- Morvich Handicap
-
Grade III race
Morvich HandicapLocation Santa Anita Park
Arcadia, California, United StatesInaugurated 1974 Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing Website Oak Tree Racing Association Race information Distance 6.5 furlongs Track Grass, left-handed Qualification Three-year-olds & up Weight Assigned Purse $100,000 The Morvich Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late October at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California as part of the Oak Tree Racing Association meet. Open to horses three years old and up, it is a Grade III stakes raced on the downhill turf course set at a distance of 6.5 furlongs. The event currently offers a purse of $100,000.
The race is named for Morvich, an American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt who became the first California-bred racehorse to win the Kentucky Derby in 1922.
In 2010, Oak Tree's meet moved to Hollywood Park and the race was shortened to six furlongs due to Hollywood Park's course configuration.
Records
Speed record:
- 1:11.10 - California Flag (2008)
Most wins:
- California Flag (2008, 2009, 2011)
Winners of the Morvich Handicap
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time 2011 California Flag 7 Patrick Valenzuela Brian Koriner Hi Card Ranch 1:11.91 2010‡ Quick Enough 6 Patrick Valenzuela Doug O'Neill M. Bello LLC or Sarno or Suarez Racing, Inc. 1:08.42 2009 California Flag 5 Joe Talamo Brian Koriner Hi Card Ranch 1:11.40 2008 California Flag 4 Joe Talamo Brian Koriner Hi Card Ranch 1:11.10 2007 Get Funky 4 Martin Garcia John W. Sadler Keith Abrahams 1:13.23 2006 Moth Ball 4 Michael Baze James M. Cassidy James Cassidy or Deron Peason 1:11.61 2005 Geronimo 6 Kent Desormeaux John W. Sadler Gary & Cecil Barber 1:12.10 2004 Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) 4 Jon Court Robert Frankel TNT Stud 1:11.76 2003 King Robyn 3 Alex Solis Jeff Mullins Cornejo Racing, Inc. 1:13.22 2002 Master Belt (NZ) 4 Tyler Baze Simon Bray Thomas R. Hamilton 1:12.26 2001 El Cielo 7 Jose Valdivia, Jr. Craig Dollase Carr, Miller Trust & Webber Trust 1:11.46 2000 El Cielo 6 Jose Valdivia, Jr. Craig Dollase Carr, Miller Trust & Webber Trust 1:12.00 1999† Riviera (FR) 5 Brice Blanc Robert Frankel Edmund A. Gann 1:12.99 1998 Musafi 4 Garrett Gomez Darrell Vienna Red Baron's Barn 1:14.54 1997 Reality Road 5 Corey Nakatani Wallace Dollase Pete & Dorothy Pelegrino 1:13.60 1996 Comininalittlehot 5 Kent Desormeaux Mike Mitchell Gary & Timothy Burke 1:11.57 1995 Score Quick 3 Goncalino Almeida Melvin F. Stute Bill M. Thomas 1:14.64 1994 Rotsaluck 3 Fernando Valenzuela Vladimir Cerin L. E. Crownover 1:13.66 1993 Western Approach 4 Kent Desormeaux Robert Frankel Juddmonte Farms 1:12.12 1992± Regal Groom 5 Martin Pedroza Caesar Dominguez Emilio & Joe Estrada 1:16.88 1991 Waterscape 5 Kent Desormeaux Scott Henry John & Yong Alpeza 1:11.95 1990 Yes I'm Blue 4 David Flores Vladimir Cerin King, Landsburg, Powell, et al. 1:12.40 1989 Basic Rate 4 Rafael Meza Neil French Robert & Bonnie Walker 1:12.20 1988 Dr. Brent 3 Fernando Toro Morris Soriano Braverman & Colvin 1:15.80 1987 Sabona 5 Chris McCarron John Gosden Sir Earnest Harrison 1:14.80 1986 River Drummer 4 Gary Stevens Robert Frankel Stavros Niarchos 1:13.80 1985 Dear Rick 4 Chris McCarron Jack Van Berg John R. Franks 1:14.20 1984 Tsunami Slew 3 Eddie Delahoussaye Edwin J. Gregson Royal Lines (Lessee) 1:14.00 1983± Kangroo Court 6 Joe Steiner John Longden John Longden 1:16.00 1982 Shanekite 4 Sandy Hawley Dale Landers Selma Udko 1:12.80 1981 Forlion 5 Marco Castaneda Charles Whittingham Seymour W. Brown 1:13.80 1980 To B. Or Not 4 Marco Castaneda Ronald Ellis Bohm Stables, Inc. 1:13.80 1979 Arachnoid 6 Donald Pierce D. Wayne Lukas Tartan Stable 1:12.60 1978 Impressive Luck 5 Fernando Toro Robert Frankel Albert Katz 1:13.20 1977 Impressive Luck 4 Fernando Toro Robert Frankel Albert Katz 1:13.60 1976 Cherry River 6 Laffit Pincay, Jr. Doug Oliver S. or D. Oliver 1:13.40 1975 Century's Envoy 4 Jerry Lambert Jerry Dutton Mr. & Mrs. John J. Elmore 1:13.40 1974± Palladium 5 Alvaro Pineda David Hofmans Pearson's Barn Inc. 1:16.20 ‡ In 2010 run at six furlongs at Hollywood Park.
† In 1999, Kahal finished first, was disqualified and placed second.
± Raced on main track in 1974, 1983 and 1992.References
- Oak Tree Racing Association Media Guide
Categories:- Graded stakes races in the United States
- Horse races in the United States
- Horse races in California
- Open sprint category horse races
- Turf races in the United States
- Sports in Los Angeles County, California
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