The Astarita Stakes was an American non-graded Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York between 1946 and 2005. Open to two-year-old fillies, it was a sprint race contested on dirt over a distance of six and a half furlongs. It offered a purse of $100,000.
The race was named for John Madden's filly who won the 1902 inaugural running of the Astoria Stakes at the now defunct Gravesend Race Track on Coney Island, New York.
The Astarita Stakes was downgraded from Grade II to Grade III in 2004 and then discontinued in 2005 by the New York Racing Association (NYRA). [1] [2]
Placed on hiatus in 2005 [3], the Astarita was previously a Grade III event. The American Graded Stakes Committee ruled it was not eligible for grading in 2008. [4]
The race has been contested at various distances.
The Astarita Stakes was run in two divisions in 1965, 1968 and 1972.
| Year |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
| 2005 | Sensation | Eibar Coa | Stanley M. Hough | Castletop Stable | 1:16.90 |
| 2004 | Toll Taker | Eibar Coa | Timothy A. Hills | Patrick Welsh | 1:18.16 |
| 2003 | Spectacular Moon | Jorge Chavez | John V. Alecci | John V. Alecci | 1:17.16 |
| 2002 | Humorous Lady | Jerry Bailey | Michael Smith | S. David Plummer | 1:17.76 |
| 2001 | Bella Bellucci | Gary Stevens | Neil D. Drysdale | Michael Tabor | 1:16.67 |
| 2000 | Xtra Heat | Mark Johnston | John Salzman, Sr. | Kenneth Taylor et al. | 1:16.71 |
| 1999 | Silentlea | Robbie Davis | James A. Jerkens | Not found | 1:17.44 |
| 1998 | Paved in Gold | Jorge Chavez | Michael Trivigno | Brian S. Dance | 1:18.86 |
| 1997 | Ninth Inning | Robbie Davis | James A. Jerkens | Peter Blum | 1:17.44 |
| 1996 | Broad Dynamite | Dale Cordova | Damon Pollard | Not found | 1:24.02 |
| 1995 | Top Secret | Mike Smith | George R. Arnold | John H. Peace | 1:36.79 |