What is the Salvator Mile Stakes?
The Salvator Mile Stakes is a Grade III Thoroughbred race held annually at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey. Contested at 1 mile on the dirt for horses aged three and older, it is the premier dirt mile event on the New Jersey racing circuit and the lead-off leg of the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships Long Dirt Division, a series of five races run across four Mid-Atlantic states. Inaugurated in 1948, the race is named in honor of Salvator, the Hall of Fame champion who was America's greatest horse of 1890 and set a world record of 1:35½ for the mile that stood for over a decade. Todd Pletcher holds the modern record for most wins with three, including Bright Future in 2024 and Mind Control in 2022. The stakes record of 1:34.25 was set by Gottcha Gold in 2007. The Salvator Mile is run as part of Haskell Preview Day alongside the Grade III Eatontown Stakes.
When is the Salvator Mile Stakes in 2026?
The 2026 Salvator Mile Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, June 13 at Monmouth Park as part of Haskell Preview Day. Contested at 1 mile on the dirt with a purse of $155,000, the race draws the top older dirt horses in the Mid-Atlantic targeting the summer championship circuit.
Salvator Mile Stakes History & Notable Winners
The Salvator Mile has produced a string of high-quality dirt milers in recent years. Bishops Bay gave trainer Brad Cox and jockey Flavien Prat a dominant 2025 win in 1:37.16 for Spendthrift Farm, the first Salvator Mile win for Cox. Bright Future gave trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Javier Castellano a 2024 score in 1:36.96 for Repole Stable, giving Pletcher his third Salvator Mile victory. Petulante produced a 2023 upset for trainer Victor Barbosa and jockey Luis Saez in 1:36.88. Mind Control gave Pletcher his second Salvator win in 2022 under John Velazquez in 1:35.79 for Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables. Informative provided a hometown win for trainer and owner Uriah St. Lewis in 2021 under Jose Ferrer in 1:37.01.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Bishops Bay | Flavien Prat | 1:37.16 |
| 2024 | Bright Future | Javier Castellano | 1:36.96 |
| 2023 | Petulante | Luis Saez | 1:36.88 |
| 2022 | Mind Control | John Velazquez | 1:35.79 |
| 2021 | Informative | Jose C. Ferrer | 1:37.01 |
The Salvator Mile Stakes is the premier dirt mile event on the New Jersey racing circuit and the anchor race of Monmouth Park's Haskell Preview Day each June.
