The Nellie Morse Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in January at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. The race is open to fillies and mares age four years old and up and is run at one mile (eight furlongs) on the dirt.

An ungraded Black type race, it currently offers a purse of $100,000. The race was previously called the Queen Isabella Stakes from 1941 through 1993.

The race was named in honor of Nellie Morse, the last filly to win the Preakness Stakes (prior to Rachel Alexandra in 2009) in 1924. Nellie Morse was a daughter of Luke McLuke and to date is the only horse ever to win both the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and the Preakness Stakes. She won those races three days apart and ended the year with $60,250, which was the most earned by any thoroughbred that year.2007 Maryland Jockey Club Media Guide, page 324 on March 3, 2007.

As a broodmare, Nellie Morse left a legacy. Her daughter Nellie Flag was named two-year-old champion in 1934 and was the morning line and post time favorite in the 1935 Kentucky Derby (she finished fourth). Nellie Flag also raced in the Preakness Stakes but finished seventh. Nellie Morse's descendants, through Nellie Flag, include horse of the Year Forego, Kentucky Derby winner and champion three-year-old Bold Forbes, and champion handicap mare Mar-Kell.

Records

Speed record: 1 mile - 1:36.20 - Northern Station (2010) miles - 1:49.00 - Stem the Tide (1992)

Most wins by a horse: No horse has ever won more than one Nellie Morse Stakes

Most wins by an owner: 2 - Calumet Farm (1944, 1945) 2 - Stephen E. Quick (2005, 2007)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 - Mario Pino (1997, 1999, 2002, 2008)

Most wins by a trainer: 2 - Christopher W. Grove (2005, 2007) 2 - James W. Murphy (1992, 1994) 2 - Ben A. Jones (1944, 1945)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner (Miles) Time Purse$2021 Lucky Stride5 Julian Pimentel Michael Trombetta Sonata Stable1:43.38$100,0002020 Arrifana4 Julian Pimentel Kelly Rubley Gunpowder Farms1 mile1:35.95$100,0002019 Timeless Curls4 Weston Hamilton Dale Capuano Sookdeen Pasram1:43.66$100,0002018 In the Navy Now 4 Julian Pimentel Michael Trombetta Larry R. Johnson1:45.61$100,0002017 Winter 4 Trevor McCarthy Cal Lynch Matthew Schera1:45.32$100,0002016 Love Came to Town 4 Mychel Sanchez Kevin Sleeter Gerald Sleeter1:45.50$75,0002015 Star Pearl 5 Sheldon Russell H. Graham Motion Pearl Bloodstock1:46.33$100,0002014 Firenze Feeling4 Victor Carrasco Rudy Rodriguez Michael Dubb & Bethlehem Stables1:48.69$100,0002013 Moon Philly4 Jeremy Rose Michael Trombetta Country Life Farm 1:44.67$125,0002012 Race not held2011 Potosina3 Sheldon Russell Mark Shuman Jose Cerrillo1 mile1:40.86 $75,0002010 Northern Station5 Clinton Potts Todd Beattie Tommy Town T-breds1 mile1:36.20 $70,0002009 All Smiles6 Dale Beckner Fran Campitelli Cynthia McGinnes1 mile1:37.83 $60,0002008 Wild Hoots4 Mario Pino Kiaran McLaughlin Dell Ridge Farm1 mile1:38.40 $60,0002007 Lexi Star5 Ryan Fogelsonger Christopher Grove Stephen E. Quick1 mile1:38.30 $100,0002006 Promenade Girl 4 Erick D. Rodriguez Lawrence E. Murray Sondra D. Bender1 mile1:38.40 $70,0002005 Silmaril4 Ryan Fogelsonger Christopher Grove Stephen E. Quick 1 mile1:39.20 $85,0002004 City Fire4 Abe Castellano, Jr. Mark Shuman Michael Gill1:43.60 $75,0002003 Martha's Music4 Stewart Elliott John Servis John C. Mabee1:45.40 $50,0002002 Case of the Blues5 Mario Pino Anthony W. Dutrow Acorn Hill Farm, Inc1:43.80 $75,0002001 Too too Divine6 Harry Vega John J. Fee Charles C. Lenz Jr.1:46.60 $58,0002012 Race not held1999 Pocho's Dream Girl5 Mario Pino Alan E. Goldberg Farnsworth Farms1:51.00 $55,0001998 Merengue3 Rick Wilson Donald H. Barr Gerald C. Dickens1:50.80 $55,0001997 See Your Point5 Mario Pino William M. Sire William M. Sire 1:49.20 $55,0001996 Churchbell Chimes5 Edgar Prado J. William Boniface Susan Y. Granville1:50.00 $55,0001995 Valiant Jewel5 Alberto Delgado Roger Attfield Huntington Stud Farm, Inc. 1:51.20 $55,0001994 Open Toe4 Larry Reynolds James W. Murphy John Pomerosa Farms1:50.40 $50,0001993 Starlight Surprise5 Alberto Delgado Roberta N. Riffle B and D Stable1:51.80 $55,0001992 Stem the Tide4 Charles C. Fenwick III James W. Murphy Christiana Stables1:49.00 $50,0001991 Dixie Accent4 Santos Chavez Charles Peoples Bayard Sharp1:50.60 $50,0001950 - 1990 Race not held1949 Mother5 Clarence Picou Sylvester E. Veitch C. V. Whitney1:51.80 $9,0001948 Honeymoon5 Porter Roberts Graceton Philpot Louis B. Mayer1:52.00 $12,0001947 Earshot5 Ovie Scurlock William J. Booth William G. Helis Sr.1:52.80 $13,0001946 Monsoon4 Bobby Watson Lydell T. Ruff C. V. Whitney1:53.80 $12,5001945 Good Blood3 Douglas Dodson Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm1:53.80 $40,5001944 Twilight Tear3 Douglas Dodson Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm1:53.20 $12,0001943 Silvestra5 Nick Jemas Ross Higdon Woolford Farm1:55.80 $10,0001942 Vagrancy3 James Stout Jim Fitzsimmons Belair Stud Farm1:51.00 $7,5001941 Shine o' Night4 Sterling Young William F. Tucker William C. Hobson1:52.40 $7,500

See also Nellie Morse Stakes top three finishers Laurel Park Racecourse

References

External links Laurel Park website

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