Eatontown Stakes
# Eatontown Stakes

The Eatontown Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, three years old and older over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles on the turf course scheduled annually in June at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey and currently offers a purse of $150,000 plus a trophy.

## History

The event is named after Eatontown, New Jersey, a Borough near the Monmouth Park track.

The inaugural running of the event was on 9 August 1971, on the closing day of the 1971 Monmouth Park summer meeting as the Eatontown Handicap and was won by the 35-1 longshot in the field, a six-year-old Chilean mare Flor De Sombra in a time of 1:464⁄5. Flor De Sombra was claimed earlier that year by Joseph W. Mergler at Gulfstream Park for $14,500.

The following year the event was run in split divisions. The event has been held in split divisions seven times with the last occurrence in 1987.

The event was taken of the turf in 1977 due to state of the track after inclement weather and held on the main dirt track. The event was held on the main track in 2006 and 2020.

For three runnings of the event, from 1988 and 1990 the race was run over the slightly longer distance of 1+1⁄8 miles.

In 1996 the event was upgraded by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Grade III status. The event has held with this status until 2020 when the event was automatically downgraded to Listed class due to the race been run off the turf.

Since 2013 the event has been held as the Eatontown Stakes with stakes allowance conditions.

## Records

Speed record:

* 1+1⁄16 miles – 1:39.26 Laughing (IRE) (2013)

Margins:

* 6+1⁄4 lengths – Jacuzzi Boogie (CAN) (1990)

Most wins:

* 2 – Telly (1972, 1973)

Most wins by a jockey:

* 3 – Vincent Bracciale Jr. – (1972 - both divisions, 1973)
* 3 – Nick Santagata – (1987, 1991, 1992)
* 3 – Joe Bravo – (1995, 2009, 2017)
* 3 – Paco Lopez – (2015, 2016, 2019)

Most wins by a trainer:

* 3 – Alan E. Goldberg (1986, 2008, 2013)
* 3 – Todd A. Pletcher (2004, 2016, 2020)
* 3 – Chad C. Brown (2017, 2018, 2023)

Most wins by an owner:

* 2 – Cambridge Stables (1972, 1973)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Eatontown Stakes |||||||||||
| 2023 | Consumer Spending | 4 | Samy Camacho | Chad C. Brown | Klaravich Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.00 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2022 | Stolen Holiday | 5 | Jose Lezcano | Claude R. McGaughey III | Annette Allen | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.30 | $152,500 | III | |
| 2021 | Vigilantes Way | 5 | Paco Lopez | Claude R. McGaughey III | Phipps Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.90 | $165,000 | III | |
| 2020 | Valiance | 4 | Nik Juarez | Todd A. Pletcher | Eclipse Thoroughbreds, Martin S. Schwartz & China Horse Club | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.25 | $153,500 | Listed | Off turf |
| 2019 | Valedictorian | 5 | Paco Lopez | Kelly J. Breen | Epic Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.70 | $165,000 | III | |
| 2018 | Dream Awhile | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Joseph Allen | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.59 | $98,000 | III | |
| 2017 | Grand Jete (GB) | 4 | Joe Bravo | Chad C. Brown | Juddmonte Farms | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.30 | $111,000 | III | |
| 2016 | Isabella Sings | 4 | Paco Lopez | Todd A. Pletcher | Siena Farms | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.57 | $103,000 | III | |
| 2015 | I'm Already Sexy | 5 | Paco Lopez | Wayne M. Catalano | Hit The Board Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.29 | $107,000 | III | |
| 2014 | Medea (IRE) | 5 | Forest Boyce | Francis Abbott III | Cornerstone Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.89 | $103,000 | III | |
| 2013 | Laughing (IRE) | 5 | Angel Serpa | Alan E. Goldberg | Richard Santulli | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:39.26 | $99,000 | III | |
| Eatontown Handicap |||||||||||
| 2012 | Silver Screamer | 4 | Jose L. Espinoza | Rudy R. Rodriguez | Michael Imperio & Bill Elias Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.41 | $105,000 | III | |
| 2010 | Gypsy's Warning (SAF) | 5 | Jose Valdivia Jr. | H. Graham Motion | Team Valor International & Green Lantern Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.79 | $147,000 | III | |
| 2009 | All Is Vanity (FR) | 5 | Joe Bravo | Christophe Clement | Jedburgh Stud | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.67 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2008 | Social Queen | 5 | Jose Lezcano | Alan E. Goldberg | Jayeff B Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.40 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2007 | Karen's Caper | 5 | Brice Blanc | Robert J. Frankel | Stonerside Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:39.48 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2006 | Brunilda (ARG) | 6 | Eddie Castro | Stanley M. Hough | Cobra Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.00 | $150,000 | III | Off turf |
| 2005 | Smart N Classy | 5 | Jose A. Velez Jr. | John J. Tammaro III | Roseland Farm Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.22 | $165,000 | III | |
| 2004 | Ocean Drive | 4 | Eibar Coa | Todd A. Pletcher | Bonnie & Sy Baskin | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.79 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2003 | Stylish | 5 | Heberto Castillo Jr. | William I. Mott | The Thoroughbred Corporation | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.69 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2002 | Clearly a Queen | 5 | Eibar Coa | Teresa M. Pompay | John A. Franks | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.02 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2001 | Cousin Gigi | 4 | Rick Wilson | Timothy A. Hills | Harry Minassian Sr. | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.50 | $100,000 | III | |
| Eatontown Stakes |||||||||||
| 2000 | Reciclada (CHI) | 5 | Alex O. Solis | Richard E. Mandella | Diamond A Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.34 | $100,000 | III | |
| 1999 | Formal Tango | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Albert Stall Jr. | David Hulkewicz & Michael Rainier | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.62 | $100,000 | III | |
| 1998 | Gastronomical | 5 | Gary L. Stevens | James J. Toner | Prestonwood Farm & G. Arthur Seelbinder | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.39 | $69,000 | III | |
| 1997 | B. A. Valentine | 4 | Chris McCarron | Dale L. Romans | Alberta Butner | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.32 | $69,100 | III | |
| Eatontown Handicap |||||||||||
| 1996 | Gail's Brush | 5 | Gary Boulanger | Edwin T. Broome | Edwin T. Broome | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.40 | $75,000 | III | |
| Eatontown Stakes |||||||||||
| 1995 | Symphony Lady | 5 | Joe Bravo | Flint S. Schulhofer | Julian Cohen | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.64 | $50,000 | Listed | |
| 1994 | Verbal Volley | 5 | Robert E. Colton | John H. Forbes | Bethlehem Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.71 | $40,000 | Listed | |
| 1993 | Topsa | 6 | Luis Romero Rivera Jr. | Thomas Victor Smith | Robert E. Masterson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.39 | $35,000 | Listed | |
| 1992 | Red Journey | 4 | Nick Santagata | Mark E. Casse | Harry T. Mangurian Jr. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.06 | $35,000 | Listed | |
| 1991 | Jacuzzi Boogie (CAN) | 4 | Nick Santagata | Edward T. Allard | Estate of John H. Costello | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.67 | $35,000 | | |
| Eatontown Handicap |||||||||||
| 1990 | Miss Unnameable | 6 | Larry Saumell | D. Wayne Lukas | Leonard D. Mathis | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.00 | $56,850 | | |
| 1989 | Highland Penny | 4 | Dennis Carr | Susan H. Duncan | Raven Brook Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.00 | $57,950 | | |
| 1988 | Hear Music (CAN) | 5 | Marco Castaneda | John Charalambous | John Charalambous | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.80 | $57,400 | | |
| 1987 | Bailrullah | 5 | Nick Santagata | William W. Wright | Laura Leigh Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.00 | $46,850 | | Division 1 |
| 1987 | Cadabra Abra | 4 | Herb McCauley | Daniel Perlsweig | Jerry R. Pinkley | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.80 | $47,650 | | Division 2 |
| 1986 | Mazatleca (MEX) | 6 | Craig Perret | Alan E. Goldberg | Betty G. Marcus | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.20 | $46,600 | | Division 1 |
| 1986 | Bharal | 5 | Jorge Velasquez | Thomas M. Bush | P. J. Andrews | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.80 | $47,000 | | Division 2 |
| 1985 | Agacerie | 4 | Angel Cordero Jr. | Jan H. Nerud | Tartan Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.20 | $58,050 | | |
| 1984 | Jubilous | 4 | Gregg McCarron | Woodford C. Stephens | Hickory Tree Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.40 | $61,000 | | |
| 1983 | Doodle | 4 | Jimmy J. Miranda | Edward I. Kelly Jr. | William H. Perry | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.00 | $47,350 | | |
| 1982 | Kuja Happa | 4 | Danny Wright | D. Michael Smithwick Sr. | Templeton Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.80 | $45,775 | | |
| 1981 | Wayward Lassie | 4 | Daryl Montoya | Patrick J. Kelly | Live Oak Plantation | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.60 | $25,262 | | Division 1 |
| 1981 | Endicotta | 5 | Don Brumfield | Stanley M. Rieser | Endicott P. Davidson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.80 | $27,862 | | Division 2 |
| 1980 | Nasty Jay | 5 | Robert E. McKnight | Harold B. Brice Jr. | Kenneth J. Edwards | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.00 | $33,812 | | Division 1 |
| 1980 | Riddle's Reply | 4 | Ernest Cardone | Guy J. Lyon | Christopher Meccia & Hebert Prince | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.20 | $33,463 | | Division 2 |
| 1979 | The Very One | 4 | Charles Cooke | Monti W. Sims | Helen Polinger | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.20 | $38,825 | | |
| 1978 | Huggle Duggle | 4 | Bernie Gonzalez | Albert S. Barrera | Leslie Combs II | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.60 | $34,025 | | |
| 1977 | Jolly Song | 5 | John Nied Jr. | William T. Raymond | Middletown Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.20 | $28,600 | | Off turf |
| 1976 | † Collegiate | 4 | James W. Edwards | Anthony J. Bardaro | Bright View Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.60 | $23,000 | | Division 1 |
| 1976 | Stage Luck | 4 | James W. Edwards | John R. S. Fisher | Theodosia M. Nolan | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.80 | $22,750 | | Division 2 |
| 1975 | Hinterland | 5 | Craig Perret | Howard M. Tesher | Exeter Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.60 | $27,900 | | |
| 1974 | Bird Boots | 5 | Buck Thornburg | Edgar L. Vansant | Jack R. Hogan | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.80 | $29,550 | | |
| 1973 | ‡ Telly | 5 | Vincent Bracciale Jr. | William O. Hicks | Cambridge Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.60 | $22,712 | | Division 1 |
| 1973 | Cathy Baby | 4 | Miguel A. Rivera | William R. Corbellini | Mereworth Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.60 | $22,512 | | Division 2 |
| 1972 | Telly | 4 | Vincent Bracciale Jr. | William O. Hicks | Cambridge Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.40 | $22,238 | | Division 1 |
| 1972 | Best Go | 4 | Vincent Bracciale Jr. | C. Whaler | R. Smiser West | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.40 | $22,487 | | Division 2 |
| 1971 | Flor De Sombra (CHI) | 6 | Herberto Hinojosa | Joseph W. Mergler | Briardale Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.80 | $28,875 | | |

Legend:

 Dirt  Turf

Notes:

‡ In the running of the first division of the event in 1973, Lightning Lucy was first past the post winning by a head margin but was disqualified for interference in the straight after a protest was lodged against her and Telly was declared the winner.

† In the running of the first division of the event in 1976, Copano was first past the post but was disqualified for interference in the straight and Collegiate was declared the winner.

