Monrovia Stakes

The Monrovia Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, four years old and older over a distance of about 6+1⁄2 furlongs on the downhill turf course scheduled annually in April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

Monrovia Stakes

Class	Grade III
Location	Santa Anita Park Arcadia, California, United States
Inaugurated	1968
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	www.santaanita.com
Race information
Distance	about 6+1⁄2 furlongs
Surface	Turf
Track	left-handed
Qualification	Fillies and mares four years old and older
Weight	124lbs with allowances
Purse	$100,000 (2024)

History

The event was inaugurated in 1968 as the Monrovia Handicap.^[1]

When conditions are too wet the Los Angeles Turf Club on discretion has moved the event to the dirt track. This has happened on several occasions including 1969, 1970, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1989, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2019.

The event was run in two divisions in 1979.^[2]

The event was originally scheduled in February but the Los Angeles Turf Club in late 1999 moved the race to the start of the winter racing meet at Santa Anita whereby the race was run twice in the calendar year.^[3] The conditions of the race were modified so that three year old fillies could also enter the event. In 1999 and 2004 three year old fillies were victorious in the event.

In 2006 the club reverted to later in the 2006–2007 winter meet and consequently the event was not held in 2006. In 2007 the conditions were reverted so that only four year olds and older fillies and mares could enter.^[4] In 2017 the event was moved from January to May and the event once again allowed three year old fillies to enter.^[5]

The race is named after Monrovia, the local city near the track at Arcadia.

The race was renamed to the current name in 2011.^[3]

In 2019, the distance was shortened by over a furlong to five furlongs, and held on the dirt track due to the weather.^[3] In 2020 the event was extended to 5+1⁄2 furlongs^[3] and the following year was held at 6+1⁄2 furlongs.

In 2023 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.^[6] However, the event was moved to the dirt and subsequently was downgraded to a Listed event.^[7]

Records

Speed record:

• abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs: 1:11.14 – Pontchatrain (2014)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 - William Haggin Perry (1969, 1979)
• 2 - Fred W. Hooper (1972, 1975)
• 2 - Bernard J. Ridder (1976, 1977)
• 2 - Ann & Jerry Moss (1985, 1988)
• 2 - William de Burgh (1991, 2010)

Most wins:

• 2 - Winter Solstice (1976, 1977)
• 2 - Mizdirection (2012, 2013)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 4 - Kent Desormeaux (1991, 2000, 2001, 2015)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 3 - Charles E. Whittingham (1979, 1981, 1989)
• 3 - Robert J. Frankel (1985, 1988, 2009)
• 3 - Richard E. Mandella (1986, 2001, 2019)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
Monrovia Stakes
2024	Ag Bullet	4	Umberto Rispoli	Richard Baltas	Calvin Nguyen & Joey C. Tran	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.67	$101,000	III	[8]
2023	Elm Drive	4	Ramon Vazquez	Philip D'Amato	Little Red Feather Racing	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.56	$201,000	Listed	[9]
2022	Brooke Marie	6	Juan Hernandez	Eddie Kenneally	Castleton Lyons	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.42	$200,500	II	[10]
2021	Venetian Harbor	4	Mario Gutierrez	Richard Baltas	Ciaglia Racing, Highland Yard, River Oak Farm & Domenic Savides	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.06	$201,500	II	[11]
2020	Jolie Olimpica (BRZ)	4	Mike E. Smith	Richard E. Mandella	Fox Hill Farms (Rick Porter)	5+1⁄2 furlongs	1:01.11	$201,000	II	[12]
2019	S Y Sky	5	Drayden Van Dyke	Philip D'Amato	Nicholas B. Alexander	5 furlongs	0:57.54	$200,702	III	[13]
2018	Belvoir Bay (GB)	5	Victor Espinoza	Peter L. Miller	Team Valor International & Gary Barber	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.80	$201,380	II	[14]
2017	Illuminant	5	Flavien Prat	Michael W. McCarthy	Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Head of Plains Partners, SF Racing	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.13	$201,035	II	[5]
2016	Prize Exhibit (GB)	4	Santiago Gonzalez	James M. Cassidy	DP Racing	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.96	$201,500	II	[15]
2015	Shrinking Violet	5	Kent J. Desormeaux	Wesley A. Ward	Wesley A. Ward	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.56	$201,500	II	[16]
2014	Pontchatrain	4	Gary L. Stevens	Thomas F. Proctor	Glen Hill Farm	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:11.14	$200,500	II	[17]
2013	Mizdirection	5	Mike E. Smith	Mike Puype	Jungle Racing LLC, et al.	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:11.94	$150,000	II	[18]
2012	Mizdirection	4	Garrett K. Gomez	Mike Puype	Jungle Racing LLC, et al.	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:11.64	$100,000	III	[19]
2011	Unzip Me	5	Rafael Bejarano	Martin F. Jones	Harris Farms Inc., Valpredo et al.	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.72	$100,000	III	[20]
Monrovia Handicap
2010	Tuscan Evening (IRE)	5	Rafael Bejarano	Jerry Hollendorfer	William de Burgh	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.56	$100,000	III	[21]
2009	Jibboom	5	Garrett K. Gomez	Robert J. Frankel	Juddmonte Farms	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.21	$100,000	III	[22]
2008	Alexandra Rose (SAF)	6	Rafael Bejarano	Neil D. Drysdale	Team Valor	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.86	$110,400	III	[23]
2007	Society Hostess	5	Garrett K. Gomez	Christophe Clement	Moyglare Stud Farm	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.85	$116,100	III	[4]
2006¶	Race not held
2005	Awesome Lady	4	Tyler Baze	Gary Stute	Mike Cavanaugh & Gary Stute	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:16.77	$112,600	Listed	[24]
2004	Resplendency	3	Casey Fusilier	Bob Baffert	Robert & Beverly Lewis	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.34	$113,550	Listed	[25]
2003	Icantgoforthat	4	Tyler Baze	Steve Knapp	Andy Broberg & Palmer Knapp	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.07	$109,300	III	[26]
2002	Lil Sister Stich	5	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Doug F. O'Neill	Howard, Kilgor, Koser, et al.	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.81	$114,700	III	[27]
2001	Paga (ARG)	4	Mike E. Smith	Richard E. Mandella	Edward C. Allred & Randall D. Hubbard	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.09	$109,300	III	[28]
2000	Evening Promise (GB)	4	Kent J. Desormeaux	Kathy Walsh	Richard Duggan & James R. Vreeland	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.62	$114,400	III	[29]
1999 (Dec.)	Show Me the Stage	3	Kent J. Desormeaux	Eric Guillot	Brian Cain, Eric Guillot & Terry LeBlanc	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.14	$104,762	III	[30]
1999 (Jan.)	Desert Lady (IRE)	4	Corey Nakatani	Wallace Dollase	The Thoroughbred Corp.	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.59	$108,500	III	[31]
1998	Madame Pandit	5	Eddie Delahoussaye	Ronald L. McAnally	Janis R. Whitham	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.80	$109,500	III	[32]
1997	Grab the Prize	5	Alex O. Solis	Darrell Vienna	Ernest Auerbach	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:16.89	$106,900	III	[33]
1996	Klassy Kim	5	Goncalino Almeida	Melvin F. Stute	Bill M. Thomas	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.48	$105,650	III	[34]
1995	Rabiadella	4	Pat Valenzuela	J. Michael Orman	Stonehenge Stables	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.92	$81,200	III	[35]
1994	Mamselle Bebette	4	Corey Nakatani	Jack Van Berg	Big Train Farm	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.35	$83,400	III	[36]
1993	Glen Kate (IRE)	6	Corey Black	Bill Shoemaker	Wayne Gretzky & Bruce McNall	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.89	$82,400	III	[37]
1992	Middlefork Rapids	4	Pat Valenzuela	Terry Knight	Dame Construction Co., Inc.	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.55	$84,900	III	[38]
1991	Wedding Bouquet (IRE)	4	Kent J. Desormeaux	Gary F. Jones	William de Burgh (Lessee)	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.80	$85,625	III	[39]
1990	Down Again	6	Corey Black	Richard J. Cross	Larry Robinson & Summa Stable	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.00	$83,950	III	[40]
1989	Daloma (FR)	5	Fernando H. Valenzuela	Charles E. Whittingham	Enemy Stables & Mandysland Farm	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:16.20	$83,300	Listed	[41]
1988	Aberuschka (IRE)	6	Gary L. Stevens	Robert J. Frankel	Ann & Jerry Moss	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.60	$83,800	Listed	[42]
1987	Sari's Heroine	4	Pat Valenzuela	Melvin F. Stute	Carl E. Grinstead & Ben Rochelle	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.00	$65,400	Listed	[43]
1986	Water Crystals	5	Gary L. Stevens	Richard E. Mandella	Bruce Steinberg	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.60	$67,100	Listed	[44]
1985	Lina Cavalieri (GB)	5	Eddie Delahoussaye	Robert J. Frankel	Ann & Jerry Moss	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.00	$66,650	Listed	[45]
1984	Tangent (NZ)	4	Julio A. Garcia	Wayne Murty	Bacchus, Harrison, McGee, et al.	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.60	$69,950	Listed	[46]
1983	Matching	5	Ray Sibille	Steven L. Morguelan	Glencrest Farm & Morguelan	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.20	$67,600	Listed	[47]
1982	Cat Girl	4	Chris McCarron	Edwin J. Gregson	Windblown Farm	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.60	$68,250	Listed	[48]
1981	Kilijaro (IRE)	5	Marco Castaneda	Charles E. Whittingham	Serge Fradkoff	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.40	$57,450	Listed	[49]
1980	Fondre	5	Frank Olivares	John W. Fulton	William L. Currin & William R. Hawn	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.20	$45,500	Listed	[50]
1979	Camarado	4	Bill Shoemaker	Charles E. Whittingham	Nelson Bunker Hunt	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.40	$36,400	Listed	Division 1[51]
	Palmistry	4	Chris McCarron	Willard L. Proctor	William Haggin Perry	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.20	$36,000	Listed	Division 2[52]
1978	Little Happiness	4	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Laz Barrera	Harbor View Farm	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:16.00	$44,200	Listed	[53]
1977	Winter Solstice	5	Mark S. Sellers	Gordon C. Campbell	Bernard J. Ridder	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.60	$45,600	Listed	[54]
1976	Winter Solstice	4	Jerry Lambert	Gordon C. Campbell	Bernard J. Ridder	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:17.60	$33,800	Listed	[55]
1975	†Special Goddess	4	Sandy Hawley	Robert Smith	Fred W. Hooper	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.80	$34,200	Listed	[56]
1974	Viva La Vivi	4	Donald Pierce	Harold Hodosh	Alix Brotman & Malibu Stable	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.00	$29,050	Listed	[57]
1973	Tizna (CHI)	4	Fernando Toro	Henry M. Moreno	Regal Enterprises Inc.	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.80	$36,200	Listed	[58]
1972	Mia Mood	4	Victor Tejada	John W. Russell	Fred W. Hooper	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.00	$33,850		[59]
1971	Atomic Wings	4	Robby Kilborn	James I. Nazworthy	Sledge Stable (Maxine Nazworthy)	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.40	$29,100		[60]
1970	Beautiful Dream	5	Jerry Lambert	Joseph S. Dunn	J. T. Jones	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:16.20	$23,750		[61]
1969	Morgaise	4	Donald Pierce	James W. Maloney	William Haggin Perry	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:22.20	$22,500		[62]
1968	Mellow Marsh	5	Mario Valenzuela	Jay Saladin	Edward C. Flynn	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.40	$29,500		[63]

Legend:
  Turf   Dirt
Notes:
¶ Not held due to change of scheduling during the winter meet
† Viva La Vivi won the race but was disqualified and placed last for interference^[56]

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links

• Santa Anita Media Guide for 2019 Winter Meet