Sapling Stakes

The Sapling Stakes is an American Ungraded Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early September at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey. Open to 2-year-olds, it was raced on dirt over a distance of six furlongs for a current purse of $100,000. In 2014, its distance was set at 1 mile or 8 furlongs.

First run in 1883, the New Jersey Legislature passed a law in 1894 that banned parimutuel betting in the state and the track closed. In 1946, the state legislature passed a bill providing for state regulation of horse racing and the Sapling Stakes was revived.

In 1952, the race was run in two divisions.

This race was downgraded to a Listed Status for its 2014 running.

Records
Time record:
 * 1:07.84 – Gilded Time (1992) (former distance of 6 furlongs)

Most wins by an owner:
 * 3 – James Cox Brady Jr. (1949, 1952, 1953)

Most wins by a jockey:
 * 3 – Braulio Baeza (1964, 1965, 1968)
 * 3 – Craig Perret (1980, 1982, 1996)
 * 3 – Joe Bravo (1997, 2000, 2006)
 * 3 – Paco Lopez (2012, 2014, 2016)

Most wins by a trainer:
 * 8 – D. Wayne Lukas (1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998)

Earlier winners

 * 1883 – Duchess (W. Donohue) 1:18.75
 * 1884 – Brookwood (Edward Feakes) 1:15.50
 * 1885 – Savanac (R. Olney) 1:17 .00
 * 1886 – Hanover (Jim McLaughlin) 1:17.50
 * 1887 – Fitz James (Edward H. Garrison) 1:16.50
 * 1888 – Tipstaff (Eilke)  1:15.25
 * 1889 – Devotee (W. Hayward) 1:15.25
 * 1890 – Sorcerer (F. Reagan) 1:16.25
 * 1891 – Air Plant (Anthony Hamilton) 1:12.75
 * 1892 – Don Alonzo (Fred Taral) 1:13.75
 * 1893 – Senator Grady (W. Midgley) 1:05.00

Note: the 1893 race was run at $5 1/2$ furlongs on the straight course.