Hilltop Stakes
Introduction 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: '''*  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 $ Gr.2022Pizza Bianca3José OrtizChristophe ClementBobby Flay1 mile1:36.54$100,0002021 Alda3 John R. Velazquez H. Graham Motion Wertheimer and Frere 1 mile1:35.06$100,0002020 Evil Lyn3 Horacio Karamanos Michael Maker Paradise Farms Corp. 1 mile1:42.25$100,0002019 Dogtag3 Javier Castellano Chad Brown LNJ Foxwoods1 mile1:36.71$100,0002018 Souper Striking3 Julian Pimetel Michael Trombetta Live Oak Plantation1-1/81:51.72$100,0002017 Happy Mesa3 Javier Castellano H. Graham Motion Great Point Stables1 mile1:33.61$100,0002016 Gone Away3 Florent Geroux Michael Matz Augustin Stable1-1/161:41.68 $100,0002015 Miss Temple City3 John R. Velazquez H. Graham Motion Sagamore Farm1-1/161:41.94 $100,0002014 Our Epiphany 3 Grant Whitacre Dane Kobiskie PTK LLC 1-1/161:48.07 $100,0002013 Emotional Kitten3 Joel Rosario Wesley Ward Ken & Sarah Ramsey1-1/161:41.98 $100,0002012 Coup3 John Velazquez H. Graham Motion Augustin Stable1-1/161:42.71 $100,0002011 Excited3 John Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Michael B. Tabor 1-1/161:49.48 $75,0002010 Joharmony3 Javier Castellano Leigh Delacour Gary L. Chervenell  1-1/161:44.17$70,0002009 Blind Date3 Jeremy Rose Hamilton A. Smith William M. Backer1-1/161:42.89$60,0002008 Hartigan3 Luis Garcia Richard W. Small Robert Meyerhoff1-1/161:46.24$60,0002007 Street Sounds3 Ramon Dominguez Michael R. Matz Hidden Creek Farm1 mile1:36.60$80,0002006 Ebony Rose3 Chris Decarlo Todd A. Pletcher Gene Mello1-1/161:49.60$85,0002005 My Typhoon3 Jerry Bailey William I. Mott Peter Vegso1-1/161:44.20$75,0002004 Western Ransom3 Ryan Fogelsonger Michael Dickinson Dr. John A. Chandler1-1/161:43.20$50,0002003 City Fire3 Jeremy Rose Mark Shuman Michael Gill1-1/161:44.20$50,0002002 Ntombi3 Mario Pino Michael Dickinson Dr. John A. Chandler1-1/161:42.20$50,0002001 Guillotine3 Mark T. Johnston Hamilton A. Smith Janis Gerace1-1/161:45.00$75,0002000 Azireprice3 Sidney Lejeune, Jr. Thomas Amoss On Target Racing Stable1-1/161:43.20$50,0001999 Polish Miss3 Mario Pino Bruce C. Jackson Mary Kernan1-1/161:44.80$50,0001998 Proud Owner3 Darci Rice Richard W. Small Thomas Bowman& Small1-1/161:43.00$57,0001997 Cozy Blues3 Fran Villeneuve James E. Baker Adam Wachtel1-1/161:44.00$75,0001997 Earth to Jackie3 Robert Colton J. William Boniface Jacquelyn Schipke1-1/161:44.00$75,0001996 Silent Greeting3 Larry Reynolds H. Graham Motion Joe L. Allbritton1-1/161:46.40$58,0001995 Jhenais Jewel3 Raphael Verderosa Josephine Owens Mrs. Jack Jeweler1-1/161:45.60$58,0001994 Irish Forever3 Jorge Chavez J. William Boniface Roger Schipke1-1/161:43.60$57,0001993 Open Toe3 Mike Luzzi James W. Murphy Pomerosa Farms1-1/161:42.40$57,0001992 Captive Miss3 Joe Bravo Philip M. Serpe Live Oak Stud1-1/161:41.40$60,0001991 Grab the Green3 Edgar Prado Barclay Tagg Samuel H. Rogers Jr.1-1/161:44.60$58,0001990 Valay Maid3 Marco Castaneda Carlos A. Garcia C. Oliver Goldsmith1-1/161:42.60$58,0001989 Seraglio3 Gregg McCarron Richard W. Small Robert E. Meyerhoff1-1/161:48.80$68,5001988 Another Paddock3 Nick Santagata George Pagano George Steinbrenner1 mile1:36.20$60,0001987 Artic Cloud3 Mario Pino William T. Fitzgibbons 1-1/161:44.40$50,0001986 Country Recital3 Vincent Bracciale1-1/161:46.00$36,5001985 A Joyful Spray3 Philip Grove John A. Manfuso1-1/161:43.60$36,5001984 Squan Song3Fernando HernandezCarlos A. GarciaMrs. Peter F. Green1-1/161:44.60$36,5001983Final Chapter3Danny WrightRichard W. Small1-1/161:45.40 $36,5001982Martie's Double3Rudy Turcotte1-1/161:43.60$36,5001981 Anti Phil3Danny WrightAnthony E. Verdi1-1/161:46.40$36,5001980 Weber City Miss3Vincent Bracciale1-1/161:45.00$36,5001979Heavy Sugar3Mark Drury1-1/161:45.20$36,5001978 Caesar's Wish3Gregg McCarronRichard W. SmallSally M. Gibson1-1/161:45.00$35,0001977 Enthused3Chris McCarron1-1/161:45.40$28,0001976 Dance My Love3George Cusimano1-1/161:46.40$30,7001975 Quick Selection3George Cusimano1-1/161:45.00$36,0001974Four Bells3Gregg McCarron1-1/161:43.20$30,5001973Maybe Crafty3Eldon Nelson1-1/161:46.60$30,000
See also * Hilltop Stakes top three finishers* Pimlico Race Course* List of graded stakes at Pimlico Race Course
References