The Pebbles Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old fillies over a distance of one mile on the turf held annually in November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $175,000. History The event is named after Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s champion grass mare Pebbles. This chestnut mare won the 1985 Breeders' Cup Turf at Aqueduct as a four-year-old. Also at the age of 4, she was voted the U.S. Champion Female Turf Horse, and Champion Older Mare and Champion Miler in England.

The inaugural running of the event was on 1 September 1993 over a distance of miles and was won by Peter E. Blum's Statuette who won the event by a neck over the French bred mare Tricky Princess in a time of 1:40.68.

The following year the event was decreased to one mile but in 1995 the event was restored back to miles.

From 1996 to 2003 the event was held under handicap conditions.

In 1998 the distance was increased again to miles and the following year the event was classified as a Grade III event.

In 2001 the event was split into two divisions.

The event was run on the dirt track due to the conditions of the turf track in 1995, 2002 and 2005.

In 2005 the distance of the event was decreased to the current distance of one mile.

In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, NYRA did not schedule the event.

The American Graded Stakes Committee restored the event back to Grade III for 2022 after a period of 18 years. Also the event in 2022 was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.

In 2025 the event was originally scheduled for November 16, but was rescheduled for a week later with an increase in distance to miles and held on the outer turf course.

Records Speed record: 1 mile: 1:33.35 – Blowout (GB) (2019) miles: 1:40.68 – Statuette (1993) miles: 1:47.50 – Love n' Kiss S. (2001)

Largest margin of victory: lengths – Peace Preserver (2012)

Most wins by a jockey: 6 – John R. Velazquez (1998, 2000, 2003, 2012, 2019, 2024)

Most wins by a trainer: 6 – Chad C. Brown (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023)

Most wins by an owner: 2 – Flaxman Holdings (2002, 2010) 2 – Klaravich Stables (2015, 2022)

Winners

Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Aqueduct – Pebbles Stakes 2025 Fast Market Flavien Prat John Terranova IIHit The Bid Racing Stable miles 1:43.22 $175,000 III 2024No Mo Candy John R. VelazquezSaffie Joseph Jr.Niall J. Brennan & Michael J. Ryan 1 mile 1:34.84 $175,000 III 2023ImplicatedManuel FrancoChad C. BrownBradley Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing & Breeding, Cambron Equine & Laura Leigh Stable 1 mile 1:35.82 $200,000 III2022 Faith in Humanity (FR)Manuel Franco Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables1 mile 1:36.36$150,000 IIIAt Belmont Park2021Spanish LoveaffairJunior AlvaradoMark E. Casse Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Gary Barber & Michael Hernon1 mile1:34.13$150,000 Listed 2020Race not held2019Blowout (GB)John R. VelazquezChad C. Brown Peter M. Brant1 mile1:33.35$206,700 Listed 2018Stella di Camelot (IRE)Eric CancelChad C. BrownMadaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Kent Spellman & Bethlehem Stables 1 mile1:38.58$200,000 Listed 2017RubilindaJose L. OrtizChad C. Brown Don Alberto Stable1 mile1:34.72$200,000 Listed 2016Thundering SkyAntonio A. GallardoGeorge Weaver Matthew Schera1 mile1:33.47$200,000 Listed 2015Partisan PoliticsJavier CastellanoChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables & William H. Lawrence1 mile1:34.43$200,000 Listed 2014Lady Lara (IRE)Junior AlvaradoWilliam I. Mott Ben Sangster1 mile1:35.31$200,000Listed 2013Discreet MarqIrad Ortiz Jr.Christophe Clement Patricia A. Generazio1 mile1:34.19$200,000Listed 2012Peace PreserverJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. Pletcher Alto Racing 1 mile1:38.40$150,000 Listed 2011Elusive PearlRamon A. DominguezMichael J. Trombetta Robert Goldsmith1 mile1:36.61$100,000 Listed 2010ArunaH. Graham Motion Flaxman Holdings 1 mile1:35.03$100,000 Listed 2009Miss CatalystJavier CastellanoTodd A. Pletcher Gulf Coast Farms & Arianne De Kwiatkowski 1 mile1:34.18$100,000Listed 2008Remarkable RemyRamon A. DominguezJohn C. Kimmel Live Oak Plantation1 mile1:35.65$121,000 Listed 2007Cat CharmerEibar CoaH. Graham Motion Donald A. Adam1 mile1:34.85$111,000 Listed 2006Quite a BrideCornelio VelasquezWilliam I. Mott Haras Santa Maria de Araras1 mile1:33.56$110,600 Listed 2005Cayuga's WatersJerry D. BaileyWilliam I. Mott Laue Ranch1 mile1:37.19$110,900 Listed 2004Fortunate DamselJavier CastellanoHeriberto Cedano Spruce Pond Stable miles1:48.80$112,300IIIPebbles Handicap 2003Betty's WishJohn R. VelazquezRobert J. Frankel Edmund A. Gann miles1:51.00$110,300III2002GliaJavier CastellanoRobert J. Frankel Flaxman Holdings miles1:49.68$114,300 Listed 2001Heads Will Roll (GB)Edgar S. PradoRobert J. Frankel Amerman Racing miles1:47.75$110,100IIILove n' Kiss S.Jose A. SantosChristophe Clement Lael Stables1:47.50$110,6002000Lady DoraJohn R. VelazquezMichael R. Matz Fitz Eugene Dixon Jr. miles1:48.76$87,075III1999EzeRobbie DavisWilliam H. Turner Jr. Carlos C. Perez miles1:52.96$83,250III1998Sophie My LoveJohn R. VelazquezRichard E. Mandella Arthur A. Seeligson III & Ramona S. Bass miles1:52.23$85,250 Listed 1997Jose A. SantosNicolas Clement Ecurie Slymarc Farm miles1:42.81$85,625 Listed 1996Rare BlendGary L. Stevens H. Joseph Allen miles1:44.47$86,850 Listed Pebbles Stakes1995Queen TuttaGary L. StevensMark A. Hennig Edward P. Evans miles1:43.27$89,700 Listed 1994SaxualityJulie KroneWilliam V. Terrill Leslie L. Alexander1 mile1:34.13$69,300 Listed 1993Statuette Mike E. SmithRichard DeStasioPeter E. Blum miles1:40.68$75,100 Listed

Legend:

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References