Matron Stakes (United States)

Grade II race
Matron Stakes
Location Belmont Park
Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated 1892
Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website www.nyra.com Belmont Park, NYRA
Race information
Distance 7 furlongs
Track Dirt, left-handed
Qualification Two-year-old fillies
Weight Assigned
Purse $250,000

The Matron Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race once held annually during the second week of September at Belmont Park in Elmont, Long Island, New York, but is now a Spring/Summer event along with the Futurity Stakes. Open to two-year-old fillies, it is contested on dirt at a distance at seven furlongs. It is a former Grade I stakes but since 2007 has been a Grade II event. In effect, it is a filly counterpart to the Belmont Futurity Stakes.

Before 1902, it was run in two divisions, one for fillies and one for colts. After 1915, it was restricted to fillies. The inaugural race took place at Morris Park Racecourse in The Bronx, New York where it remained until 1905 when it was moved to the new Belmont Park. Through special arrangements, in 1910 it was hosted by Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Aqueduct Racetrack hosted the race in 1960 and again from 1962 to 1968.

The Matron Stakes was run over a straight course before 1959 (except for 1941). Since inception, it has been contested at various distances:

There was no race from 1895 to 1898, from 1911 to 1913 as a result of New York state legislation that banned parimutuel betting, from 1915 to 1922, and in 2001 it was cancelled in observance of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City.

Because it occurs in September, the race can be used as a prep race to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

In 2011, when it became a Spring/Summer event, the race was run at 6 furlongs.

Records

Speed record: (At current distance of 7 furlongs)

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners of the Matron Stakes

Year
 Winner
 Jockey
 Trainer
 Owner
 Time
2011 Millionreasonswhy John Velazquez Ignacio Correas IV Sagamore Farm 1:12.68
2010 no race
2009 Awesome Maria Cornelio Velasquez Stanley M. Hough E. Paul Robsham 1:23.07
2008 Doremifasollatido Eibar Coa James A. Jerkens Moore/M and M Thoroughbreds 1:24.74
2007 Proud Spell Gabriel Saez J. Larry Jones Brereton C. Jones 1:24.20
2006 Meadow Breeze Kent Desormeaux Carl Deville Willow Rock Stable 1:24.82
2005 Folklore Edgar Prado D. Wayne Lukas Robert B. Lewis 1:23.70
2004 Sense of Style Edgar Prado Patrick Biancone Tabor & Smith 1:37.67
2003 Marylebone Edgar Prado Todd Pletcher Michael Tabor 1:38.02
2002 Storm Flag Flying John Velazquez C. R. McGaughey III Ogden Mills Phipps 1:38.52
2000 Raging Fever Jerry Bailey Mark A. Hennig Edward P. Evans 1:38.20
1999 Finder's Fee Heberto Castillo, Jr. C. R. McGaughey III Ogden Phipps 1:36.68
1998 Oh What a Windfall Shane Sellers C. R. McGaughey III Ogden Phipps 1:39.29
1997 Beautiful Pleasure Jerry Bailey John T. Ward John C. Oxley 1:35.71
1996 Sharp Cat Jerry Bailey D. Wayne Lukas Thoroughbred Corp. 1:36.00
1995 Golden Attraction Gary Stevens D. Wayne Lukas William T. Young 1:36.20
1994 Stormy Blues Jose A. Santos Scotty Schulhofer David and Harriet Finkelstein 1:35.00
1993 Strategic Maneuver Jose A. Santos Scotty Schulhofer Teinowitz, Schulhofer 1:23.80
1992 Sky Beauty Eddie Maple H. Allen Jerkens Georgia E. Hofmann 1:23.20
1991 Anh Duong Angel Cordero, Jr. Leroy Jolley Peter M. Brant 1:23.40
1990 Meadow Star Jose A. Santos Leroy Jolley Carl Icahn 1:22.80
1989 Stella Madrid Angel Cordero, Jr. D. Wayne Lukas Peter M. Brant 1:24.40
1988 Some Romance Gary Stevens D. Wayne Lukas Eugene V. Klein 1:24.80
1987 Over All Angel Cordero, Jr. D. Wayne Lukas Eugene V. Klein 1:24.80
1986 Tappiano Jean Cruguet Scotty Schulhofer Frances A. Genter 1:23.40
1985 Musical Lark Don MacBeth Sidney Watters, Jr. Diana M. Firestone 1:24.00
1984 Fiesta Lady Laffit Pincay, Jr. D. Wayne Lukas Eugene V. Klein 1:24.80
1983 Lucky Lucky Lucky Angel Cordero, Jr. D. Wayne Lukas Leslie Combs II 1:23.60
1982 Wings of Jove Herb McCauley Charles Sanborn Helmore Farm 1:24.00
1981 Before Dawn Jorge Velasquez John M. Veitch Calumet Farm 1:23.20
1980 Prayers 'N Promises Angel Cordero, Jr. Lou Rondinello Daniel M. Galbreath 1:24.60
1979 Smart Angle Sam Maple Woody Stephens Ryehill Farm 1:23.80
1978 Fall Aspen Roger I. Velez James E. Picou Joseph M. Roebling 1:23.80
1977 Lakeville Miss Ruben Hernandez Jose A. Martin Randolph Weinsier 1:22.80
1976 Mrs. Warren Eddie Maple Woody Stephens Taylor Hardin 1:24.60
1975 Optimistic Gal Braulio Baeza LeRoy Jolley Diana M. Firestone 1:23.00
1974 Alpine Lass Angel Cordero, Jr. John W. Russell Ogden Mills Phipps 1:23.00
1973 Talking Picture Ron Turcotte John P. Campo Elmendorf Farm 1:23.20
1972 La Prevoyante Jean LeBlanc Yonnie Starr Jean-Louis Levesque 1:23.60
1971 Numbered Account Braulio Baeza Roger Laurin Ogden Phipps 1:10.40
1970 Bonnie And Gay Robert Woodhouse James E. Picou Mrs. J. O. Burgwin 1:11.00
1969 Cold Comfort Jorge Velasquez Willard Freeman Alfred G. Vanderbilt II 1:11.60
1968 Gallant Bloom Eddie Belmonte Max Hirsch King Ranch 1:10.40
1967 Queen of the Stage Braulio Baeza Edward A. Neloy Ogden Phipps 1:10.00
1966 Swiss Cheese John L. Rotz Ivor G. Balding C. V. Whitney 1:12.80
1965 Moccasin Larry Adams Harry Trotsek Claiborne Farm 1:11.60
1964 Candalita Bobby Ussery Loyd Gentry, Jr. Darby Dan Farm 1:13.00
1963 Hasty Matelda James Combest Casey Hayes Meadow Stable 1:12.00
1962 Smart Deb Bobby Ussery Arnold N. Winick Marion Reineman 1:09.80
1961 Cicada Bill Shoemaker Casey Hayes Meadow Stable 1:10.60
1960 Rose Bower John L. Rotz MacKenzie Miller Charlton Clay 1:10.60
1959 Heavenly Body Manuel Ycaza Woody Stephens Cain Hoy Stable 1:10.20
1958 Quill Paul J. Bailey Lucien Laurin Reginald N. Webster 1:10.00
1957 Idun Bill Hartack Sherrill W. Ward Mrs. Charles U. Bay 1:09.60
1956 Romanita Eric Guerin Frankie Sanders Reverie Knoll Farm 1:08.60
1955 Doubledogdare Eddie Arcaro Moody Jolley Claiborne Farm 1:09.80
1954 High Voltage Eddie Arcaro Jim Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable 1:10.00
1953 Evening Out Ovie Scurlock Bert Mulholland George D. Widener, Jr. 1:10.40
1952 Is Proud Conn McCreary William J. Hirsch Brookfield Farm 1:09.00
1951 Rose Jet Hedley Woodhouse Willie Booth Maine Chance Farm 1:11.20
1950 Atlanta Hedley Woodhouse Preston M. Burch Brookmeade Stable 1:12.00
1949 Bed o'Roses Eric Guerin William G. Winfrey Alfred G. Vanderbilt II 1:12.00
1948 Myrtle Charm Ted Atkinson James W. Smith Maine Chance Farm 1:10.60
1947 Inheritance † Job Dean Jessop Preston M. Burch Brookmeade Stable 1:10.20
1946 First Flight Eddie Arcaro Sylvester Veitch C. V. Whitney 1:08.60
1945 Beaugay Arnold Kirkland Tom Smith Maine Chance Farm 1:09.40
1944 Busher Eddie Arcaro James W. Smith Edward R. Bradley 1:09.40
1943 Boojiana Ted Atkinson Sylvester Veitch C. V. Whitney 1:09.80
1942 Good Morning Herb Lindberg Sammy Smith Falaise Stable 1:09.20
1941 Petrify Ruperto Donoso Al Holberg Alfred G. Vanderbilt II 1:11.60
1940 Misty Isle Wayne D. Wright Daniel E. Stewart Joseph E. Widener 1:10.40
1939 Miss Ferdinand Jack Westrope John A. Healey Christiana Stable 1:12.00
1938 Dinner Date Alfred Robertson Robert McGarvey Milky Way Farm 1:13.40
1937 Merry Lassie Johnny Longden Jim Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable 1:11.00
1936 Wand Harry Richards Preston M. Burch Sarah F. Jeffords 1:11.00
1935 Beanie M. Don Meade Herbert J. Thompson Edward R. Bradley 1:11.80
1934 Nellie Flag Eddie Arcaro Bert B. Williams Calumet Farm 1:10.80
1933 High Glee John Gilbert Thomas J. Healey C. V. Whitney 1:13.60
1932 Barn Swallow Eugene James Herbert J . Thompson Edward R. Bradley 1:11.00
1931 Top Flight Raymond Workman Thomas J. Healey C. V. Whitney 1:11.60
1930 Baba Kenny Joseph Smith Herbert J . Thompson Edward R. Bradley 1:12.00
1929 Dustemall Linus McAtee James G. Rowe, Jr. H. P. Whitney 1:11.00
1928 Dreadnaught Steve O'Donnell Not found Samuel Ross 1:12.00
1927 Glade E. Ellis James G. Rowe, Sr. Greentree Stable 1:12.60
1926 Pantella Linus McAtee Fred Hopkins H. P. Whitney 1:13.40
1925 Taps Albert Johnson Gwyn R. Tompkins Glen Riddle Farm 1:13.40
1924 Blue Warbler D. Hurn Herbert J . Thompson Idle Hour Stock Farm 1:13.80
1923 Tree Top Frank Coltiletti James G. Rowe, Sr. Greentree Stable 1:11.60
1914 Pebbles James Butwell Richard C. Benson James Butler 1:15.00
1914 Charter Maid John McTaggart John E. Madden John E. Madden 1:14.00
1910 Naushon J. Glassy Thomas J. Healey Richard T. Wilson, Jr. 1:12.80
1910 Bashti C. Gilbert James G. Rowe, Sr. H. P. Whitney 1:13.00
1909 Radium Star Jack Creevy Thomas J. Healey Montpelier Stable 1:15.80
1909 Greenvale C. Gilbert James G. Rowe, Sr. H. P. Whitney 1:15.00
1908 Maskette Joe Notter James G. Rowe, Sr. James R. Keene 1:20.80
1908 Helmet Joe Notter James G. Rowe, Sr. James R. Keene 1:12.40
1907 Stamina William Knapp John W. Rogers H. P. Whitney 1:11.80
1907 Colin Walter Miller James G. Rowe, Sr. James R. Keene 1:12.00
1906 Adoration Walter Miller Thomas J. Healey Richard T. Wilson, Jr. 1:11.80
1906 Ballot Herman Radtke James G. Rowe, Sr. James R. Keene 1:12.00
1905 Perverse Lucien Lyne John W. Rogers H. P. Whitney 1:11.20
1905 Burgomaster Lucien Lyne John W. Rogers H. P. Whitney 1:12.20
1904 Bedouin Willie Shaw Not found E. W. Jewett 1:09.00
1904 Sandria Gene Hildebrand John W. Rogers Herman B. Duryea 1:08.20
1903 Armenia W. Hicks John W. Rogers W. C. Whitney 1:10.20
1903 The Minute Man Frank O'Neill John E. Madden John E. Madden 1:09.60
1902 Eugenia Burch George Odom W. P. Maxwell Mrs. L. Curtis 1:12.25
1902 Grey Friar Nash Turner William P. Burch Francis R. Hitchcock 1:11.20
1901 Heno George Odom Not found C. H. Mackay 1:11.20
1900 Beau Gallant John Bullman Sam Hildreth Sam Hildreth 1:10.20
1899 Indian Fairy J. Slack Julius Bauer Bromley & Co. 1:10.25
1894 Agitator Fred Taral William Lakeland J. R. & F. P. Keene 1:11.00
1893 Domino Fred Taral William Lakeland J. R. & F. P. Keene 1:09.00
1892 Sir Francis Edward Garrison Matthew M. Allen Frank A. Ehret 1:19.00

* † In 1947, Bewitch finished first but was disqualified.