The Pan American Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses that are four years or older held over a distance of one and one-half miles (twelve furlongs) on the turf usually scheduled annually in late March as an under card event on Florida Derby day at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida.
The inaugural running of the event was on Pan American Day, 14 April 1962, as the Pan American Handicap over one and one-eighth miles distance on the dirt and was easily won by Brae Burn Farm's talented six year old mare Shirley Jones who was ridden by Larry Gilligan defeating nine other starters in a time of 1:511⁄5 by five lengths.
[3] In 1973 the first year the classification system was enacted, the event was set with Grade II status[2] with the Canadian bred Lord Vancouver victorious by 21⁄2 lengths.
[2] In 1979 the British bred Noble Dancer continued his outstanding long distance form carrying 129 pounds as the topweight after winning the G1 United Nations Handicap the previous year.
This time lowered the world record mark set just one week earlier at Santa Anita Park by Bright Thought in the San Luis Rey Handicap.