Adoration Stakes Explained

Class:Discontinued
Horse Race:Adoration Stakes
Location:Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California
Inaugurated:1952 (as Milady Handicap)
Race Type:Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Distance: miles (8.5 furlongs)
Surface:Dirt
Track:Left-handed
Qualification:Fillies & mares, three-years-old & up
Weight:Allowance
Purse:$100,000 (since 2014)[1]

The Adoration Stakes is a discontinued American Thoroughbred horse race that was run annually during May at Santa Anita Park. The event was open to fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt. The purse was $100,000. The event lost its Grade III classification and the last running of the event was in 2018.

History

The race was founded in 1952 as the Milady Handicap at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. Usually run on the dirt, the Milady was run on an all-weather artificial dirt surface from 2007 to 2013. The race was renamed as the Marjorie L. Everett Handicap in 2012 to honor Marjorie L. Evereett, former chairman, president and CEO of Hollywood Park who died on March 23, 2012. When Hollywood Park was closed at the end of 2013, the race was moved to Santa Anita and renamed as the Adoration Stakes. The race was also changed from a handicap to allowance conditions, in which horses receive a specified reduction in weight if they satisfy certain conditions.

It was a Grade I race from 1987 through 2004, during which years it was won by several Hall of Fame inductees including Bayakoa, Paseana and Azeri. Zenyatta won the race in both 2008 and 2009 as part of her 19 race win streak. The Milady was a Grade II event from 1974 (when grading was introduced) to 1986 and from 2005 to 2013. In 2014, it was stepped down to a Grade III event.

The race has been run at a variety of distances:[2]

Records

Speed Record:

Most wins:

Winners since 1989

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
2017Vale Dori4Rafael BejaranoBob BaffertMohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum1:42.35
2016Beholder6Gary StevensRichard MandellaSpendthrift Farm1:42.73
2015Beholder5Gary StevensRichard MandellaSpendthrift Farm1:41.67
2014Let Faith Arise4Corey NakataniJerry HollendorferTommy Town Thoroughbreds1:43.41
2013Open Water4Joe TalamoEric GuillotSouthern Equine, Smith & Whispering Oaks1:44.01
2012Include Me Out4Joe TalamoRonald W. EllisJay Em Ess Stable1:44.15
2011Ultra Blend5David FloresArt ShermanNels Erickson1:43.07
2010Made for Magic5Omar BerrioA. C. AvilaL-Bo Racing/Michael Lamb1:43.48
2009Zenyatta5Mike E. SmithJohn ShirreffsJerry and Ann Moss1:42.30
2008Zenyatta4Mike E. SmithJohn ShirreffsJerry & Ann Moss1:41.17
2007Nashoba's Key4Joseph TalamoCarla GainesWarren B. Williamson1:42.16
2006Proposed4Pat ValenzuelaJohn ShirreffsPam & Martin Wygod1:42.92
2005Andujar4Corey NakataniDoug O'NeillJ. Paul Reddam et al.1:41.59
2004Star Parade5Victor EspinozaDarrell ViennaGary A. Tanaka1:41.83
2003Azeri5Mike E. SmithLaura de SerouxAllen E. Paulson Trust1:41.87
2002Azeri4Mike E. SmithLaura de SerouxAllen E. Paulson Trust1:42.02
2001Lazy Slusan6Victor EspinozaJohn K. DolanDolan & Longo1:42.25
2000Riboletta5Chris McCarronEduardo IndaAaron & Marie Jones1:42.01
1999Gourmet Girl4Ed DelahoussayePico PerdomoGary A. Tanaka1:40.97
1998I Ain't Bluffing4Chris McCarronRonald W. EllisJan, Mace & Samantha Siegel1:42.16
1997Listening4Alex SolisRon McAnallyJanis R. Whitham1:41.37
1996Twice The Vice5Chris McCarronRonald W. EllisPam & Martin Wygod1:40.96
1995Pirates Revenge4Chris AntleyRonald W. EllisPam & Martin Wygod1:41.57
1994Andestine4Chris McCarronDavid HofmansRaymond Rosen 1:41.40
1993Paseana6Chris McCarronRon McAnallyJenny & Sidney Craig1:41.60
1992Paseana5Chris McCarronRon McAnallyJenny & Sidney Craig1:41.46
1991Brought To Mind4Pat ValenzuelaRon McAnallyTadahiro Hotehama1:41.70
1990Bayakoa6Laffit Pincay, Jr.Ron McAnallyJanis & Frank Whitham1:41.20
1989Bayakoa5Laffit Pincay, Jr.Ron McAnallyJanis & Frank Whitham1:42.00

Earlier winners

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Adoration Stakes Profile. www.equibase.com. 11 February 2017.
  2. Web site: 2016 Santa Anita Media Guide. santaanita.com. 11 February 2017. 14–15.