title: Principal Stakes
text: # Principal Stakes
  
  The Principal Stakes (in Japanese: プリンシパルステークス), is a listed race for three-year-old stallions and mares in the Japan Racing Association.
  
  ## Race details
  
  The race was established in 1996 as a qualifying race for the Tokyo Yūshun. The winner of this race will be given Priority entry rights to the Japanese Derby. To those who wish to qualify for Tokyo Yūshun, winning this race is normally the final chance.
  
  It is an international race, typically held in May.
  
  ## Winners since 2014
  
  | Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 2014 | Bell Canyon | Keita Tosaki | Noriyuki Hori | 2:01.0 |
  | 2015 | Ambitious | Christophe Lemaire | Hidetaka Otonashi | 2:00.2 |
  | 2016 | Azure Rose | Hugh Bowman | Masaaki Koga | 1:59.2 |
  | 2017 | Daiwa Cagney | Hiroshi Kitamura | Takanori Kikusawa | 1:58.3 |
  | 2018 | Cosmic Force | Christophe Lemaire | Sakae Kunieda | 1:58.2 |
  | 2019 | Zadar | Shuu Ishibashi | Masahiro Ootake | 1:58.3 |
  | 2020 | Bitterender | Akihide Tsumura | Ikuo Aizawa | 1:59.8 |
  | 2021 | Baji O | Akihide Tsumura | Hiroyasu Tanaka | 1:59.3 |
  | 2022 | Seiun Hades | Hideaki Miyuki | Shinsuke Hashiguchi | 1:59.0 |
  | 2023 | Pax Ottomanica | Hironobu Tanabe | Takashi Kubota | 2:01.0 |
  
  ## Past winners
  
  Past winners include:
  
  * 1996: Dance in the Dark
  * 1997: Silence Suzuka
  * 1998: Taiki Bridle
  * 1999: Black Tuxedo
  * 2000: Toho Shiden
  * 2001: Miscast
  * 2002: Mega Stardom
  * 2003: Meiner Solomon
  * 2004: Pisa no Kukai
  * 2005: Eishin Niizan
  * 2006: Victory Run
  * 2007: Golden Dahlia
  * 2008: Venture Nine
  * 2009: Keiai Raijin
  * 2010: Rulership
  * 2011: Tosen Reve
  * 2012: Spielberg
  * 2013: Samson's Pride
  