Challenger Stakes

The Challenger Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses four years old or older over a distance of $1 1/16$ miles on the dirt track in early March at Tampa Bay Downs, Oldsmar, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.

History
The race was inaugurated in 1987 as a late season two-year-old event in the last week of December. For five years between 1992 and 1996 the event was not held.

In 1997 the event was renewed as a three-year-old event and scheduled in February over the shorter distance of 7 furlongs and in 1998 the event received sponsorship from Budweiser which continued until 2007. In 1999 the event was moved to the turf track at a longer distance of one mile.

In 2004 the conditions of the event were changed, in that four-year-olds and older could enter. The distance was extended to the now $1 1/16$ miles and the running was on the dirt track.

In 2020 the event was upgraded to a Grade III event.

Records
Speed record:
 * $1 1/16$ miles – 1:41.89 – Flameaway  (2019)
 * 1 mile – 1:33.79 – Lucky J J (2000)

Margins:
 * $1 1/16$ lengths – Darian's Reason (1990)

Most wins by a jockey:
 * 3 – Willie Martinez (1991, 2010, 2011)

Most wins by a trainer:
 * 4 – Todd A. Pletcher (2001, 2011, 2015, 2017)

Most wins by an owner:
 * 2 – Daniel Alonzo (2023, 2024)

Winners
Legend: Notes: † Cannon Dancer was first past the post but was disqualified and placed second and Strike the Knight declared the winner

External sites
Tampa Bay Downs Media Guide 2021