Matchmaker Stakes

The Matchmaker Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age three and older run over a distance of miles on the turf held annually in July at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey.

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 30 September 1967 at Atlantic City Race Course over a distance of miles on the dirt. The event concept was that additional stakes offered for the event were given to the owners for payment to breed to selected sires. The first running attracted 14 entrants and the three sires that were available for the placegetters were the 1958 US Horse of the Year Round Table, 1960 US Champion Two-Year-Old Colt Hail To Reason and the 1962 Belmont Stakes winner Jaipur. The winner of the inaugural race was the Maryland bred mare Politely who set a new track record of 1:55. Politely would win the event again the following year.

In the early years of the event in the attracted the finest mares as owners vied for the possibility of breeding to former champions that were offered as part of prizemoney. In 1973 when The American Graded Stakes Committee was founded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association the event was immediately given the highest classification of Grade I.

In 1978 the event was moved to be run on the turf track. In 1979 the event was downgraded to Grade II.

In 1997 with diminished racing dates given to the Atlantic City Race Course the event was moved to Monmouth Park. The distance of the event was decreased to miles. Also that year the event was downgraded once more to Grade III. Since 2004, the event has beene part of the Haskell Invitational day meeting.

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.

Taylor Made Stallions sponsored the Matchmaker from 2005 to 2012. The event has been supported by WinStar Farm since 2014.

Records Speed record: miles (turf) – 1:46.19 Batique (2001) miles (turf) – 1:53.40 Sabin (1984) & Spruce Fir (1989) miles (dirt) – 1:54.20 Susan's Girl (1975) & Mississippi Mud (1977)

Margins: 7 lengths – Gallant Bloom (1969) & Captain's Lover (2009)

Most wins: 2 – Politely (1967, 1968) 2 – Starstruck (2013, 2014)

Most wins by trainer: 10 – Chad C. Brown (2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 – Joe Bravo (1999, 2003, 2008, 2016)

Most wins by owner: 2 – Bohemia Stable (1967, 1968) 2 - Peter Brant (1980, 2022) 2 - H. Joseph Allen (1980, 2003) 2 – Augustin Stable (1994, 1996) 2 – Calumet Farm (2013, 2014)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Monmouth Park – Matchmaker Stakes2026Grayosh5Tyler GaffalioneChad C. BrownFlanagan Racing miles1:50.99$300,000III2025Segesta 4Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownJuddmonte Farms miles1:49.17$300,000III2024Beaute Cachee (FR) 5Frankie DettoriChad C. BrownLouis Lazzinnaro, Madaket Stables, Michael J. Caruso & Michael Dubb miles1:49.63$300,000III2023Consumer Spending 4Joel RosarioChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables miles1:48.00$300,000III2022Lemista (IRE)5Flavien PratChad C. BrownPeter Brant miles1:47.07$201,000III2021Great Island 5Joel RosarioChad C. BrownAlpha Delta Stables miles1:48.89$150,000III2020Nay Lady Nay (IRE)4Paco LopezChad C. BrownFirst Row Partners & Hidden Brook Farm miles1:46.21$152,500III2019I'm So Fancy (IRE)5Trevor McCarthyArnaud DelacourLael Stable miles1:51.11$135,000III2018Elysea's World (IRE)5Jose L. OrtizChad C. BrownSheep Pond Partners & All Pro Racing miles1:47.70$102,000III2017Wekeela (FR)5Javier CastellanoChad C. BrownMartin S. Schwartz miles1:47.97$101,000III2016Itsonlyactingdad4Joe BravoTodd A. PletcherStarlight Racing miles1:52.27$110,000III2015Casual Smile (GB)4Abel Castellano Jr.Chad C. BrownWilliam S. Farish III miles1:47.12$162,000III2014Starstruck (IRE)5Kerwin D. ClarkJ. Larry JonesCalumet Farm miles1:46.35$170,000III2013Starstruck (IRE)4Rosie NapravnikJ. Larry JonesCalumet Farm miles1:49.27$158,000III2012Laughing (IRE)4Rafael BejaranoAlan E. GoldbergRichard Santulli miles1:48.93$150,500III2011Romacaca5E. T. BairdNick CananiFrank Carl Calabrese miles1:46.54$207,500III2010Unbridled Essence4Paco LopezGregory D. SaccoRed Oak Stables miles1:47.97$210,000III2009Captain's Lover (SAF)5John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherTeam Valor International miles1:51.60$200,000 Listed 2008J'ray5Joe BravoTodd A. PletcherLawrence Goichman miles1:46.39$150,000III2007Roshani4Garrett K. GomezTodd A. PletcherBen McElroy miles1:47.55$150,000III2006Ready's Gal4John R. VelazquezTodd A. Pletcher James T. Scatuorchio miles1:48.77$150,000III2005Love Match5Javier CastellanoJohn C. KimmelAnne Wrenn Poulson miles1:50.20$150,000III20044Corey NakataniChristophe ClementMoyglare Stud miles1:48.80$100,000IIIMatchmaker Handicap 2003Volga (IRE)5Joe BravoChristophe ClementH. Joseph Allen miles1:48.20$100,000III2002Clearly a Queen5Eibar CoaTeresa M. PompayJohn A. Franks miles1:47.76$100,000IIIMatchmaker Stakes 2001Batique5Jose C. FerrerLaird R. GeorgeHelen K. Groves miles1:46.19$100,000III2000Horatia (IRE)4Jose A. SantosChristophe Clement Gerald W. Leigh miles1:47.52$100,000III1999Natalie Too5Joe BravoD. Wayne Lukas Padua Stables miles1:46.81$100,000III1998Bursting Forth4Mario E. VergeH. Graham MotionSam Huff miles1:48.46$100,000III1997Fleur de Nuit4Julie KroneJoseph H. Pierce Jr.Robert Greenbaum miles1:48.91$100,000IIIAt Atlantic City Race Course1996Powder Bowl4Darci S. RiceJonathan E. SheppardAugustin Stable miles1:54.71$100,000II1995Avie's Fancy4Herb McCauleyMark C. PerlsweigGunsmith Stables miles1:54.19$100,000II1994Alice Springs4Julie KroneJonathan E. SheppardAugustin Stable miles1:55.21$100,000II1993Fairy Garden5Mike E. SmithRoger L. AttfieldMichael J. Ryan miles1:57.81$100,000II1992Radiant Ring (CAN)4Robert E. ColtonJames E. DayJon Kelly miles1:55.92$100,000II1991Miss Josh5Laffit Pincay Jr.Barclay TaggBonner Farm miles1:54.18$150,000II1990Capades4Angel Cordero Jr.Richard O'ConnellPoma Stable miles1:55.60$150,000II1989Spruce Fir6Douglas B. ThomasHarry WellsWilliam A. Purdey miles1:53.40$150,000II1988Magdelaine (NZ)5Eddie MapleTerry KnightCarmen Coosa miles1:56.20$100,000II1987Carotene (CAN) 4Don James SeymourRoger L. AttfieldKinghaven Farms miles1:56.60$100,000II1986Lake Country (CAN) 5Vincent Bracciale Jr.Donald WalkerDonald McIntosh miles1:54.60$108,000II1985Key Dancer4Jerry D. BaileyWilliam J. Hirsch Jr.Oxford Stable miles2:02.40$230,000II1984Sabin4Eddie MapleHenryk de Kwiatkowski miles1:53.40$300,000II1983Luminaire4Buck ThornburgAnthony J. BardaroBright View Farm miles1:56.80$225,000II1982Hunston (GB)4Jean-Luc SamynPhilip G. JohnsonBrookway Stable miles1:58.60$255,500II1981Mairzy Doates5Cash AsmussenHoratio A. LuroArno D. Schefler miles1:56.00$150,000II1980Just A Game II (IRE)4Don BrumfieldDavid A. WhiteleyPeter M. Brant & H. Joseph Allen miles1:57.60$150,000II1979Warfever (FR)6Jean-Luc SamynH. Allen JerkensShirley Sucher miles2:03.20$150,000I‡1978Queen Lib3Donald MacBethHarry WellsRaritan Stable miles1:56.40$150,000I1977Mississippi Mud4Charles PeoplesBayard Sharp miles1:54.20$125,000I1976§ Dancers Countess4Chris McCarronDoug M. Davis Jr.George M. Holtsinger miles1:56.00$150,000I1975Susan's Girl6James D. NicholsJames L. Newman Fred W. Hooper miles1:54.20$150,000I1974Desert Vixen4Laffit Pincay Jr.Thomas F. Root Sr.Harry T. Mangurian Jr. miles1:55.20$100,000I1973Alma North5Frank Lovato Jr.Frank J. ZittoEugene Mori miles1:55.20$100,000I 1972† Numbered Account3Laffit Pincay Jr.Roger LaurinOgden Phipps miles1:57.60$100,000 1971Deceit3John L. RotzDel W. CarrollWindfields Farm miles1:56.80$100,000 1970Dedicated To Sue4Michael HoleFrank CalcagniWalnut Hill Farm miles1:56.40$100,000 1969Gallant Bloom3John L. RotzMax HirschKing Ranch Stable miles1:55.40$100,000 1968Politely5Ángel Cordero Jr. George M. Baker Bohemia Stable miles1:55.20$100,000 1967Politely4 Ray Broussard George M. Baker Bohemia Stable miles1:55.20$92,500

Legend:

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

‡ Originally the event was scheduled for Friday, 10 August 1979, but an electrical storm forced the cancellation of the meeting and the event was redrawn and held on Wednesday, 15 August 1979.

† In the 1983 Alma North was first past the post but was disqualified for interference of the third place finisher Honestous and Numbered Account was declared the winner, Honestous was placed second and Alma North moved to third.

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References