| Class: | Grade III |
| Horse Race: | Matron Stakes |
| Location: | Belmont Park Elmont, New York, United States |
| Inaugurated: | 1892 |
| Race Type: | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Distance: | 6 furlongs |
| Surface: | Turf |
| Track: | left-handed |
| Qualification: | Two-year-old fillies |
| Weight: | Assigned |
| Purse: | $150,000 |
The Matron Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the fall season at Belmont Park, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) track in Elmont, Long Island, New York. It is open to two-year-old fillies and is the filly counterpart to the Belmont Futurity Stakes.[1]
The Matron Stakes was run over a straight course before 1959, with the exception of 1941. Always a race for two-year-old horses, it has been run under different conditions four times:
The inaugural race took place at Morris Park Racecourse in The Bronx, New York where it remained until 1905 when it was moved to the new Belmont Park. Through special arrangements, in 1910 it was hosted by Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The NYRA's Aqueduct Racetrack hosted the event in 1960 and again from 1962 to 1968.
There was no race held from 1895 to 1898 and as a result of the passage of New York state's Hart–Agnew Law that banned parimutuel wagering, from 1911 to 1913. The race was placed on hiatus from 1915 to 1922. When it was revived in 1923 as part of the Belmont Park schedule, the Matron was won by the Greentree Stable filly Tree Top who beat twelve other competitors. Runnerup Nellie Morse went on to win the 1924 Preakness Stakes and earn American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly honors. The third-place finisher, Princess Doreen, would have a career that saw her win three National Championships and induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.[2]
In 2001 the race was cancelled in observance of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City.
Speed record: (At distance of 7 furlongs)
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by an owner:
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Win$ | Gr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Jody's Pride | Flavien Prat | Jorge R. Abreu | Parkland Thoroughbreds & Sportsmen Stable | 6 F | 1:10.77 | $150,000 | G3 |
| 2022 | American Apple | Eric Cancel | Daniel Leitch | KatieRich Stables | 6 F | 1:09.59 | $150,000 | G3 |
| 2021 | Bubble Rock | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Brad Cox | Shortleaf Stable | 6 F | 1:08.01 | $82,500 | G3 |
| 2019 | Alms | Jose Lezcano | Michael Stidham | Godolphin, LLC | 6 F | 1:09.30 | $82,500 | G3 |
| 2018 | Lonely Road | Christophe Clement | Robert S. Evans | 6 F | 1:10.88 | $82,500 | G3 | |
| 2017 | Happy Like A Fool | Tyler Gaffalione | Wesley A. Ward | Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Merriebelle Stable | 6 F | 1:10.98 | $90,000 | G3 |
| 2016 | Arella Rockstar | Luis Saez | Rudy R. Rodriguez | e Five Racing Thoroughbreds & Magic Cap Stables | 6 F | 1:11.68 | $120,000 | G3 |
| 2015 | Pretty N Cool | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, Paul Weitman | 6 F | 1:09.73 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 2014 | Paulassilverlining | José L. Ortiz | Michelle Nevin | Vincent S. Scuderi | 6 F | 1:10.86 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 2013 | Miss Behaviour | Garry Cruise | Phil Schoenthal | Cal MacWilliam & Neil Teitelbaum | 6 F | 1:10.57 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 2012 | Kauai Katie | Rosie Napravnik | Todd Pletcher | Stonestreet Stables | 6 F | 1:11.26 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 2011 | Millionreasonswhy | John Velazquez | Ignacio Correas IV | Sagamore Farm | 6 F | 1:12.68 | $90,000 | G2 |
| 2010 | no race | |||||||
| 2009 | Awesome Maria | Cornelio Velásquez | Stanley M. Hough | E. Paul Robsham | 7 F | 1:23.07 | $150,000 | G2 |
| 2008 | Doremifasollatido | Eibar Coa | James A. Jerkens | Susan B. Moore & M and M Thoroughbreds | 7 F | 1:24.74 | $150,000 | G2 |
| 2007 | Proud Spell | Gabriel Saez | J. Larry Jones | Brereton C. Jones | 7 F | 1:24.20 | $150,000 | G2 |
| 2006 | Meadow Breeze | Kent Desormeaux | Carl Deville | Willow Rock Stable | 7 F | 1:24.82 | $150,000 | G1 |
| 2005 | Folklore | Edgar Prado | D. Wayne Lukas | Robert B. Lewis | 7 F | 1:23.70 | $180,000 | G1 |
| 2004 | Sense of Style | Edgar Prado | Patrick Biancone | Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith | 1 m | 1:37.67 | $120,000 | G1 |
| 2003 | Marylebone | Edgar Prado | Todd Pletcher | Michael Tabor | 1 m | 1:38.02 | $120,000 | G1 |
| 2002 | Storm Flag Flying | John Velazquez | Ogden Mills Phipps | 1 m | 1:38.52 | $120,000 | G1 | |
| 2001 | Race not held due to the September 11 attacks | |||||||
| 2000 | Raging Fever | Jerry Bailey | Mark A. Hennig | Edward P. Evans | 1 m | 1:38.20 | $120,000 | G1 |
| 1999 | Finder's Fee | Heberto Castillo Jr. | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 1 m | 1:36.68 | $90,000 | G1 |
| 1998 | Oh What a Windfall | Shane Sellers | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 1 m | 1:39.29 | $90,000 | G1 |
| 1997 | Beautiful Pleasure | Jerry Bailey | John T. Ward Jr. | John C. Oxley | 1 m | 1:35.71 | $90,000 | G1 |
| 1996 | Sharp Cat | Jerry Bailey | D. Wayne Lukas | Thoroughbred Corp. | 1 m | 1:36.00 | $90,000 | G1 |
| 1995 | Golden Attraction | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | William T. Young | 1 m | 1:36.20 | $90,000 | G1 |
| 1994 | Stormy Blues † | José A. Santos | Scotty Schulhofer | David & Harriet Finkelstein | 1 m | 1:35.00 | $64,740 | G1 |
| 1993 | Strategic Maneuver | José A. Santos | Scotty Schulhofer | Philip Teinowitz & Scotty Schulhofer | 7 F | 1:23.80 | $70,680 | G1 |
| 1992 | Sky Beauty | Eddie Maple | H. Allen Jerkens | Georgia E. Hofmann | 7 F | 1:23.20 | $72,480 | G1 |
| 1991 | Anh Duong | Ángel Cordero Jr. | LeRoy Jolley | Peter M. Brant | 7 F | 1:23.40 | $88,800 | G1 |
| 1990 | Meadow Star | José A. Santos | LeRoy Jolley | Carl Icahn | 7 F | 1:22.80 | $93,240 | G1 |
| 1989 | Stella Madrid | Ángel Cordero Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | Peter M. Brant | 7 F | 1:24.40 | $72,720 | G1 |
| 1988 | Some Romance | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 7 F | 1:24.80 | $68,580 | G1 |
| 1987 | Over All | Ángel Cordero Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 7 F | 1:24.80 | $82,140 | G1 |
| 1986 | Tappiano | Jean Cruguet | Scotty Schulhofer | Frances A. Genter | 7 F | 1:23.40 | $72,000 | G1 |
| 1985 | Musical Lark | Don MacBeth | Sidney Watters Jr. | Diana M. Firestone | 7 F | 1:24.00 | $66,240 | G1 |
| 1984 | Fiesta Lady | Laffit Pincay Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 7 F | 1:24.80 | $57,060 | G1 |
| 1983 | Lucky Lucky Lucky | Ángel Cordero Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | Leslie Combs II | 7 F | 1:23.60 | $76,590 | G1 |
| 1982 | Wings of Jove | Herb McCauley | Charles Sanborn | Helmore Farm | 7 F | 1:24.00 | $72,600 | G1 |
| 1981 | Before Dawn | Jorge Velásquez | John M. Veitch | Calumet Farm | 7 F | 1:23.20 | $81,210 | G1 |
| 1980 | Prayers'n Promises | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Lou Rondinello | Daniel M. Galbreath | 7 F | 1:24.60 | $70,725 | G1 |
| 1979 | Smart Angle | Sam Maple | Woody Stephens | Ryehill Farm (Jim & Eleanor Ryan) | 7 F | 1:23.80 | $69,075 | G1 |
| 1978 | Fall Aspen | Roger I. Velez | James E. Picou | Joseph M. Roebling | 7 F | 1:23.80 | $58,980 | G1 |
| 1977 | Lakeville Miss | Ruben Hernandez | Jose A. Martin | Randolph Weinsier | 7 F | 1:22.80 | $49,335 | G1 |
| 1976 | Mrs. Warren | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Taylor Hardin | 7 F | 1:24.60 | $51,162 | G1 |
| 1975 | Optimistic Gal | Braulio Baeza | LeRoy Jolley | Diana M. Firestone | 7 F | 1:23.00 | $51,132 | G1 |
| 1974 | Alpine Lass | Ángel Cordero Jr. | John W. Russell | Ogden Mills Phipps | 7 F | 1:23.00 | $52,674 | G1 |
| 1973 | Talking Picture | Ron Turcotte | John P. Campo | Elmendorf Farm | 7 F | 1:23.20 | $64,050 | G1 |
| 1972 | La Prevoyante | Jean LeBlanc | Yonnie Starr | Jean-Louis Levesque | 7 F | 1:23.60 | $59,874 | |
| 1971 | Numbered Account | Braulio Baeza | Roger Laurin | Ogden Phipps | 6 F | 1:10.40 | $60,306 | |
| 1970 | Bonnie And Gay | Robert Woodhouse | James E. Picou | Adelaide (née Jones) Burgwin | 6 F | 1:11.00 | $68,009 | |
| 1969 | Cold Comfort | Jorge Velásquez | Willard Freeman | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 6 F | 1:11.60 | $68,484 | |
| 1968 | Gallant Bloom | Eddie Belmonte | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 6 F | 1:10.40 | $62,634 | |
| 1967 | Queen of the Stage | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Ogden Phipps | 6 F | 1:10.00 | $64,733 | |
| 1966 | Swiss Cheese | John L. Rotz | Ivor G. Balding | C. V. Whitney | 6 F | 1:12.80 | $68,659 | |
| 1965 | Moccasin | Larry Adams | Harry Trotsek | Claiborne Farm | 6 F | 1:11.60 | $67,717 | |
| 1964 | Candalita | Bobby Ussery | Loyd Gentry Jr. | Darby Dan Farm | 6 F | 1:13.00 | $63,681 | |
| 1963 | Hasty Matelda | Jimmy Combest | Casey Hayes | Meadow Stable | 6 F | 1:12.00 | $63,596 | |
| 1962 | Smart Deb | Bobby Ussery | Arnold N. Winick | Marion Reineman | 6 F | 1:09.80 | $63,869 | |
| 1961 | Cicada | Bill Shoemaker | Casey Hayes | Meadow Stable | 6 F | 1:10.60 | $61,028 | |
| 1960 | Rose Bower | John L. Rotz | MacKenzie Miller | Charlton Clay | 6 F | 1:10.60 | $58,634 | |
| 1959 | Heavenly Body | Manuel Ycaza | Woody Stephens | Cain Hoy Stable | 6 F | 1:10.20 | $58,224 | |
| 1958 | Quill | Paul J. Bailey | Lucien Laurin | Reginald N. Webster | 6 F | 1:10.00 | $42,610 | |
| 1957 | Idun | Bill Hartack | Sherrill W. Ward | Josephine Bay | 6 F | 1:09.60 | $42,900 | |
| 1956 | Romanita | Eric Guerin | Frank Sanders | Reverie Knoll Farm (Freeman Keyes) | 6 F | 1:08.60 | $43,020 | |
| 1955 | Doubledogdare | Eddie Arcaro | Moody Jolley | Claiborne Farm | 6 F | 1:09.80 | $48,620 | |
| 1954 | High Voltage | Eddie Arcaro | Jim Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 6 F | 1:10.00 | $49,330 | |
| 1953 | Evening Out | Ovie Scurlock | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. | 6 F | 1:10.40 | $41,345 | |
| 1952 | Is Proud | Conn McCreary | William J. Hirsch | Brookfield Farm | 6 F | 1:09.00 | $40,960 | |
| 1951 | Rose Jet | Hedley Woodhouse | Willie Booth | Maine Chance Farm | 6 F | 1:11.20 | $44,830 | |
| 1950 | Atlanta | Hedley Woodhouse | Preston M. Burch | Brookmeade Stable | 6 F | 1:12.00 | $38,690 | |
| 1949 | Bed o'Roses | Eric Guerin | Bill Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 6 F | 1:12.00 | $40,210 | |
| 1948 | Myrtle Charm | Ted Atkinson | James W. Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 6 F | 1:10.60 | $37,805 | |
| 1947 | Inheritance †† | Job Dean Jessop | Preston M. Burch | Brookmeade Stable | 6 F | 1:10.20 | $35,060 | |
| 1946 | First Flight | Eddie Arcaro | Sylvester Veitch | C. V. Whitney | 6 F | 1:08.60 | $35,535 | |
| 1945 | Beaugay | Arnold Kirkland | Tom Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 6 F | 1:09.40 | $23,500 | |
| 1944 | Busher | Eddie Arcaro | James W. Smith | Edward R. Bradley | 6 F | 1:09.40 | $23,500 | |
| 1943 | Boojiana | Ted Atkinson | Sylvester Veitch | C. V. Whitney | 6 F | 1:09.80 | $7,900 | |
| 1942 | Good Morning | Herb Lindberg | Sammy Smith | Falaise Stable | 6 F | 1:09.20 | $9,525 | |
| 1941 | Petrify | Ruperto Donoso | Alfred Holberg | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 6 F | 1:11.60 | $17,710 | |
| 1940 | Misty Isle | Wayne D. Wright | Daniel E. Stewart | Joseph E. Widener | 6 F | 1:10.40 | $15,710 | |
| 1939 | Miss Ferdinand | Jack Westrope | John A. Healey | Christiana Stables | 6 F | 1:12.00 | $14,825 | |
| 1938 | Dinner Date | Alfred Robertson | Robert McGarvey | Milky Way Farm Stable | 6 F | 1:13.40 | $16,700 | |
| 1937 | Merry Lassie | Johnny Longden | Jim Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 6 F | 1:11.00 | $10,900 | |
| 1936 | Wand | Harry Richards | Preston M. Burch | Sarah F. Jeffords | 6 F | 1:11.00 | $12,075 | |
| 1935 | Beanie M. | Don Meade | Herbert J. Thompson | Edward R. Bradley | 6 F | 1:11.80 | $11,900 | |
| 1934 | Nellie Flag | Eddie Arcaro | Burton B. Williams | Calumet Farm | 6 F | 1:10.80 | $20,550 | |
| 1933 | High Glee | John Gilbert | Thomas J. Healey | C. V. Whitney | 6 F | 1:13.60 | $18,800 | |
| 1932 | Barn Swallow | Eugene James | Herbert J. Thompson | Edward R. Bradley | 6 F | 1:11.00 | $20,575 | |
| 1931 | Top Flight | Raymond Workman | Thomas J. Healey | C. V. Whitney | 6 F | 1:11.60 | $23,750 | |
| 1930 | Baba Kenny | Joseph Smith | Herbert J. Thompson | Edward R. Bradley | 6 F | 1:12.00 | $24,650 | |
| 1929 | Dustemall | Linus McAtee | James G. Rowe Jr. | H. P. Whitney | 6 F | 1:11.00 | $25,250 | |
| 1928 | Dreadnaught | Steve O'Donnell | H. Guy Bedwell | Samuel Ross | 6 F | 1:12.00 | $21,725 | |
| 1927 | Glade | George Ellis | James G. Rowe Sr. | Greentree Stable | 6 F | 1:12.60 | $21,025 | |
| 1926 | Pantella | Linus McAtee | Fred Hopkins | H. P. Whitney | 6 F | 1:13.40 | $18,275 | |
| 1925 | Taps | Albert Johnson | Gwyn R. Tompkins | Glen Riddle Farm | 6 F | 1:13.40 | $15,075 | |
| 1924 | Blue Warbler | David Hurn | Herbert J. Thompson | Idle Hour Stock Farm | 6 F | 1:13.80 | $10,625 | |
| 1923 | Tree Top | Frank Coltiletti | Scott P. Harlan | Greentree Stable | 6 F | 1:11.60 | $4,150 | |
| 1915 | – 1922 | Race not held | ||||||
| 1914 (C) | Pebbles | James Butwell | Richard C. Benson | James Butler | 6 F | 1:15.00 | $1,045 | |
| 1914 (F) | Charter Maid | John McTaggart | John E. Madden | John E. Madden | 6 F | 1:14.00 | $1,130 | |
| 1911 | – 1913 | Race not held | ||||||
| 1910 (C) | Naushon | Buddy Glass | Thomas J. Healey | Richard T. Wilson Jr. | 6 F | 1:12.80 | $9,485 | |
| 1910 (F) | Bashti | Clifford D. Gilbert | James G. Rowe Sr. | H. P. Whitney | 6 F | 1:13.00 | $8,655 | |
| 1909 (C) | Radium Star | Jack Creevy | Thomas J. Healey | Montpelier Stable | 6 F | 1:15.80 | $8,995 | |
| 1909 (F) | Greenvale | Clifford D. Gilbert | James G. Rowe Sr. | H. P. Whitney | 6 F | 1:15.00 | $8,535 | |
| 1908 (C) | Helmet | Joe Notter | James G. Rowe Sr. | James R. Keene | 6 F | 1:12.40 | $9,625 | |
| 1908 (F) | Maskette | Joe Notter | James G. Rowe Sr. | James R. Keene | 6 F | 1:20.80 | $5,895 | |
| 1907 (C) | Colin | Walter Miller | James G. Rowe Sr. | James R. Keene | 6 F | 1:12.00 | $9,340 | |
| 1907 (F) | Stamina | Willie Knapp | John W. Rogers | H. P. Whitney | 6 F | 1:11.80 | $8,940 | |
| 1906 (C) | Ballot | Herman Radtke | James G. Rowe Sr. | James R. Keene | 6 F | 1:12.00 | $10,250 | |
| 1906 (F) | Adoration | Walter Miller | Thomas J. Healey | Richard T. Wilson Jr. | 6 F | 1:11.80 | $9,030 | |
| 1905 (C) | Burgomaster | Lucien Lyne | John W. Rogers | H. P. Whitney | 6 F | 1:12.20 | $11,645 | |
| 1905 (F) | Perverse | Lucien Lyne | John W. Rogers | H. P. Whitney | 6 F | 1:11.20 | $10,485 | |
| 1904 (C) | Bedouin | Willie Shaw | John Huggins | Edward W. Jewett | 6 F | 1:09.00 | $12,725 | |
| 1904 (F) | Sandria | Gene Hildebrand | John W. Rogers | Herman B. Duryea | 6 F | 1:08.20 | $13,345 | |
| 1903 (C) | The Minute Man | Frank O'Neill | John E. Madden | John E. Madden | 6 F | 1:09.60 | $9,225 | |
| 1903 (F) | Armenia | Wallace Hicks | John W. Rogers | William C. Whitney | 6 F | 1:10.20 | $5,525 | |
| 1902 (C) | Grey Friar | Nash Turner | William P. Burch | Francis R. Hitchcock | 6 F | 1:11.20 | $12,180 | |
| 1902 (F) | Eugenia Burch | George Odom | Edward L. Graves | Libby Curtis | 6 F | 1:12.25 | $6,790 | |
| 1901 | Heno | George Odom | Charles E. Hill | Clarence Mackay | 6 F | 1:11.20 | $17,593 | |
| 1900 | Beau Gallant | John Bullman | Sam Hildreth | Sam Hildreth | 6 F | 1:10.20 | $16,697 | |
| 1899 | Indian Fairy | John Slack | Julius Bauer | Bromley & Co. (Joseph E. Bromley & Arthur Featherstone) | 6 F | 1:10.25 | $16,697 | |
| 1895 | – 1898 | Race not held | ||||||
| 1894 | Agitator | Fred Taral | William Lakeland | James R. & Foxhall P. Keene | 6 F | 1:11.00 | $31,320 | |
| 1893 | Domino | Fred Taral | William Lakeland | James R. & Foxhall P. Keene | 6 F | 1:09.00 | $24,560 | |
| 1892 | Sir Francis | Edward Garrison | Matthew M. Allen | Frank A. Ehret | 6 F | 1:10.00 | $36,770 | |