Matchmaker Stakes
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 1 1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs).
| Grade III race | |
| Location | Monmouth Park Racetrack Oceanport, New Jersey, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1967 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | Monmouth Park Racetrack |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Fillies and Mares, Three-years-old & up |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | $100,000 (2017) |
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. It is now supported by WinStar Farm.
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 lost its graded status for that running in a decision made by the American Graded Stakes Committee shortly after it was run.
Records
Time record: (at current 1 1⁄8 miles om turf)
- 1:46.19 – Batique (2001)
Most wins:
- 2 – Politely (1967, 1968)
- 2 – Starstruck (2013, 2014)
Most wins by trainer:
- 5 – Todd Pletcher (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2016)
- 3 – Chad Brown (2015, 2017, 2018)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 4 – Joe Bravo (1999, 2003, 2008, 2016)
- 3 – Laffit Pincay Jr. (1972, 1974, 1991)
Winners of the Matchmaker Stakes since 1997
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Nay Lady Nay | 4 | Paco Lopez | Chad Brown | First Row Partners & Hidden Brook Farm | 1:46.21 |
| 2019 | I'm So Fancy | 5 | Trevor McCarthy | Arnaud Delacour | Lael Stable | 1:51.11 |
| 2018 | Elysea's World (IRE) | 5 | José Ortiz | Chad Brown | Sheep Pond Partners & All Pro Racing | 1:47.70 |
| 2017 | Wekeela (FR) | 5 | Javier Castellano | Chad Brown | Martin S. Schwartz | 1:47.97 |
| 2016 | Itsonlyactingdad | 4 | Joe Bravo | Todd A. Pletcher | Starlight Racing | 1:52.27 |
| 2015 | Casual Smile (GB) | 4 | Abel Castellano Jr. | Chad Brown | William S. Farish III | 1:47.12 |
| 2014 | Starstruck | 5 | Kerwin D. Clark | J. Larry Jones | Calumet Farm | 1:46.35 |
| 2013 | Starstruck | 4 | Rosie Napravnik | J. Larry Jones | Calumet Farm | 1:49.27 |
| 2012 | Laughing | 4 | Rafael Bejarano | Alan E. Goldberg | Richard Santulli | 1:48.93 |
| 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 A. 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 | José Ferrer | Laird R. George | Helen K. Groves | 1:46.19 |
| 2000 | Horatia | 4 | José A. 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 – Avie's 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