Great Lady M. Stakes

The Great Lady M Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age three and older run over a distance of six and one half furlongs on the dirt held annually in July at Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, California.

Great Lady M Stakes

Class	Grade II
Location	Los Alamitos Race Course Cypress, California
Inaugurated	1941 (as Sequoia Handicap at Hollywood Park)
Race type	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Website	www.losalamitos.com
Race information
Distance	6+1⁄2 furlongs
Surface	Dirt
Track	left-handed
Qualification	Fillies & Mares, three-years-old & older
Weight	Base weights with allowances: 4-year-olds and up: 124 lbs. 3-year-olds: 120 lbs.
Purse	US$200,000

History

The event was inaugurated on 14 June 1941 as the Sequoia Handicap at Hollywood Park Racetrack and was easily won by movie mogul Louis B. Mayer owned filly Painted Veil in a time of 1:232⁄5 for the 7 furlong distance.^[1] During World War II the event was not run in 1942 and 1943 returning in 1944 in November as an event for two-year-old fillies over 6 furlongs.^[2] After the conclusion of the World War II the event was held in September in 1945.^[3] In 1946 Louis B. Mayer won the event for the third time with his three-year-old filly Honeymoon winning.^[4]

The event was not held from 1947 through 1958.^[5]

From 1959 the event was either held in April or in late May.

The event was reclassified as Grade III in 1986 and was upgraded to Grade II in 1990.^[6]

In 1979 the event was renamed to the A Gleam Handicap in honor of Calumet Farm's filly, A Gleam, whose five stakes wins in 1952 is the co-record for most stakes race wins in a single meet at Hollywood Park including the Milady Handicap in record time.|^[7] A Gleam was voted Hollywood Park's 1952 "Horse of the Meet."

In 2009, Evita Argentina became the first 3-year-old to win the A Gleam Handicap since Honeymoon did it in 1946.^[5]

With the closure of Hollywood Park Racetrack in 2013 the event was moved Los Alamitos Race Course and renamed to the Great Lady M Stakes^[8] in honor of the mare Great Lady M who won the 1980 A Gleam Handicap in an upset.^[9] Great Lady M earlier had equalled the track record winning the 1979 Orange Coast Handicap at Los Alamitos Race Course over 6 furlongs in 1:094⁄5.^[10] Great Lady M's success was more evident off the track as she was the dam of 1986 United States Horse of the Year Lady's Secret.

In 2021, the 2020 US Female Sprint Champion Gamine, set a new winning margin by ten lengths defeating four other runners as the short 1/5 odds-on favorite.^[11]

In 2024, Sweet Azteca set a new track record for the 6+1⁄2–furlong distance winning by five lengths.^[12]

Records

Speed record:

• 6+1⁄2 furlongs: 1:14.33 – Sweet Azteca (2024) (Track record)
• 7 furlongs: 1:20.40 – A. P. Assay (1998) (Equaled track record)

Margins:

• 10 lengths – Gamine (2021)

Most wins:

• 2 – Marley's Freedom (2018, 2019)
• 2 – Somethinaboutlaura (2006, 2007)
• 2 – Linita (1961, 1963)

Most wins by an owner:

• 3 – Louis B. Mayer (1941, 1944, 1946)
• 3 – John G. Sikura (in partnership 2006, 2007, 2011)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 7 – Gary Stevens (1986, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2005)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 7 – Bob Baffert (2011, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
At Los Alamitos – Great Lady M Stakes
2024	Sweet Azteca	4	Juan J. Hernandez	Michael McCarthy	Pamela C. Ziebarth	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.33	$202,500	II	[13]
2023	Eda	7	Juan J. Hernandez	Bob Baffert	Baoma	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.06	$202,000	II	[14]
2022	Becca Taylor	4	Juan J. Hernandez	Steven Miyadi	Nicholas B. Alexander	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.25	$201,000	II	[15]
2021	Gamine	4	John R. Velazquez	Bob Baffert	Michael Lund Peterson	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.98	$200,000	II	[11]
2020	Sneaking Out	5	Martin Garcia	Jerry Hollendorfer	KMN Racing	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.62	$201,000	II	[16]
2019	Marley's Freedom	5	Drayden Van Dyke	Bob Baffert	Cicero Farms	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.33	$200,351	II	[17]
2018	Marley's Freedom	4	Drayden Van Dyke	Bob Baffert	Cicero Farms	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.00	$200,000	II	[18]
2017	Skye Diamonds	4	Tiago Josue Pereira	William Spawr	Tom Acker, Allen Racing, Bloom Racing Stables	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.79	$200,000	II	[19]
2016	Finest City	4	Kent J. Desormeaux	Ian Kruljac	Seltzer Thoroughbreds	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.48	$200,690	II	[20]
2015	Fantastic Style	3	Rafael Bejarano	Bob Baffert	Kaleem Shah	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.78	$200,750	II	[21]
2014	Doinghardtimeagain	4	Mike E. Smith	Jerry Hollendorfer	Tommy Town Thoroughbred	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.59	$200,500	II	[22]
At Hollywood Park – A Gleam Handicap
2013	Book Review	4	Rafael Bejarano	Bob Baffert	Mary & Gary West	7 furlongs	1:22.75	$200,000	II	[23]
2012	Switch	5	Garrett K. Gomez	John W. Sadler	CRK Stable	7 furlongs	1:24.37	$200,000	II	[24]
2011	Irish Gypsy	5	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	Michael E. Pegram & John G. Sikura	7 furlongs	1:22.44	$200,000	II	[25]
2010	Sweet August Moon	5	Victor Espinoza	Brian J. Koriner	Legacy Ranch & Team MacPherson	7 furlongs	1:21.77	$150,000	II	[26]
2009	Evita Argentina	3	Joel Rosario	John W. Sadler	Three Sisters Thoroughbreds & Halo Farms	7 furlongs	1:21.80	$150,000	II	[27]
2008	Dearest Trickski	4	Mike E. Smith	John W. Sadler	Tom Mankiewicz	7 furlongs	1:21.55	$150,000	II	[28]
2007	Somethinaboutlaura	5	Victor Espinoza	Jerry Hollendorfer	John G. Sikura, George Todaro, Miller et al.	7 furlongs	1:21.93	$150,000	II	[29]
2006	Somethinaboutlaura	4	Victor Espinoza	Jerry Hollendorfer	John G. Sikura, George Todaro, Miller et al.	7 furlongs	1:20.88	$150,000	II	[30]
2005	Alphabet Kisses	4	Gary L. Stevens	Martin F. Jones	Harris Farms	7 furlongs	1:21.67	$150,000	II	[31]
2004	Dream of Summer	5	Mike E. Smith	Juan J. Garcia	James Weigel	7 furlongs	1:21.00	$150,000	II	[32]
2003	Cee's Elegance	6	Victor Espinoza	Doug F. O'Neill	Cee's Stable	7 furlongs	1:21.47	$250,000	II	[33]
2002	Irguns Angel	4	Eddie Delahoussaye	Alfredo Marquez Casillas	Ron & Susie Anson	7 furlongs	1:22.50	$200,000	II	[34]
2001	Go Go	4	Eddie Delahoussaye	Warren Stute	Alan & Paula Thomas	7 furlongs	1:22.19	$200,000	II	[35]
2000	Honest Lady	4	Kent J. Desormeaux	Robert J. Frankel	Juddmonte Farms	7 furlongs	1:21.47	$200,000	II	[36]
1999	Enjoy the Moment	4	David R. Flores	William Spawr	Farfellow Farms	7 furlongs	1:21.35	$200,000	II	[37]
1998	A. P. Assay	4	Eddie Delahoussaye	J. Paco Gonzalez	John Toffan & Trudy McCaffery	7 furlongs	1:20.40	$250,000	II	[38]
1997	Toga Toga Toga	5	Gary L. Stevens	Eduardo Inda	Stanley Bell	7 furlongs	1:22.60	$108,400	II	[39]
1996	Igotrhythm	4	Eddie Delahoussaye	Robert J. Frankel	Edmund A. Gann	7 furlongs	1:21.40	$106,400	II	[40]
1995	Angi Go	5	Gary L. Stevens	David E. Hofmans	Kenneth D. Hartley	7 furlongs	1:21.40	$107,700	II	[41]
1994	Golden Klair (GB)	4	Chris McCarron	Darrell Vienna	No Problem Stable & Sido Stable	7 furlongs	1:22.00	$102,900	II	[42]
1993	Bold Windy	4	Gary L. Stevens	Gary F. Jones	Raymond T. Dilbeck	7 furlongs	1:21.60	$110,700	II	[43]
1992	Forest Fealty	5	Martin A. Pedroza	Brian A. Mayberry	Jan, Mace & Samantha Siegel	7 furlongs	1:22.00	$109,800	II	[44]
1991	Survive	7	Russell Baze	Richard E. Mandella	Edward Allred & Randall D. Hubbard	7 furlongs	1:22.00	$107,400	II	[45]
1990	Stormy But Valid	4	Gary L. Stevens	Brian A. Mayberry	Jan, Mace & Samantha Siegel	7 furlongs	1:21.20	$106,300	II	[46]
1989	Daloma (FR)	5	Chris McCarron	Charles E. Whittingham	Enemy Stables & Mandysland Farm	7 furlongs	1:21.60	$81,650	III	[47]
1988	Integra	4	Gary L. Stevens	Henry M. Moreno	George Aubin	7 furlongs	1:23.00	$79,950	III	[48]
1987	Le L'Argent	5	Darrel McHargue	Richard E. Mandella	L. Jean & M. & R. Daley	7 furlongs	1:23.00	$82,400	III	[49]
1986	Outstandingly	4	Gary L. Stevens	Laz Barrera	Harbor View Farm	7 furlongs	1:21.80	$79,850	III	[50]
1985	Dontstop Themusic	5	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Randy Winick	Albert R. & Dana N. Broccoli	7 furlongs	1:21.40	$63,500		† Exhibition[51]
1984	Lass Trump	4	Chris McCarron	Claude R. McGaughey III	Alan Samford	7 furlongs	1:21.20	$66,400		[52]
1983	Matching	5	Ray Sibille	Steven L. Morguelan	Glencrest Farm & Morguelan	7 furlongs	1:22.40	$54,300		[53]
1982	Happy Bride (IRE)	4	Walter Guerra	Laz Barrera	Dolly Green	6 furlongs	1:08.40	$53,200		[54]
1981	She Can't Miss	4	Pat Valenzuela	D. Wayne Lukas	Elcee-H Stable	6 furlongs	1:09.00	$54,550		[55]
1980	Great Lady M.	5	Pat Valenzuela	D. Wayne Lukas	Robert H. Spreen	6 furlongs	1:08.40	$53,050		[9]
1979	Delice	4	Eddie Delahoussaye	Robert L. Wheeler	Michael G. Rutherford	6 furlongs	1:08.80	$43,100		[56]
Sequoia Handicap
1978	Reminiscing	4	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Laz Barrera	Jacobs & Harbor View Farms	6 furlongs	1:09.60	$43,450		[57]
1977	Just A Kick	5	Sandy Hawley	Roger E. Clapp	Mrs. Connie M. Ring	6 furlongs	1:09.40	$31,950		[58]
1976	Winter Solstice	4	Jerry Lambert	Gordon C. Campbell	Bernard J. Ridder	6 furlongs	1:09.00	$33,500		[59]
1975	Viva La Vivi	5	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Harold Hodosh	Hrotman & Malibu Stables	6 furlongs	1:08.40	$32,300	III	[60]
1974	Lt.'s Joy	4	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Robert J. Frankel	W. A. Levin	6 furlongs	1:09.00	$27,250	III	[61]
1973	Wingo Belle	5	Robert Nono	William A. Reavis	Mabell Coffer	6 furlongs	1:08.60	$32,650	III	[62]
1972	§ Convenience	4	Robert Nono	Willard L. Proctor	Glen Hill Farm	6 furlongs	1:08.60	$32,650		[63]
1971	Ribula	4	Salistino Burgos	Kenneth J. Anderson	Hal Clay & Stuart Strock	6 furlongs	1:09.20	$27,750		[64]
1970	Lynne's Orphan	4	Jerry Lambert	Linwood J. Brooks	Lester Eaton & General W. W. Kratz	6 furlongs	1:09.00	$22,400		[65]
1969	Indian Love Call	4	Álvaro Pineda	William J. Hirsch	Alfred G. Vanderbilt	6 furlongs	1:09.00	$22,200		[66]
1968	Romanticism	5	Laffit Pincay Jr.	James W. Maloney	William Haggin Perry	6 furlongs	1:09.20	$22,550		[67]
1967	Admirably	5	Walter Blum	Louis Glauburg	E. J. Anderson	6 furlongs	1:09.20	$22,850		[68]
1966	Privileged	4	William Mahorney	Fred Harvey	Mr. & Mrs Hamilton M. Hughes	6 furlongs	1:09.60	$22,500		[69]
1965	Kea	6	Donald Ross	Farrell W. Jones	Bresa Del Mar Ranch	6 furlongs	1:10.20	$22,250		[70]
1964	Curious Clover	4	Kenneth Church	Clyde Turk	Louis R. Rowan	6 furlongs	1:09.80	$23,200		[71]
1963	Linita	6	Ismael Valenzuela	Clyde Turk	Angelo & Herman Corradini & George Dorney	6 furlongs	1:09.60	$22,100		[72]
1962	Nascania	5	Ray York	Wally Dunn	Louis R. Rowan	6 furlongs	1:09.80	$16,525		[73]
1961	Linita	4	Johnny Longden	Clyde Turk	Angelo & Herman Corradini & George Dorney	6 furlongs	1:09.00	$16,275		[74]
1960	Liberal Lady	5	Rudy Campas	Harris B. Brown	Mrs. Tilyou Christopher	6 furlongs	1:08.40	$16,850		[75]
1959	Bug Brush	4	Angel Valenzuela	Robert L. Wheeler	Cornelius V. Whitney	6 furlongs	1:09.20	$16,725		[76]
1947–1958		Race not held
1946	Honeymoon	3	Jack Westrope	Graceton W. Philpot	Louis B. Mayer	7 furlongs	1:23.00	$28,050		[4]
1945	Jerry Lee	5	Anthony Skoronski	C. Ralph West	Walter G. McCarty	7 furlongs	1:23.00	$17,685		[3]
1944	Hemisphere	2	George Woolf	George M. Odom	Louis B. Mayer	6 furlongs	1:12.60	$12,875		2YO fillies[2]
1942–1943		Race not held
1941	Painted Veil	3	Jack Westrope	Graceton W. Philpot	Louis B. Mayer	7 furlongs	1:23.40	$10,925		[1]

Legend:
  All Weather Track   Dirt
Notes:
† The event in 1985 was an exhibition race with four entries that had no wagering.
§ Ran as part of an entry

See also

• List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links

• 2012 Hollywood Park Media Guide
• Ten Things You Should Know About the A Gleam Handicap at Hello Race Fans!