The Violet Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. Inaugurated in 1977, the current Listed race is open to fillies and mares age three and older and is raced on turf over a distance of miles (8.5 furlongs). First run at Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey, it had its final running there in 2009. Not run in 2010, it was picked up by the Monmouth Park track in 2011 and as such was able to maintain its Grade 3 status.

Historical notes The event was run as the Violet Handicap until 2004. The inaugural running took place on September 4, 1977 at Meadowlands Racetrack on a rainy day that resulted in a sloppy track. The race was won by Lady Singer who was ridden by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr. for owner Walter Haefner and trainer Victor Nickerson. Haefner and Nickerson would get their second Violet Handicap win in 1985 with Vers La Caisse.

The Violet Stakes was raced on dirt in 1977, 1993, 1999, 2006 and was run in two divisions in 1980, 1982 through 1985, 1987 and 1988. It was due to safety concerns as a result of wet weather conditions that the 2006 race was switched from the turf course to the dirt track. On this occasion, the Violet Stakes was not given a grade.

The Very One, winner of the 1980 Violet Handicap, had The Very One Stakes at Pimlico and The Very One Stakes at Gulfstream Park named in her honor.

Gather The Clan's winning time in the 1989 race was just one-fifth of a second off the Meadowlands course record set on September 30, 1988 by Wanderkin.

Records Speed record: 1:39.60 – Gather The Clan (1989)

Most wins: 2 – Humoristic (2005, 2007)

Most wins by a jockey: 5 – Jean-Luc Samyn (1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987)

Most wins by a trainer: 6 – Chad Brown (2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024)

Most wins by an owner: 2 – Walter Haefner (1977, 1985) 2 – Edward P. Evans (1985, 1987) 2 – Bonner Farm (1990, 1992) 2 – Erdenheim Farm (1996, 1997) 2 – Mrs. Arturo Peralta-Ramos (2005, 2007)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time Gr.2025Breath Away (GB)5Samy CamachoMiguel ClementReeves Thoroughbred Racing, Tango Uniform Racing LLC and Rocco, Steven m1:44.00BT2024Maman Joon (IRE)4Vincent CheminaudChad C. BrownAMO Racing m1:45.34BT2023Beaute Cachee (FR)4Nik JuarezChad C. BrownMadaket Stables m1:42.92BT2022Vigilantes Way5Paco LopezClaude McGaughey IIIPhipps Stable m1:41.78L2021Tamahere4Jose FerrerChad BrownSwift Thoroughbreds Inc, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables m1:45.74L2020She's Got You4Joe BravoChad BrownJohn Gunther & Tanya Gunther m1:42.50L2019Andina Del Sur4Hector Diaz Jr.Thomas AlbertraniDon Alberto Stable m1:44.91L2018Elysea's World5Joe BravoChad BrownSheep Pond Partners & All Pro Racing m1:48.06G32017Tricky Escape4Chris DeCarloLynn A. AshbyJon Marshall m1:49.91G32016Tammy the Torpedo4Antonio GallardoChad BrownLong Lake Stable & Beacon Hill Thoroughbreds m1:49.60G32015Photo Call4Trevor McCarthyH. Graham MotionJuliet Cooper m1:47.94G32014Rusty Slipper4Alex CintronH. Graham MotionZanim R. Meahjohn m1:49.07G32013 Race not held2012Ruthenia4Kendrick CarmoucheChristophe ClementVirginia Kraft Payson LLC m1:40.68G32011Denomination5Joe BravoChristophe ClementGhislaine Head m1:41.92G32010 Race not held2009Quiet Harbor4Eddie CastroC. R. McGaughey IIIMcGaughey Stable m1:41.30G32008American Border4Jose LezcanoJason ServisMr. Amore Stables (Ron Lombardi) m1:41.74G32007Humoristic6Rajiv MaraghHamilton A. SmithJacqueline Blanchard Peralta-Ramos m1:41.23G32006No Sleep4Mike LuzziBruce N. LevineGlencrest Farm LLC (Greathouse family) m1:42.48†2005Humoristic4Harry VegaHamilton A. SmithJacqueline Blanchard Peralta-Ramos m1:42.23G32004Changing World4Pablo Fragoso Barclay TaggCarolyn Horton Rogers m1:41.53G32003Dancal5Javier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherMarlon Aronstam m1:43.69G32002Babae6Richard MiglioreFrank A. Alexander Joseph Platt Jr. m1:41.17G32001Clearly A Queen4Jorge ChavezBobby C. BarnettJohn A. Franks m1:43.56G32000 Follow The Money4Chris McCarronDavid HofmansChristopher & Patricia Elia m1:42.65G31999Tookin Down4Edgar PradoRichard W. SmallRichard W. Small m1:42.39G31998Heaven's Command4Richard Migliore Christophe ClementSkymarc Farm, Inc. m1:40.71G31997Sangria4Rick WilsonJohn R. S. FisherErdenheim Farm m1:42.02G31996Plenty Of Sugar5Robert ColtonJohn R. S. FisherErdenheim Farm m1:48.62G31995Symphony Lady5Joe BravoFlint S. SchulhoferJulian Cohen m1:45.48G31994It's Personal4John VelazquezMichael W. Dickinson Prestonwood Farm m1:42.61G31993Mz. Zill Bear4Edgar PradoRonald CartwrightMea Culpa Stable (Bill & Phyllis Dixon) m1:44.55G31992Highland Crystal4Edgar PradoBarclay TaggBonner Farm (George Rowand) m1:41.26G31991Southern Tradition4José SantosHenry L. CarrollDelehanty Farm (Frank Stella) m1:43.60G31990Miss Josh4Mario PinoBarclay TaggBonner Farm (George Rowand) m1:40.00G31989Gather The Clan4Craig PerretWilliam I. MottBertram R. Firestone m1:39.60G31988-1Just Class4Chris AntleyAlan E. GoldbergRobert Masterson m1:40.20G31988-2Graceful Darby4Randy RomeroJohn M. VeitchJames W. Phillips m1:41.00G31987-1Videogenic5Jean CruguetGasper MoscheraAlbert & Barbara Davis m1:42.00G31987-2Dismasted5Jean-Luc SamynPhilip G. JohnsonEdward P. Evans m1:41.60G31986Lake Country5Vince Bracciale Jr. Donnie WalkerDon Prowse & Donald McIntosh m1:41.20G31985-1Possible Mate4Jean-Luc SamynPhilip G. JohnsonEdward P. Evans m1:42.20G31985-2Vers La Caisse4Richard MiglioreVictor J. NickersonWalter Haefner m1:43.00G31984-1Rash But Royal4Jack KaenelRichard A. DeStasioMichael Berry m1:42.20G31984-2Aspen Rose4Jorge VelásquezJohn M. VeitchDaniel M. Galbreath m1:42.00G31983-1Twosome4Jerry BaileyLaz BarreraCharles T. Wilson Jr. m1:41.20G31983-2Geraldine's Store4Jean-Luc SamynPhilip G. JohnsonThomas P. Whitney m1:40.60G31982-1Pat's Joy4Jerry BaileyMitch GriffinFred W. Hooper m1:42.201982-2Dearly Too3Jean-Luc SamynStephen A. DiMauroRichard E. Bailey m1:42.201981Honey Fox4Jean-Luc SamynFlint S. SchulhoferJerome M. Torsney m1:41.401980-1Producer4Jeffrey FellClaude BeniadaRoy Gottlieb m1:41.601980-2The Very One 5Jorge VelásquezStephen A. DiMauroHelen Pollinger m1:42.401979Terpsichorist4Mike VeneziaWoody StephensHickory Tree Stable m1:43.201978Navajo Princess4Craig PerretDouglas DodsonVictor N. Green m1:44.001977Lady Singer4Ángel Cordero Jr.Victor J. NickersonWalter Haefner m1:48.40

† switched from turf to dirt, no grade allocated.

References