Native Dancer Stakes
Introduction The '''Native Dancer Stakes''' is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. Raced in early January, it is open to horses age three and older and is contested on dirt over a distance of  mile. Its current purse is $75,000.From 1966 to 2002, the race was known as the Native Dancer Handicap. It has been run at four different distances; for the first eleven years (from 1966 to 1976), the race was run at 6 furlongs, from 1977 to 1984 and in 2005 it was raced at a distance of  miles; in 1985 and from 2006 through 2010 the race was contested at its present distance of 1 mile; and from 1986 through 2003, it was run at a distance of  miles. The race was originally run at Bowie Race Track from 1966 through 1984.The race is named in honor of Alfred G. Vanderbilt's Native Dancer. Native Dancer was the huge gray son of two of thoroughbred's top racing horses of the decade in Polynesian and Geisha. He was named ''Horse of the Year'' as a two-year-old and then named a repeat winner as a four-year-old. He also won the titles of ''Champion 2-year-old, Champion 3-year-old and Champion older horse'' in three consecutive years. Native Dancer won 21 of 22 races and earned $785,240.His 18 stakes victories included the Preakness Stakes, the Belmont Stakes and the Travers Stakes. Native Dancer's only loss was in the Kentucky Derby. Following a trip in which he was bumped three times, he finished second, a head behind Dark Star.Upon his retirement, Native Dancer entered into stud at Vanderbilt's Sagamore Farm in Glyndon, Maryland, where he remained until his death in 1967.He was buried at Sagamore and was the sire of 45 stakes winners including Raise a Native (grandsire to Mr. Prospector), Alydar, Natalma and Northern Dancer.
Records '''Speed record: '''* 6 furlongs - 1:09.00 - Tap The Tree (1974)* 1 mile - 1:34.80 -  Throng  (2008)*  miles - 1:40.20 - Jims Third Bolero (2005)*  miles - 1:48.40 - Gulf Reckoning (1996)'''Most wins by an owner:'''* 2 - Jack Owens (1986, 1987)'''Most wins by a jockey:'''* 3 - Edgar Prado (1991, 1992, 1995)* 3 - Vincent Bracciale Jr. (1974, 1981, 1983)'''Most wins by a trainer:'''* 3 - Michael Trombetta (2006, 2013 & 2014)
Winners of the Native Dancer Stakes since 1966  Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer OwnerDistance (Miles) TimePurse2023Nimitz Class4Jevian ToledoBruce M. KravetsTom Coulter1:52.11$100,0002022Rough Sea8Denis AraujoBruno TessoreProud Stable Inc1:51.76$100,0002021No Race2020 Harpers First Ride4 Angel Cruz Claudio Gonzalez GMP Stables LLC1:48.56$100,0002019 Someday Jones6 Trevor McCarthy John Servis Main Line Racing Stable1:49.23$100,0002018 Afleet Willy5 Jomar Torres Claudio Gonzalez B. B. Horses1:43.78$100,0002017 Page McKenney 7 Horacio Karamanos Mary E. Eppler Staple/Jalin Stable1:45.01$100,0002016 Page McKenney 6 Horacio Karamanos Mary E. Eppler Staple/Jalin Stable1:44.70$75,0002015 Elnaawi 5 Sheldon Russell Kiaran McLaughlin Shadwell Stable1:45.20$100,0002014 Bold Curlin4 Victor R. Carrasco Michael Trombetta Harry & Tom Meyerhoff1:43.62$100,0002013 Private Tale 5 Sheldon Russell Michael Trombetta Three Diamonds Farm1:45.35$125,0002012  No Race2011 Laysh Laysh Laysh6 Erick Rodriguez Richard Dutrow Jr. Vincent S. Scuderi1-mile1:37.45$75,0002010Greenspring5Jeremy RoseChris GroveOur Chelsea Stable1-mile1:38.18$70,0002009Lord Snowdon6Jeremy RoseAnthony W. DutrowKaplan Racing1-mile1:38.11$75,0002008Throng5Carlos H. Marquez Jr.Todd A. PletcherStarlight Stable, LLC.1-mile1:34.80$80,0002007Judith's Wild Rush6Julian PimentelJulian CaletHarvey Tenenbaum 1-mile1:36.40$75,0002006Your Bluffing6Mario PinoMichael TrombettaR.D.M. Racing Stable1-mile1:40.20$75,0002005 Jim Thirds Bolero6Ryan FogelsongerAnnette M. EubanksRev. Mark L. Andrews1:40.20$75,0002004 No Race 2003P Day8Ryan FogelsongerCharles H. HadryAdam Russo 1:50.00$75,0002002Private Ryan5Harry VegaTimothy Tullock Jr.Edmund Gann1:49.00$50,0002001Do I Ever6Harry VegaBessie S. GruwellJohn Morella1:52.20$55,0002000Montana Dreamin'Joe RoccoTimothy F. RitcheyRichard Reveley1:50.20$75,0001999WaitedAlberto DelgadoBarbara M. KeesSherry Rudolph 1:49.40$80,0001998Big RutLarry ReynoldsHamilton A. SmithJames W. Peters Jr.1:50.80$60,0001997Mary's BuckarooMario VergeMary Joanne HughesJackson Bryer1:49.40$80,0001996Gulf Reckoning5Carlos H. Marquez Jr.Ben W. Perkins Jr.Dr. Charles Staats1:48.40$55,0001995Dixie HeroEdgar PradoCharles PeoplesBayard Sharp1:51.40$90,0001994 No Race 1993Ameri ValayLarry ReynoldsKing T. LeatherburyElaine & Nick Bassford1:49.80$60,0001992Valley Crossing4Edgar PradoRichard W. SmallRobert Meyerhoff1:48.60$60,0001991Jet Stream5Edgar PradoJohn C. MobberlyJohn C. Mobberly1:50.80$65,0001990Flaming EmperorClarence LadnerKenny CoxHideaway Farms1:48.60$75,0001989Learned JakeKent DesormeauxArt BenjaminDick Vermillion 1:48.60$60,0001988Due NorthMichael HunterKaty VossPeter McGill1:49.60$60,0001987Little Bold John5Donnie Miller Jr.Jerry Robb Jack Owens1:51.60$80,0001986Little Bold John4Paul A. Nicol Jr.Jerry Robb Jack Owens1:53.20$80,0001985Kaye's Prince6Donnie Miller Jr.Kenneth SumidaJuiles C.1-mile1:36.60$65,0001984Island ChampAlberto DelgadoHank AllenJames J. Devaney1:46.00$65,0001983Hail EmperorVincent Bracciale Jr. 1:46.00$65,0001982'''#'''Buc 'n BroncMario Pino 1:44.60$50,0001982'''#'''Decent DaveyLeroy Moyers 1:43.60$50,0001981Skippers Friend -Vincent Bracciale Jr.Robert Beale1:44.60$65,0001980Pole PositionGunnar LindbergGoody Goodman1:45.20$65,0001979IsellaMark Drury 1:45.60$65,0001978'''#'''RiponKelly Castaneda 1:45.60$45,5001978'''#'''Take the PledgeJack Kurtz 1:45.40$45,5001977Jolly JohuLarry Moyers 1:44.20$65,0001976Christopher R.William J. Passmore Beverly Hacker Art Rooney6 fur.1:10.60$30,0001975Christopher R.William J. Passmore Beverly HackerArt Rooney6 fur.1:09.60$30,0001974Tap the TreeVincent Bracciale Jr. 6 fur.1:09.00$30,0001973Joys FellaC. Jimenez 6 fur.1:10.60$31,0001972Pro BidderGeorge Cusimano 6 fur.1:10.40$31,0001971JaikylPaul Kallai 6 fur.1:10.40$30,0001970Gaelic DancerRobert Nono 6 fur.1:10.20$31,0001969IllustriousDennis Petrucelli 6 fur.1:09.20$30,0001968UnderstudyFrank Lovato 6 fur.1:11.00$30,0001967SandovalDave Gorman 6 fur.1:10.20$30,0001966Hoist BarIsmael Valenzuela 6 fur.1:10.40$30,650A '''#''' designates that the race was run in two divisions in 1978 and 1982.
See also * Native Dancer Stakes top three finishers* Laurel Park Racecourse
References *  Native Dancer Stakes at Pedigree Query