sunrise County
Steel Viking
hd
H.S. Clark
Gun Bow
Tenacle
nose
I.G. Balding
Pluck
Baitman
hd
A. Scruton, Jr.
Understanding
Heronslea
1
M. Hirsch
Big Rock Candy
King’s Palace
1/2
L. Laurin
Spring Double
Chompion
1 3/4
A. Penna
Drumtop
Jungle Cove
2 1/2
J.J. Kulina
The Pruner
Close Attention
4
T.J. Kelly
Hitchcock
Native Royalty
3
L. Laurin
Crafty Khale
Loud
3 3/4
J. Tammaro
Forage
NorthSea
nk
D.J. Lopez
Group Plan
Mongongo
3/4
G.G. Delp
Rushing Man
El Pitirre
nk
L. Barrera
Pension Plan
Nearly On Time
nk
J.W. Woods
El Pitirre
Gentle King
3 1/2
D. Peterson
Giboulee
Buckfinder
1/2
J.P. Campo
Western Front
Quiet Jay
3/4
F. Martin
Crow’s Nest
Niteange
2 1/4
D.F. Imprescia
Niteange
Driving Home
2 1/2
R.T. DeStasio
Reef Searcher
Frost King
nk
W.W. Perry
Space Mountain
Bemedalled
4 1/4
C. Peoples
Ward Off Trouble
Vigumand
2 1/4
W. Sedlacek
Dr. Carter
Hail Bold King
4
H. Hine
Crème Fraiche
El Basco
1/2
G. Federico
Broad Brush
Tour d’Or
nose
W.L. Donovan
Waquoit
Afleet
7 3/4
C.H. Hadry
Granacus
Simply Majestic
3/4
W.I. Mott
Poor But Honest
Double Calvados
4
W.I. Mott
Personal Merit
Prolanzier
2 1/4
H. Hine
Formal Gold
Will’s Way
hd
H. Hine
Puerto Madero
K.J.’s Appeal
4 1/4
H.J. Bond
Running Stag
Real Quiet
1/2
P. Mitchell
Out of Mind
David
1 1/4
G.G. Delp
Sir Bear
Broken Vow
4
J. Orseno
Evening Attire
Include
1 3/4
R. Dutrow, Jr.
Funny Cide
The Lady’s Groom
hd
W. Bradley
Fairbanks
Dr. Pleasure
¾
N.Zito
Won Awesome Dude
Cuba
14
Run at 1 1/4 Miles 1948–1969, 1 1/2 Miles (Turf) 1970–1971. Not run 1990-1994, 2003, 2005, 2006
1:49 2/5
1:49 4/5
1:49
1:52 3/5
1:52
1:49
1:48 3/5
1:48 1/5
1:52
1:49
1:49 2/5
1:49 4/5
1:50
2:02 3/5
2:04 3/5
2:01 4/5
2:02 1/5
2:01 2/5
2:02 1/5
2:01 3/5
2:01
2:04
2:03 1/5
2:01 4/5
2:02 2/5
2:03 3/5
2:01 4/5
2:01 2/5
2:01 1/5
2:03 1/5
2:01 3/5
2:01 1/5
2:02 2/5
2:02 4/5
2:04 3/5
2:37 1/5
2:34 2/5
1:49 1/5
1:48 1/5
1:48 3/5
1:48 3/5
1:49 1/5
1:49 2/5
1:49 1/5
1:48 2/5
1:48 3/5
1:50 2/5
1:49 2/5
1:48 4/5
1:48 4/5
1:52
1:47 3/5
1:49 4/5
1:49
1:50 1/5
1:49 2/5
1:48 3/5
1:49 3/5
1:47 4/5
1:47.27
1:49.14
1:49.45
1:48.61
1:50.52
1:49.14
1:49 3/5
1:48.97
28
Odds To $1
5.80
3.90
1.00
10.40
14.50
5.70
10.80
1.00
1.20
2.60
.80
2.70
.30
2.00
9.20
1.90
2.00
11.00
.90
11.40
.90
1.40
2.80
.80
6.20
2.70
2.40
8.20
2.10
3.10
4.40
18.60
56.60
2.20
6.50
4.30
2.20
2.60
.40
11.30
5.20
9.70
3.60
14.40
6.60
20.10
2.70
23.10
30.00
5.40
5.90
4.70
2.60
4.30
.80
1.40
.20
.10
.70
.30
.90
1.60
1.70
2.10
3.20
4.10
.10
Massachusetts Handicap
A ttendance A nd H andle
Largest Attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (est.) 60,000 (1938)
Largest Full-Card MassCap Day Handle... . . $5,867,414 (1997)
P urses
Largest Total Purse*.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $750,000 (1995)
Largest Winner’s Share*... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $650,000 (1995)
The winners of these classic races have participated in the Massachusetts Handicap. Note that the
Triple Crown winners are listed separately.
K entucky D erby
Horse
Count Turf
Riva Ridge
Real Quiet
Funny Cide
Year Won
1951
1972
1998
2003
MassCap
1953, 3rd
1973, Won
1999, 3rd
2004, 2nd
*Includes $500,000 MassCap Bonus Series earnings
P reakness S takes
M utuels
Largest Win Payoff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $115.20 Largest Place Payoff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $49.00 Largest Show Payoff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20.20 Largest Perfecta Payoff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,268.40 Largest Trifecta Payoff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $121.20 Lowest Win Payoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2.20 Highest Odds/Any Participant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277-1
Lowest Odds/Any Participant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-to-10 Winning Favorites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Favorites In The Money. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Favorites Off The Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Highest Odds On A Favorite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.80-1 Mutuel Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Four Best Finish at 100-1 Or More. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4th
No Place & Show Wagering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No Show Wagering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Perfecta Wagering First Permitted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trifecta Wagering First Permitted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1967, Good Knight)
(1936, Gov. Sholtz)
(1979, Western Front)
(1981, Soldier Boy-Niteange)
(1995, Cigar-Poor But Honest-Double
Calvados)
(1996, Cigar; 2008 Commentator)
(1976, Designated Hitter; 9th)
(1996, Cigar; 2008 Commentator)
(34%)
(72%)
(28%)
(1967, Handsome Boy-Beau Legs entry)
(1937, 1979, 1982, 1984) (1982, Silver
Supreme; only field member to win)
(1985, Convict; at 108-1)
1949, 1996
1955, 1988, 1996, 1998
1977 (both divisions)
1986
D istances A nd T imes
Stakes Record For 1 1/8 Miles*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:47.27 (1998, Skip Away)
Stakes Record For 1 1/4 Miles*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:01 (1955, Helioscope)
Stakes Record For 1 1/2 Miles (Turf) . . . . . . . . 2:34 2/5 (1971, Chompion)
* Time Reflects Both Stakes and Track Record
Horse
Challedon
Bee Bee Bee
Real Quiet
Funny Cide
Year Won
1939
1972
1998
2003
MassCap
1939, 4th; 1940, 3rd
1973, 4th
1999, 3rd
2004, 2nd
B elmont S takes
Horse
Pavot
Riva Ridge
Creme Fraiche
Year Won
1945
1972
1985
MassCap
1946, Won
1973, Won
1986, 2nd; 1987, 6th
T riple C rown W inners
Horse
War Admiral
Whirlaway
Assault
Year Won
1937
1941
1946
MassCap
1938, 4th
1942, Won
1949, 4th
H orse of the Y ear
Horse
Seabiscuit
War Admiral
Challedon
Whirlaway
Assault
Fort Marcy
John Henry
Cigar
Skip Away
29
Year 1938
1937
1939 & 1940
1941 & 1942
1946
1970
1981 & 1984
1995 & 1996
1998
MassCap
1937, Won
1938, 4th
1939, 4th; 1940, 3rd
1942, Won
1949, 4th
1968, 4th
1979, 10th
1995, Won; 1996, Won
1997, Won; 1998, Won
Massachusetts Handicap
I nternal F ractions F or 11⁄8 M iles D istance
Fastest ¼ Mile
Fastest ½ Mile
Fastest ¾ Mile
Fastest Mile
:22 2/5 :45 3/5 1:09 4/5 l:34.89
M ultiple W inners
Two-Time Race Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 – – 1944 & 1945, First Fiddle
1959 & 1962, Air Pilot
1964 & 1965, Smart
1995 & 1996, Cigar
1997 & 1998, Skip Away
(1996, Prolanzier)
(1979, Bear The Palm)
(1977 2nd Div., Swinging Hal)
(1998, Skip Away)
W inning P ost P ositions
Post #1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Post #2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Post #3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Post #4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Post #5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Post #6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Post #7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3Y0 Colts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4Y0 Colts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
4Y0 Geldings. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
4Y0 Ridglings. . . . . . . . . . . . 1
5Y0 Horses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Foreign-Bred Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 – – 1948, Beauchef (Chile)
1953, Royal Vale (England)
1970, Semillant (Prance)
Post #8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Post #9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Post #10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Post #11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Post #12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Post #13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l
Most Winners By One Breeder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 – Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
1944 & 1945, First Fiddle
1966, Fast Count
1971, Chompion
Most Winners By One Owner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 – – 1944 & 1945, Edward Mulrenan (First Fiddle)
1947 & 1958, Ethel D. Jacobs (Stymie & Promised Land)
1959 & 1960, Ada L. Rice (Air Pilot & Talent Show)
1964 & 1965, Christiana Stable (Smart)
1995 & 1996, Allen Paulson (Cigar)
1997 & 1998, Carolyn H. Hine (Skip Away)
Most Winners By One Trainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 – – 1986, 1997 & 1998 Hubert “Sonny” Hine (Skip Trial &
Skip Away [twice])
A ge and S ex of W inners
5YO Geldings . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
6YO Horses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
6YO Geldings. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
7YO Geldings . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
8YO Geldings. . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Most Winners By One Jockey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 – – 1995, 1996, 1998 & 2001 Jerry Bailey (Cigar [twice],
Skip Away & Include)
M iscellaneous
Smallest Field. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 (1955)
Largest Field (split) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l9 (1977 divided to fields of 9 and 10)
Largest Field (not split). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 (1937, 1972, 1979, 1982, 1984)
Largest Winning Margin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Lengths (1938, Menow)
Highest Weight Assignment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 Ibs. (1935, Discovery)
Lowest Weight Assignment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 lbs. (1941, Bernie Moose)
Highest Weight Carried By Winner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 lbs. (1937, Seabiscuit; l942, Whirlaway; 1996,
Cigar; 1998, Skip Away)
Lowest Weight Carried By Winner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 lbs. (1941, War Relic)
Disqualifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2(1959, Day Court DQ from 1st to 2nd)
(1977 2nd div., Coverack DQ from 3rd to 4th)
Most Winners By One Sire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 – – Olympia (Air Pilot [twice] & Talent Show)
T rack conditions
Horse
Year
Finish
138
136
131
130
130
130
130
130
130
130
Discovery
Discovery
Gun Bow
Seabiscuit
War Admiral
Challedon
Fenelon
Whirlaway
Cigar
Skip Away
1935
1936
1965
1937
1938
1940
1941
1942
1996
1998
3rd
8th
2nd
1st
4th
4th
6th
1st
1st
1st
Heavy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Soft (Turf). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Firm (Turf). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
MAKING THE GRADE
Each year the North American Graded Stakes Committee reviews the continent’s top races and assigns
numerical grades (I, II and III in descending order) for the most prestigious contests.
Since 1973, the selections have been based on purse requirements, quality of the field and historical/ longevity
aspects of each race. Suffolk Downs was awarded Grade II status for the MassCap in 1999 with the hope of
upgrading that ranking in future runnings of the race.
Listed below is the graded stakes history of the MassCap:
1983-1989, 1999-2002, 2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grade II
1980-1982, 1997-1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grade III
H ighweights at 1 3 0 lbs . or more
Weight
Fast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Good. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Sloppy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
30