The Adoration Stakes is a discontinued American Thoroughbred horse race that was run annually during May at Santa Anita Park. The event was open to fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt. The purse was $100,000. The event lost its Grade III classification and the last running of the event was in 2018.
History The race was founded in 1952 as the Milady Handicap at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. Usually run on the dirt, the Milady was run on an all-weather artificial dirt surface from 2007 to 2013. The race was renamed as the Marjorie L. Everett Handicap in 2012 to honor Marjorie L. Everett, former chairman, president and CEO of Hollywood Park who died on March 23, 2012. When Hollywood Park was closed at the end of 2013, the race was moved to Santa Anita and renamed as the Adoration Stakes. The race was also changed from a handicap to allowance conditions, in which horses receive a specified reduction in weight if they satisfy certain conditions.
It was a Grade I race from 1987 through 2004, during which years it was won by several Hall of Fame inductees including Bayakoa, Paseana and Azeri. Zenyatta won the race in both 2008 and 2009 as part of her 19 race win streak. The Milady was a Grade II event from 1974 (when grading was introduced) to 1986 and from 2005 to 2013. In 2014, it was stepped down to a Grade III event.
The race has been run at a variety of distances: miles – 1967–1969, 1973–1984, 1986 to present 1 mile – 1954, 1958–1966, 1970–1972, 1985 7 furlongs – 1952-1953 6 furlongs – 1955-1957
Records Speed Record: Image of Reality (1980) - 1:40
Most wins: 2 - A Gleam (1952, 1953) 2 - Adored (1984, 1985) 2 - Bayakoa (1989, 1990) 2 - Paseana (1992, 1993) 2 - Azeri (2002, 2003) 2 - Zenyatta (2008, 2009) 2 - Beholder (2015, 2016)
Most wins by a jockey: 6 – Chris McCarron (1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000)
Most wins by a trainer: 6 - Ron McAnally (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997)
Winners since 1989 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2018Fault4Geovanni FrancoPhilip D'AmatoAgave Racing Stable1:44.842017Vale Dori4Rafael BejaranoBob BaffertMohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum1:42.352016Beholder6Gary StevensRichard MandellaSpendthrift Farm1:42.732015Beholder5Gary StevensRichard MandellaSpendthrift Farm1:41.672014Let Faith Arise4Corey NakataniJerry HollendorferTommy Town Thoroughbreds1:43.412013Open Water4Joe TalamoEric GuillotSouthern Equine, Smith & Whispering Oaks1:44.012012Include Me Out4Joe TalamoRonald W. EllisJay Em Ess Stable1:44.152011Ultra Blend5David FloresArt ShermanNels Erickson1:43.072010Made for Magic5Omar BerrioA. C. AvilaL-Bo Racing/Michael Lamb1:43.482009Zenyatta5Mike E. SmithJohn ShirreffsJerry and Ann Moss1:42.302008Zenyatta4Mike E. SmithJohn ShirreffsJerry & Ann Moss1:41.172007Nashoba's Key4Joseph TalamoCarla GainesWarren B. Williamson1:42.162006Proposed4Pat ValenzuelaJohn ShirreffsPam & Martin Wygod1:42.922005Andujar4Corey NakataniDoug O'NeillJ. Paul Reddam et al.1:41.592004Star Parade5Victor EspinozaDarrell ViennaGary A. Tanaka1:41.832003Azeri5Mike E. SmithLaura de SerouxAllen E. Paulson Trust1:41.872002Azeri4Mike E. SmithLaura de SerouxAllen E. Paulson Trust1:42.022001Lazy Slusan6Victor EspinozaJohn K. DolanDolan & Longo1:42.252000Riboletta5Chris McCarronEduardo IndaAaron & Marie Jones1:42.011999Gourmet Girl4Ed DelahoussayePico PerdomoGary A. Tanaka1:40.971998I Ain't Bluffing4Chris McCarronRonald W. EllisJan, Mace & Samantha Siegel1:42.161997Listening4Alex SolisRon McAnallyJanis R. Whitham1:41.371996Twice The Vice5Chris McCarronRonald W. EllisPam & Martin Wygod1:40.961995Pirates Revenge4Chris AntleyRonald W. EllisPam & Martin Wygod1:41.571994Andestine4Chris McCarronDavid HofmansRaymond Rosen 1:41.401993Paseana6Chris McCarronRon McAnallyJenny & Sidney Craig1:41.601992Paseana5Chris McCarronRon McAnallyJenny & Sidney Craig1:41.461991Brought To Mind4Pat ValenzuelaRon McAnallyTadahiro Hotehama1:41.701990Bayakoa6Laffit Pincay, Jr.Ron McAnallyJanis & Frank Whitham1:41.201989Bayakoa5Laffit Pincay, Jr.Ron McAnallyJanis & Frank Whitham1:42.00
Earlier winners
1988 - By Land By Sea 1987 - Seldom Seen Sue 1986 - Dontstop Themusic 1985 - Adored 1984 - Adored 1983 - Marisma 1982 - Cat Girl 1981 - Save Wild Life 1980 - Image of Reality 1979 - Innuendo 1978 - Taisez Vou 1977 - Cascapedia 1976 - Bastonera 1975 - Modus Vivendi 1974 - Twixt 1973 - Minstrel Miss 1972 - Typecast 1971 - Opening Bid (DH) 1971 - Street Dancer (DH) 1970 - Everything Lovely 1969 - Desert Law 1968 - Princessnesian 1967 - Desert Trial 1966 - Fleet Treat 1965 - Savaii 1964 - Jalousie 1963 - Fortunate Isle 1962 - Linita 1961 - Mountain Glory 1960 - Silver Spoon 1959 - Honey's Gem 1958 - Born Rich 1957 - Coverit 1956 - Speedy Edie 1955 - Countess Fleet 1954 - Flitting Past 1953 - A Gleam 1952 - A Gleam
References
Hollywood Park official website The Milady Handicap at Pedigree Query