As Pulpit Stakes Approaches, a Look at his Influence

The first Friday of Gulfstream Park‘s 2024-25 Championship Meet Nov. 29 features the 11th running of the Pulpit Stakes.

The turf race for juveniles is named in honor of the Claiborne Farm homebred who successfully kicked off his racing career at age 3 in 1997 with three straight wins at the Hallandale Beach, Fla., track before finishing runner-up there in the Florida Derby (G1).

Inaugurated in 2013, the Pulpit Stakes was a one-mile race before being cut back to 7 1/2 furlongs in 2022. Notable Pulpit Stakes winners include 2016 victor Tapwrit  , a grandson of Pulpit, who went on to win the Belmont Stakes (G1) the following year and stands with his sire Tapit   at Gainesway. Another notable Pulpit Stakes winner is 2018 victor Henley’s Joy , by Kitten’s Joy, who went on to become a grade 1 winner in the 2019 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T).