Matchmaker Stakes

The Matchmaker Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. The Grade III race is open to Fillies and Mares, Three-years-old & up and is run on turf over a distance of 1⅛ miles (9 furlongs).

Inaugurated in 1967 at Atlantic City Race Course, the race was run on dirt from 1967 to 1978 and again in 1983. Run at 1 3/16 miles from 1967 through 1996, the race was moved to Monmouth Park in 1997. Until 2004, it was known as the Matchmaker Handicap and was run in mid June until being made part of the Haskell Invitational day held on the first Sunday in August.

Taylor Made Stallions has sponsored the Matchmaker since 2005.

Only one horse has ever won this race twice. Allaire du Pont's filly, Politely, accomplished the feat with back-to-back victories in the first two runnings.

In 2009, the Matchmaker was taken off the turf because of heavy rain in New Jersey earlier in the day. Originally carded as a grade III event, the Matchmaker lost its graded status for that running in a decision made by the American Graded Stakes Committee shortly after it was run.

Records

Time record: (at current 1⅛ miles om turf)

• 1:46.19 - Batique (2001)

Most wins:

• 2 - Politely (1967, 1968)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 3 - Laffit Pincay, Jr. (1972, 1974, 1991)

Winners of the Matchmaker Stakes since 1997

Earlier winners