This article is about an American horse race. For the Australian horse race, see Matriarch Stakes (Australia).

The Matriarch Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are of age three-years-old or older over a distance of one mile (8 furlongs) on the turf track scheduled annually in late November at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse of $300,000.

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 22 November 1981 at Hollywood Park Racetrack over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf and was won by the Irish-bred import Kilijaro who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. and trained by US Hall of Fame trainer Charles E. Whittingham defeating the 1980 United States Champion Older Female Horse Glorious Song by lengths in a time of 1:47 flat. The event would be Kilijaro's last as she would be retired.

The following year the event was split in two divisions and both divisions were won by jockey Ray Sibille.

In 1983, for the third running of the event, American Graded Stakes Committee classified the event with the highest status of Grade I, a classification which the event holds today.

The 1992 US Champion Female Turf Horse Flawlessly won this event for the third time in 1993 and retaining her crown for another year as the US Champion Female Turf Horse.

In 1995 the distance of the event was increased to miles with purse of $700,000. the event was run at the distance until 1998. In 1999 the distance was reverted back to miles.

In 2003 the distance of the event was decreased to one mile.

The race was not run in 2005 due to problems with Hollywood Park's grass course not being ready after the turf course was reseeded.

With the closure of Hollywood Park Racetrack in 2013 the event was moved to Del Mar Racetrack.

Although the event is programmed after the Breeders' Cup many fine fillies and mares have won race. Including 1984 winner Irish-bred Royal Heroine who won the inaugural Breeders' Cup Mile and was crowned US Champion Female Turf Horse. Ryafan won the event as a three-year-old and was awarded US Champion Female Turf Horse in 1997. French-bred Starine won the event in 2001 and would win the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf the following year. British bred Intercontinental won the event in 2004 and would also win the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf the following year and become US Champion Female Turf Horse. The most recent winner of this event to win a Breeders' Cup event was British bred mare Uni who won the Breeders' Cup Mile and was also voted as US Champion Female Turf Horse for 2019.

Records Speed record: 1 mile: 1:33.03 – Viadera (GB) (2020) miles: 1:46.06 – Tout Charmant (2000) miles: 2:00.14 – Wandesta (GB) (1996)

Margins: 6 lengths – Squeak (GB) (1998)

Most wins: 3 - Flawlessly (1991, 1992, 1993)

Most wins by a jockey: 5 - Chris McCarron (1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000) 5 - Joel Rosario (2014, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023)

Most wins by a trainer: 8 - Robert J. Frankel (1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007)

Most wins by an owner : 8 - Juddmonte Farms (1996, 1997, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2020, 2025)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Del Mar2025Segesta 4Flavien PratChad C. BrownJuddmonte Farms1 mile1:35.60$302,000I2024Sacred Wish 4John R. Velazquez George WeaverBlack Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, Christopher T. Dunn & Anthony Spinazzola1 mile1:34.76$303,500I2023Surge Capacity 3Joel RosarioChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables 1 mile1:33.95$303,500I2022Regal Glory6Flavien PratChad C. BrownPeter Brant1 mile1:33.60$401,500I2021Regal Glory5Jose OrtizChad C. BrownPeter Brant1 mile1:33.33$400,500I2020Viadera (GB)4Joel RosarioChad C. BrownJuddmonte Farms1 mile1:33.03$301,500I2019Got Stormy4Tyler GaffalioneMark E. CasseGary Barber1 mile1:34.24$302,106I2018Uni (GB)5Joel RosarioChad C. BrownMichael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta & Bethlehem Stables 1 mile1:34.35$302,760I2017Off Limits (IRE)5Joel RosarioChad C. BrownMartin S. Schwartz1 mile1:34.37$302,070I2016Miss Temple City4Edgar S. PradoH. Graham MotionThe Club Racing, Needle in a Haystack & Sagamore Farm1 mile1:35.16$302,070I2015Stormy Lucy6Kent J. DesormeauxEd Moger Jr.Steve Moger1 mile1:35.16$302,250I2014La Tia5Joel RosarioArmando De La CerdaSalvador Hernandez1 mile1:35.37$300,500IAt Hollywood Park2013Egg Drop4Martin GarciaMike R. MitchellLittle Red Feather Racing1 mile1:34.03$251,000I2012Better Lucky3Eddie CastroThomas AlbertraniGodolphin Racing1 mile1:34.18$250,000I2011Star Billing3Victor EspinozaJohn ShirreffsGeorge Krikorian1 mile1:35:45$250,000I20105Joel RosarioH. Graham MotionTeam Valor International & Green Lantern Stables1 mile1:34.01$250,000I2009Ventura 5Garrett K. GomezHumberto AscanioJuddmonte Farms1 mile1:33.58$300,000I2008Cocoa Beach (CHI)4Saeed bin SuroorGodolphin Racing1 mile1:35.49$500,000I2007Precious Kitten4Rafael BejaranoRobert J. FrankelKen & Sarah Ramsey1 mile1:33.63$500,000I2006§Price Tag (GB)3Edgar S. PradoRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms1 mile1:34.70$500,000I2005 Race not held2004Intercontinental (GB)4Jerry D. BaileyRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms1 mile1:35.87$500,000I2003Heat Haze (GB)4John R. VelazquezRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms1 mile1:34.43$500,000I2002Dress To Thrill (IRE)3Patrick J. SmullenDermot K. WeldMoyglare Stud Farm miles1:48.31$500,000I2001Starine (FR)4John R. VelazquezRobert J. FrankelRobert J. Frankel miles1:50.16$500,000I2000§Tout Charmant4Chris McCarronRon McAnallyStonerside Stable miles1:46.06$500,000I1999Happyanunoit (NZ)4Brice BlancRobert J. FrankelAmerman Racing Stables (Jerry & Joan Amerman) miles1:46.30$500,000I1998Squeak (GB)3Alex O. SolisBen D. A. CecilGary A. Tanaka miles2:05.08$700,000I1997Ryafan3Alex O. SolisRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms miles2:05.80$700,000I1996Wandesta (GB)5Corey NakataniRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms miles2:00.14$700,000I1995Duda4Jerry D. BaileyWilliam I. MottMrs. Madeleine A. Paulson miles2:00.37$700,000I1994Exchange6Laffit Pincay Jr.William SpawrSidney H. Craig miles1:49.42$400,000I1993Flawlessly 5Chris McCarronHarbor View Farm miles1:46.78$400,000I1992Flawlessly 4Chris McCarronCharles E. WhittinghamHarbor View Farm miles1:46.14$400,000I1991Flawlessly 3Chris McCarronCharles E. WhittinghamHarbor View Farm miles1:46.60$200,000I1990ƒ Countus In5Corey NakataniSteven M. RieserCharles G. Middleton III miles1:46.20$200,000I1989Claire Marine (IRE)4Chris McCarronCharles E. WhittinghamSidney L. Port & Charles E. Whittingham miles1:47.40$200,000I1988Nastique4Bill ShoemakerStephen A. DiMauroBernard Chaus & Herb Goldstein miles1:47.00$200,000I 1987Asteroid Field4Aaron GryderJohn GosdenMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum miles1:51.00$200,000I 1986Auspiciante (ARG)5Cash AsmussenRon McAnallyJack Kent Cooke miles1:48.00$200,000I 1985Fact Finder6Sandy HawleyCharles E. WhittinghamNelson Bunker Hunt miles1:48.20$200,000I 1984Royal Heroine (IRE)4Fernando ToroJohn GosdenRobert Sangster miles1:49.40$254,000I 1983Sangue (IRE)5Bill ShoemakerHenry M. MorenoR. Charlene Parks miles1:49.40$200,000I 1982Pale Purple4Ray SibilleRobert L. WheelerCardiff Stud Farm miles1:48.60$172,100 Castilla3Ray SibilleCharles E. WhittinghamMary Jones Bradley1:47.40$172,100 1981Kilijaro (IRE)5Laffit Pincay Jr.Charles E. WhittinghamEdward Seltzer, Peter M. Brant et al. miles1:47.00$221,600

Legend:

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

ƒ Ran as field entrty

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links 2021 Del Mar Media Guide

References