Athenia Stakes Explained

Surface:	Turf
Class:	Listed
Horse Race:	Athenia Stakes
Location:	Belmont Park Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated:	1978 (as Athenia Handicap)
Race Type:	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Website:	NYRA
Distance:	miles
Track:	Left-handed
Qualification:	Fillies & Mares, three-year-olds and older
Weight:	Base weights with allowances: 4-year-olds and up: 126 lbs. 3-year-olds: 122 lbs.
Purse:	US150,000 (2023)

The Athenia Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age three-years-old and older run over at a distance of a mile and an eighth on the turf held annually in October at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event offers a purse of US150,000.

History

The Athenia Stakes is named in honor of Hal Price Headley's filly Athenia, who won in 1946 the Ladies Handicap over the distance of miles as well as the Misty Isle Handicap and Artful Handicap at Washington Park Race Track in Chicago.^[1] Athenia also was the granddam of Sir Ivor, the 1968 Horse of the Year in the United Kingdom and Leading broodmare sire in Britain & Ireland in 1983.

The inaugural running of the event was on 13 September 1978 as The Athenia Handicap for three-year-old fillies at miles in distance and was won by the Terpsichorist who was trained by the US Hall of Fame trainer Woody Stephens and ridden by Michael Venezia in a time of 2:03. The event continued to be restricted to three-year-old fillies until 1983.

In 1980 the event was classified as Grade III.^[2] In 2005 the event was moved to the main track due to the inclement weather and consequently was downgraded.^[2]

The race has been held at Aqueduct Racetrack several times with the last such running in 2004.^[3] The event was raced in split divisions in 1982 and 2001.^[4]

The event has been contested at various distances over its history with the current distance of miles being reinstated in 2021.^[2]

The event in 2022 was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.^[5]

In 2023 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status^[6]

Records

Speed record:

• miles: 1:39.94 – Pianist (2013)
• miles: 1:47.11 – Rapid Selection (1997)
• miles: 2:00.40 – Love Sign (1980), De La Rosa (1981)
• miles: 2:13.20 – Capades (1989)

Margins:

• 20 lengths – Rose Crescent (1983)

Most wins:

• 2 – Babae (2001, 2002)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 – Rokeby Stables (1983, 1988)
• 2 – Harbor View Farm (1994, 1995)
• 2 – Joseph Platt Jr. (2001, 2002)
• 2 – Juddmonte Farms (1991, 2021)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 6 – Jorge F. Chavez (1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 8 – Chad C. Brown (2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
At Aqueduct  - Athenia Stakes
align=center	2023	Technical Analysis (IRE)	align=center	5	Jose L. Ortiz	Chad C. Brown	Klaravich Stables	align=center	miles	align=center	1:49.20	align=center	$150,000	align=center	Listed	^[7]
align=center	2022		align=center	5	Jose L. Ortiz	Chad C. Brown	John D. Gunther & Tanya Gunther	align=center	miles	align=center	1:50.07	align=center	$169,750	align=center	III	^[8]
At Belmont Park
align=center	2021		align=center	4	Jose L. Ortiz	Chad C. Brown		align=center	miles	align=center	1:51.19	align=center	$194,000	align=center	III	^[9]
align=center	2020	Tapit Today	align=center	5	Jose L. Ortiz	Chad C. Brown	William H. Lawrence & Bradley Thoroughbreds	align=center	miles	align=center	1:42.56	align=center	$100,000	align=center	III	^[10]
align=center	2019	Xenobia (IRE)	align=center	5	John R. Velazquez	Jonathan Thomas	Augustin Stable	align=center	miles	align=center	1:41.21	align=center	$200,000	align=center	III	^[11]
align=center	2018	Rymska (FR)	align=center	4	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Chad C. Brown	Sheep Pond Partners, Alain Jathiere, Thomas Coleman & Elayne Stables	align=center	miles	align=center	1:41.59	align=center	$200,000	align=center	III	^[12]
align=center	2017	Off Limits (IRE)	align=center	5	Joel Rosario	Chad C. Brown	Martin S. Schwartz	align=center	miles	align=center	1:41.73	align=center	$200,000	align=center	III	^[13]
align=center	2016	Roca Rojo (IRE)	align=center	4	Javier Castellano	Chad C. Brown	Sheep Pond Partners, Newport Stables & Bradley Thoroughbreds	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.20	align=center	$200,000	align=center	III	^[14]
align=center	2015	Stellar Path (FR)	align=center	4	Joel Rosario	Christophe Clement	Trevor C. Stewart	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.41	align=center	$200,000	align=center	III	^[15]
align=center	2014	La Tia	align=center	5	Joel Rosario	Armando De La Cerda	Salvador Hernandez	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.36	align=center	$200,000	align=center	III	^[16]
align=center	2013	Pianist	align=center	4	Jose L. Ortiz	Chad C. Brown	Hidden Brook Farm & Dan Zucker	align=center	miles	align=center	1:39.94	align=center	$200,000	align=center	III	^[17]
align=center	2012	La Cloche	align=center	5	Junior Alvarado	James J. Toner	Phillips Racing Partnership	align=center	miles	align=center	1:45.15	align=center	$150,000	align=center	III	^[18]
align=center	2011	Denomination	align=center	5	Joe Bravo	Christophe Clement	Ghislaine Head	align=center	miles	align=center	1:44.17	align=center	$100,000	align=center	III	^[19]
align=center	2010	Eye of Taurus	align=center	4	Eddie Castro	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	Harvey A. Clarke	align=center	miles	align=center	1:47.04	align=center	$100,000	align=center	III	^[20]
align=center	2009	Belle Allure (IRE)	align=center	4		Christophe Clement	Ronchalon Stable	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.30	align=center	$106,500	align=center	III	^[21]
Athenia Handicap
align=center	2008	Sunshine for Life	align=center	4	Channing Hill	Richard E. Schosberg	Jane M. Schosberg	align=center	miles	align=center	1:41.55	align=center	$110,300	align=center	III	^[22]
align=center	2007	Criminologist	align=center	4	John R. Velazquez	Claude R. McGaughey III	Stuart S. Janney III & Phipps Stable	align=center	miles	align=center	1:45.09	align=center	$109,100	align=center	III	^[23]
align=center	2006	Pommes Frites	align=center	4	Jose A. Santos	William I. Mott	Haras Santa Maria de Araras	align=center	miles	align=center	1:42.95	align=center	$112,300	align=center	III	^[24]
align=center	2005	Asti (IRE)	align=center	4	Jorge F. Chavez	H. Allen Jerkens	H. Joseph Allen	align=center	miles	align=center	1:42.57	align=center	$111,300	align=center	Listed	^[25]
At Aqueduct
align=center	2004	Finery	align=center	4	Pablo Fragoso	William H. Turner Jr.	Althea D. Richards	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.73	align=center	$115,700	align=center	III	^[26]
align=center	2003	Caught in the Rain	align=center	4	Richard Migliore	Guadalupe Preciado	Heiligbrodt Stable & Walter L. New	align=center	miles	align=center	1:47.00	align=center	$113,000	align=center	III	^[27]
align=center	2002	Babae (CHI)	align=center	6	Jorge F. Chavez	Frank A. Alexander	Joseph Platt Jr.	align=center	miles	align=center	1:44.90	align=center	$116,700	align=center	III	^[28]
At Belmont Park
align=center rowspan=2	2001	Verruma (BRZ)	align=center	5	John R. Velazquez	Angel A. Penna Jr.	Earle I. Mack & Jael Barros	align=center rowspan=2	miles	align=center	1:40.40	align=center	$137,875	align=center rowspan=2	III	^[29]
Babae (CHI)	align=center	5	Jorge F. Chavez	Frank A. Alexander	Joseph Platt Jr.	align=center	1:42.09	align=center	$137,875	^[30]
At Aqueduct
align=center	2000	Wild Heart Dancing	align=center	4	Jorge F. Chavez		My Jo Lee Stable	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.40	align=center	$112,500	align=center	III	^[31]
align=center	1999	Antoniette	align=center	4	Jorge F. Chavez	Joseph P. Schlich	Calumet Farm	align=center	miles	align=center	1:41.89	align=center	$111,400	align=center	III	^[32]
align=center	1998	Tampico	align=center	5	Joe Bravo	Barclay Tagg	Ronald G. Cullis	align=center	miles	align=center	1:42.90	align=center	$85,350	align=center	III	^[33]
At Belmont Park
align=center	1997	Rapid Selection	align=center	4	Joe Bravo	Linda L. Rice	Clyde D. Rice	align=center	miles	align=center	1:47.11	align=center	$109,900	align=center	III	^[34]
align=center	1996	Sixieme Sens	align=center	4	Jerry D. Bailey	Robert J. Frankel	Three Plus U Stable	align=center	1 mile	align=center	1:37.80	align=center	$111,100	align=center	III	^[35]
At Aqueduct
align=center	1995	Caress	align=center	4	Robbie Davis	H. Allen Jerkens	Harbor View Farm	align=center	miles	align=center	1:54.18	align=center	$113,900	align=center	III	^[36]
align=center	1994	Lady Affirmed	align=center	3	Jorge F. Chavez	H. Allen Jerkens	Harbor View Farm	align=center	miles	align=center	1:48.66	align=center	$87,076	align=center	III	^[37]
At Belmont Park
align=center	1993	Trampoli	align=center	4	Mike E. Smith	Christophe Clement	Paul de Moussac	align=center	miles	align=center	2:17.16	align=center	$90,000	align=center	III	^[38]
align=center	1992	Fairy Garden	align=center	4	Julie Krone	Roger L. Attfield	Michael J. Ryan	align=center	miles	align=center	2:13.62	align=center	$86,700	align=center	III	^[39]
align=center	1991		align=center	4	Pat Valenzuela	Robert J. Frankel	Juddmonte Farms	align=center	miles	align=center	2:13.99	align=center	$93,000	align=center	III	^[40]
align=center	1990	Buy the Firm	align=center	4	Jerry D. Bailey	Jose A. Martin	Thomas Mara	align=center	miles	align=center	2:18.20	align=center	$87,750	align=center	III	^[41]
align=center	1989	Capades	align=center	3	Angel Cordero Jr.	Richard O'Connell	Poma Stable	align=center	miles	align=center	2:13.20	align=center	$90,800	align=center	III	^[42]
align=center	1988	High Browser	align=center	3	Pat Day	MacKenzie Miller	Rokeby Stables	align=center	miles	align=center	2:18.60	align=center	$96,300	align=center	III	^[43]
align=center	1987	Lead Kindly Light	align=center	4	Julio Molina Pezua	Angel A. Penna Jr.	Cynthia Phipps	align=center	miles	align=center	2:23.80	align=center	$94,800	align=center	III	^[44]
align=center	1986	Dawn's Curtsey	align=center	4	Eddie Maple	John M. Veitch	Darby Dan Farm	align=center	miles	align=center	2:16.00	align=center	$92,400	align=center	III	^[45]
align=center	1985	Videogenic	align=center	3	Jean Cruguet	Gasper S. Moschera	Albert Davis	align=center	miles	align=center	2:15.40	align=center	$101,700	align=center	III	^[46]
align=center	1984	Key Dancer	align=center	3	Angel Cordero Jr.	William J. Hirsch Jr.	Oxford Stable	align=center	miles	align=center	2:14.80	align=center	$94,500	align=center	III	^[47]
align=center	1983	Rose Crescent	align=center	3	Robbie Davis	MacKenzie Miller	Rokeby Stables	align=center	miles	align=center	2:22.00	align=center	$57,300	align=center	III	^[48]
At Aqueduct  - for 3YO fillies
align=center rowspan=2	1982	Mintage (FR)	align=center	3	Jean-Luc Samyn	Philip G. Johnson	Meadowhill	align=center rowspan=2	miles	align=center	2:17.80	align=center	$54,650	align=center rowspan=2	III	^[49]
Middle Stage	align=center	3	Jimmy J. Miranda	John P. Campo	Buckland Farm	align=center	2:17.40	align=center	$54,650	^[50]
At Belmont Park  - for 3YO fillies
align=center	1981	De La Rose	align=center	3	Eddie Maple	Woodford C. Stephens	Henryk de Kwiatkowski	align=center	miles	align=center	2:00.40	align=center	$85,200	align=center	III	^[51]
align=center	1980	Love Sign	align=center	3	Ruben Hernandez	Sidney J. Watters Jr.	Stephen C. Clark Jr.	align=center	miles	align=center	2:00.40	align=center	$84,150	align=center	III	^[52]
align=center	1979	Poppycock	align=center	3	Jorge Velasquez	Woodford C. Stephens	Claiborne Farm	align=center	miles	align=center	2:03.60	align=center	$87,450	align=center		^[53]
align=center	1978	Terpsichorist	align=center	3	Michael Venezia	Woodford C. Stephens	Hickory Tree Stable	align=center	miles	align=center	2:03.20	align=center	$55,500	align=center		^[54]

Legend:

See also

• List of American and Canadian Graded races

Notes and References

1. Web site: List of Winners named Athenia . 2020 . 20 October 2020.
2. Web site: Athenia Stakes (Gr. 3) . Equibase. 2020 . 20 October 2020.
3. Web site: ATHENIA STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS . Thoroughbred Pedigree Online . 2020 . 20 October 2020.
4. Web site: ATHENIA STAKES (2ND. DIV.) - MULTIPLE TRACKS . Thoroughbred Pedigree Online . 2020 . 20 October 2020.
5. Web site: Ehalt . Bob . NYRA Shifts Belmont Fall Meet to Aqueduct Change will allow construction of infield tunnel, redevelopment plan to begin. . 28 July 2022 . 22 August 2022.
6. Web site: American Graded Stakes Committee Releases 2023 Grades; The Stephen Foster Stakes is the only new grade 1 stakes for 2023. . 16 December 2022 . 28 December 2022 . Bloodhorse.com . Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.
7. Web site: 2023 Athenia Stakes Listed - (race 7) . Equibase . 27 October 2023 . 28 October 2023.
8. Web site: 2022 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 3) . Equibase . 25 September 2022 . 25 September 2022.
9. Web site: 2021 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10) . Equibase . 25 September 2021 . 26 September 2021.
10. Web site: 2020 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 25 October 2020 . 26 October 2020.
11. Web site: 2019 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 20 October 2019 . 14 October 2020.
12. Web site: 2018 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 21 October 2018 . 14 October 2020.
13. Web site: 2017 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7) . Equibase . 28 October 2017 . 14 October 2020.
14. Web site: 2016 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 23 October 2016 . 14 October 2020.
15. Web site: 2015 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 17 October 2015 . 14 October 2020.
16. Web site: 2014 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 12 October 2014 . 14 October 2020.
17. Web site: 2013 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 12 October 2013 . 14 October 2020.
18. Web site: 2012 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7) . Equibase . 13 October 2012 . 14 October 2020.
19. Web site: 2011 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 15 October 2011 . 14 October 2020.
20. Web site: 2010 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 16 October 2010 . 14 October 2020.
21. Web site: 2009 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 21 October 2009 . 14 October 2020.
22. Web site: 2008 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 11 October 2008 . 14 October 2020.
23. Web site: 2007 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 13 October 2007 . 14 October 2020.
24. Web site: 2006 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 15 October 2006 . 14 October 2020.
25. Web site: 2005 Athenia Handicap Listed - (race 8) . Equibase . 15 October 2005 . 14 October 2020.
26. Web site: 2004 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 31 October 2004 . 14 October 2020.
27. Web site: 2003 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 8 November 2003 . 14 October 2020.
28. Web site: 2002 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 9 November 2002 . 14 October 2020.
29. Web site: 2001 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 Division 1 - (race 5) . Equibase . 26 October 2001 . 14 October 2020.
30. Web site: 2001 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 Division 2 - (race 7) . Equibase . 26 October 2001 . 14 October 2020.
31. Web site: 2000 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 29 October 2000 . 14 October 2020.
32. Web site: 1999 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 31 October 1999 . 14 October 2020.
33. Web site: 1998 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 1 November 1998 . 14 October 2020.
34. Web site: 1997 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 13 October 1997 . 14 October 2020.
35. Web site: 1996 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 14 October 1996 . 14 October 2020.
36. Web site: 1995 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 12 November 1995 . 14 October 2020.
37. Web site: 1994 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 18 October 1994 . 14 October 2020.
38. Web site: 1993 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 3 October 1993 . 14 October 2020.
39. Web site: 1992 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 4 October 1992 . 14 October 2020.
40. Web site: 1991 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 6) . Equibase . 5 October 1991 . 14 October 2020.
41. News: Buy The Firm wins Belmont 4-horse race (1990 Athenia Handicap – race 8: held 13 October 1990) . . . 14 October 1990 . 14 October 2020 . 19 .
42. News: Capades captures Athenia (1989 Athenia Handicap – race 8: held 9 October 1989) . . . 10 October 1989 . 19 October 2020 . 41 .
43. News: High Browser wins Belmont feature (1988 Athenia Handicap – race 8: held 10 October 1988) . . . 11 October 1988 . 19 October 2020 . 27 .
44. News: Thoroughbred Racing (1987 Athenia Handicap – race 8: held 12 October 1987) . . 13 October 1987 . 19 October 2020 . 39 .
45. News: Belmont Park Racing Charts (1986 Athenia Handicap – race 7: held 18 October 1986) . . 19 October 1986 . 20 October 2020 . 164 .
46. News: Belmont Park Racing Charts (1985 Athenia Handicap – race 7: held 19 October 1985) . . White Plains Journal News. 20 October 1985 . 20 October 2020 . 64 .
47. News: Cordero, Key Dancer waltz away with Athenia (1984 Athenia Handicap – race 8: held 7 October 1984) . The Record's Wire Services . . 20 October 1984 . 20 October 2020 . 67 .
48. News: Rose Crescent wins Athenia (1983 Athenia Handicap – race 8: held 2 October 1983) . . 3 October 1983 . 20 October 2020 . 111 .
49. News: Mintage, Middle Stage win in Aqueduct's Athenia (1982 Athenia Handicap Division 1 – race 6: held 13 October 1980) . . . 14 October 1980 . 20 October 2020 . 38 .
50. News: Rain greets Aqueduct (1982 Athenia Handicap Division 2 – race 8: held 13 October 1980) . . . 14 October 1980 . 20 October 2020 . 31 .
51. News: De la Rose wins; set for Canada (1981 Athenia Handicap – race 8: held 12 October 1981) . . 13 October 1981 . 20 October 2020 . 65 . Wes . Gaffer.
52. News: Love Sign wins Athenia on Belmont turf course (1980 Athenia Handicap – race 8: held 1 October 1980) . . . 2 October 1980 . 20 October 2020 . 53 .
53. News: Poppycock wins Athenia Handicap (1979 Athenia Handicap – race 8: held 1 October 1979) . . . 2 October 1979 . 20 October 2020 . 19 .
54. News: Racing Section (1978 Athenia Handicap – race 8: held 13 September 1978) . . . 14 September 1978 . 20 October 2020 . 30 .