The Monrovia Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, four years old and older over a distance of about furlongs on the downhill turf course scheduled annually in April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

History The event was inaugurated in 1968 as the Monrovia Handicap.

When conditions are too wet the Los Angeles Turf Club on discretion has moved the event to the dirt track. This has happened on several occasions including 1969, 1970, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1989, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2019.

The event was run in two divisions in 1979.

The event was originally scheduled in February but the Los Angeles Turf Club in late 1999 moved the race to the start of the winter racing meet at Santa Anita whereby the race was run twice in the calendar year. The conditions of the race were modified so that three year old fillies could also enter the event. In 1999 and 2004 three year old fillies were victorious in the event.

In 2006 the club reverted to later in the 2006–2007 winter meet and consequently the event was not held in 2006. In 2007 the conditions were reverted so that only four year olds and older fillies and mares could enter. In 2017 the event was moved from January to May and the event once again allowed three year old fillies to enter.

The race is named after Monrovia, the local city near the track at Arcadia.

The race was renamed to the current name in 2011.

In 2019, the distance was shortened by over a furlong to five furlongs, and held on the dirt track due to the weather. In 2020 the event was extended to furlongs and the following year was held at furlongs.

In 2023 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. However, the event was moved to the dirt and subsequently was downgraded to a Listed event.

Records

Speed record: abt. furlongs: 1:11.14 – Pontchatrain (2014)

Most wins by an owner: 2 - William Haggin Perry (1969, 1979) 2 - Fred W. Hooper (1972, 1975) 2 - Bernard J. Ridder (1976, 1977) 2 - Ann & Jerry Moss (1985, 1988) 2 - William de Burgh (1991, 2010)

Most wins: 2 - Winter Solstice (1976, 1977) 2 - Mizdirection (2012, 2013)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 - Kent Desormeaux (1991, 2000, 2001, 2015)

Most wins by a trainer: 3 - Charles E. Whittingham (1979, 1981, 1989) 3 - Robert J. Frankel (1985, 1988, 2009) 3 - Richard E. Mandella (1986, 2001, 2019)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefMonrovia Stakes2026Spirited Boss4Mike E. SmithJose F. D'AngeloTag Stables LLCabt. furlongs1:12.00$100,500III2025Queen Maxima4Juan J. HernandezJeff MullinsDutch Girl Holdings & Irving Ventures abt. furlongs1:12.93$100,500III2024Ag Bullet 4Umberto RispoliRichard BaltasCalvin Nguyen & Joey C. Tranabt. furlongs1:12.67$101,000III2023Elm Drive 4Ramon VazquezPhilip D'AmatoLittle Red Feather Racing furlongs1:15.56$201,000Listed2022Brooke Marie 6Juan HernandezEddie KenneallyCastleton Lyonsabt. furlongs1:13.42 $200,500II2021Venetian Harbor 4Mario Gutierrez Richard BaltasCiaglia Racing, Highland Yard, River Oak Farm & Domenic Savides furlongs1:15.06$201,500II2020Jolie Olimpica (BRZ)4Mike E. SmithRichard E. MandellaFox Hill Farms (Rick Porter) furlongs1:01.11$201,000II2019S Y Sky5Drayden Van DykePhilip D'AmatoNicholas B. Alexander5 furlongs0:57.54$200,702III2018Belvoir Bay (GB)5Victor EspinozaPeter L. MillerTeam Valor International & Gary Barber1:12.80$201,380II2017Illuminant5Flavien PratMichael W. McCarthyEclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Head of Plains Partners, SF Racingabt. furlongs1:12.13$201,035II2016Prize Exhibit (GB)4Santiago GonzalezJames M. CassidyDP Racingabt. furlongs1:12.96$201,500II2015Shrinking Violet5Kent J. DesormeauxWesley A. WardWesley A. Wardabt. furlongs1:12.56$201,500II2014Pontchatrain4Gary L. StevensThomas F. ProctorGlen Hill Farmabt. furlongs1:11.14$200,500II2013Mizdirection5Mike E. SmithMike PuypeJungle Racing LLC, et al.abt. furlongs1:11.94$150,000II2012Mizdirection4Garrett K. GomezMike PuypeJungle Racing LLC, et al.abt. furlongs1:11.64$100,000III2011Unzip Me5Rafael BejaranoMartin F. JonesHarris Farms Inc., Valpredo et al.abt. furlongs1:12.72$100,000IIIMonrovia Handicap 2010Tuscan Evening (IRE)5Rafael BejaranoJerry HollendorferWilliam de Burghabt. furlongs1:12.56$100,000III2009Jibboom5Garrett K. GomezRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farmsabt. furlongs1:13.21$100,000III2008Alexandra Rose (SAF)6Rafael BejaranoNeil D. DrysdaleTeam Valorabt. furlongs1:12.86$110,400III2007Society Hostess5Garrett K. GomezMoyglare Stud Farmabt. furlongs1:12.85$116,100III2006¶Race not held2005Awesome Lady4Tyler BazeGary StuteMike Cavanaugh & Gary Stute furlongs1:16.77$112,600Listed 2004Resplendency3Casey FusilierBob BaffertRobert & Beverly Lewis furlongs1:15.34$113,550Listed 2003Icantgoforthat4Tyler BazeSteve KnappAndy Broberg & Palmer Knapp abt. furlongs1:13.07$109,300 III2002Lil Sister Stich5Laffit Pincay Jr.Doug F. O'NeillHoward, Kilgor, Koser, et al.abt. furlongs1:13.81$114,700III2001Paga (ARG)4Mike E. SmithRichard E. MandellaEdward C. Allred & Randall D. Hubbardabt. furlongs1:15.09$109,300 III20004Kent J. DesormeauxKathy WalshRichard Duggan & James R. Vreelandabt. furlongs1:12.62$114,400IIIShow Me the Stage3Kent J. DesormeauxEric GuillotBrian Cain, Eric Guillot & Terry LeBlanc furlongs1:15.14$104,762III Desert Lady (IRE)4Corey NakataniWallace DollaseThe Thoroughbred Corp.abt. furlongs1:14.59$108,500III1998Madame Pandit5Eddie DelahoussayeRonald L. McAnallyJanis R. Whitham furlongs1:15.80$109,500III1997Grab the Prize5Alex O. SolisDarrell ViennaErnest Auerbach furlongs1:16.89$106,900III1996Klassy Kim5Goncalino AlmeidaMelvin F. StuteBill M. Thomasabt. furlongs1:14.48$105,650III1995Rabiadella4Pat ValenzuelaJ. Michael OrmanStonehenge Stablesabt. furlongs1:14.92$81,200III1994Mamselle Bebette4Corey NakataniJack Van BergBig Train Farm furlongs1:15.35$83,400III1993Glen Kate (IRE)6Corey BlackBill ShoemakerWayne Gretzky & Bruce McNallabt. furlongs1:12.89$82,400III1992Middlefork Rapids4Pat ValenzuelaTerry KnightDame Construction Co., Inc.abt. furlongs1:12.55$84,900III19914Kent J. DesormeauxGary F. JonesWilliam de Burgh (Lessee)abt. furlongs1:13.80$85,625III1990Down Again6Corey BlackRichard J. CrossLarry Robinson & Summa Stableabt. furlongs1:13.00$83,950III1989Daloma (FR)5Enemy Stables & Mandysland Farm furlongs1:16.20$83,300Listed 1988Aberuschka (IRE)6Gary L. StevensRobert J. FrankelAnn & Jerry Mossabt. furlongs1:14.60$83,800Listed 1987Sari's Heroine4Pat ValenzuelaMelvin F. StuteCarl E. Grinstead & Ben Rochelleabt. furlongs1:15.00$65,400Listed 1986Water Crystals5Gary L. StevensRichard E. MandellaBruce Steinbergabt. furlongs1:15.60$67,100Listed 1985Lina Cavalieri (GB)5Eddie DelahoussayeRobert J. FrankelAnn & Jerry Mossabt. furlongs1:14.00$66,650Listed 1984Tangent (NZ)4Julio A. GarciaWayne MurtyBacchus, Harrison, McGee, et al.abt. furlongs1:14.60$69,950Listed 1983Matching5Ray SibilleSteven L. MorguelanGlencrest Farm & Morguelanabt. furlongs1:13.20$67,600Listed 1982Cat Girl4Chris McCarronEdwin J. GregsonWindblown Farmabt. furlongs1:14.60$68,250Listed 1981Kilijaro (IRE)5Marco CastanedaCharles E. WhittinghamSerge Fradkoffabt. furlongs1:12.40$57,450Listed 1980Fondre5Frank OlivaresJohn W. FultonWilliam L. Currin & William R. Hawn furlongs1:15.20$45,500Listed 1979Camarado4Bill ShoemakerCharles E. WhittinghamNelson Bunker Huntabt. furlongs1:15.40$36,400Listed Palmistry4Chris McCarronWillard L. ProctorWilliam Haggin Perryabt. furlongs1:15.20$36,000Listed 1978Little Happiness4Laffit Pincay Jr.Laz BarreraHarbor View Farmabt. furlongs1:16.00$44,200Listed 1977Winter Solstice5Mark S. SellersGordon C. CampbellBernard J. Ridderabt. furlongs1:13.60$45,600Listed 1976Winter Solstice4Jerry LambertGordon C. CampbellBernard J. Ridder furlongs1:17.60$33,800Listed 1975†Special Goddess4Sandy HawleyRobert SmithFred W. Hooperabt. furlongs1:13.80$34,200Listed1974Viva La Vivi4Donald PierceHarold HodoshAlix Brotman & Malibu Stableabt. furlongs1:15.00$29,050Listed1973Tizna (CHI)4Fernando ToroHenry M. MorenoRegal Enterprises Inc.abt. furlongs1:13.80$36,200Listed1972Mia Mood4Victor TejadaJohn W. RussellFred W. Hooperabt. furlongs1:13.00$33,8501971Atomic Wings4Robby KilbornJames I. NazworthySledge Stable (Maxine Nazworthy)abt. furlongs1:13.40$29,1001970Beautiful Dream5Jerry LambertJoseph S. DunnJ. T. Jones furlongs1:16.20$23,7501969Morgaise4Donald PierceJames W. MaloneyWilliam Haggin Perry furlongs1:22.20$22,5001968Mellow Marsh5Mario ValenzuelaJay SaladinEdward C. Flynnabt. furlongs1:13.40$29,500

Legend:

Notes:

¶ Not held due to change of scheduling during the winter meet

† Viva La Vivi won the race but was disqualified and placed last for interference

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links Santa Anita Media Guide for 2019 Winter Meet

References