- Matchmaker Stakes
-
Grade III race
Matchmaker StakesLocation Monmouth Park Racetrack
Oceanport, New Jersey, United StatesInaugurated 1967 Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing Website Monmouth Park Racetrack Race information Distance 1⅛ miles (9 furlongs) Track Grass, left-handed Qualification Fillies and Mares, Three-years-old & up Weight Assigned Purse $150,000 The Matchmaker Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. The Grade III race is open to Fillies and Mares, Three-years-old & up and is run on turf over a distance of 1⅛ miles (9 furlongs).
Inaugurated in 1967 at Atlantic City Race Course, the race was run on dirt from 1967 to 1978 and again in 1983. Run at 1 3/16 miles from 1967 through 1996, the race was moved to Monmouth Park in 1997. Until 2004, it was known as the Matchmaker Handicap and was run in mid June until being made part of the Haskell Invitational day held on the first Sunday in August.
Taylor Made Stallions has sponsored the Matchmaker since 2005.
Only one horse has ever won this race twice. Allaire du Pont's filly, Politely, accomplished the feat with back-to-back victories in the first two runnings.
In 2009, the Matchmaker was taken off the turf because of heavy rain in New Jersey earlier in the day. Originally carded as a grade III event, the Matchmaker loses its graded status pending a final decision by the American Graded Stakes Committee.
Records
Time record: (at current 1⅛ miles om turf)
- 1:46.19 - Batique (2001)
Most wins:
- 2 - Politely (1967, 1968)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 3 - Laffit Pincay, Jr. (1972, 1974, 1991)
Winners of the Matchmaker Stakes since 1997
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time 2011 Romacaca 5 E. T. Baird Nick Canani Frank Carl Calabrese 1:46.54 2010 Unbridled Essence 4 Paco Lopez Gregory D. Sacco Red Oak Stables 1:47.97 2009 Captain's Lover 5 John Velazquez Todd Pletcher Team Valor International 1:51.60 2008 J'ray 5 Joe Bravo Todd A. Pletcher Lawrence Goichman 1:46.39 2007 Roshani 4 Garrett Gomez Todd A. Pletcher Ben McElroy 1:47.55 2006 Ready's Gal 4 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher James T. Scatuorchio 1:48.77 2005 Love Match 5 Javier Castellano John C. Kimmel Anne Wrenn Poulson 1:50.20 2004 Where We Left Off 4 Corey Nakatani Christophe Clement Moyglare Stud 1:48.80 2003 Volga 5 Joe Bravo Christophe Clement H. Joseph Allen 1:48.20 2002 Clearly A Queen 5 Eibar Coa Teresa Pompay John A. Franks 1:47.76 2001 Batique 5 Jose Ferrer Laird George Helen K. Groves 1:46.19 2000 Horatia 4 Jose Santos Christophe Clement Gerald W. Leigh 1:47.52 1999 Natalie Too 5 Joe Bravo D. Wayne Lukas Padua Stables 1:46.81 1998 Bursting Forth 4 Mario Verge H. Graham Motion Sam Huff 1:48.46 1997 Fleur de Nuit 4 Julie Krone Joseph H. Pierce, Jr. Robert Greenbaum 1:48.91 Earlier winners
- 1996 - Powder Bowl
- 1995 - Avies Fancy
- 1994 - Alice Springs
- 1993 - Fairy Garden
- 1992 - Radiant Ring
- 1991 - Miss Josh
- 1990 - Capades
- 1989 - Spruce Fir
- 1988 - Magdelaine
- 1987 - Carotene
- 1986 - Lake Country
- 1985 - Key Dancer
- 1984 - Sabin
- 1983 - Luminaire
- 1981 - Mairzy Doates
- 1980 - Just A Game
- 1979 - Warfever
- 1978 - Queen Lib
- 1977 - Mississippi Mud
- 1976 - Dancers Countess
- 1975 - Susan's Girl
- 1974 - Desert Vixen
- 1973 - Alma North
- 1972 - Numbered Account
- 1971 - Deceit
- 1970 - Dedicated To Sue
- 1969 - Gallant Bloom
- 1968 - Politely
- 1967 - Politely
Categories:- Graded stakes races in the United States
- Horse races in the United States
- Turf races in the United States
- Mile category horse races for fillies and mares
- Monmouth Park Racetrack
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