Athenia Stakes

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 $175,000.

Athenia Stakes
Listed race
LocationBelmont Park
Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated1978 (as Athenia Handicap)
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
WebsiteNYRA
Race information
Distance1+1⁄8 miles
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFillies & Mares, three-year-olds and older
WeightBase weights with allowances:
4-year-olds and up: 126 lbs.
3-year-olds: 122 lbs.
PurseUS175,000 (2022)

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 1+1⁄2 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 1+1⁄4 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 2:031⁄5.[2] The event continued to be restricted to three-year-old fillies until 1983.

In 1980 the event was classified as Grade III.[3] In 2005 the event was moved to the main track due to the inclement weather and consequently was downgraded.[3]

The race has been held at Aqueduct Racetrack several times with the last such running in 2004.[4]

The event was raced in split divisions in 1982 and 2001.[5]

The event has been contested at various distances over its history with the current distance of 1+1⁄8 miles being reinstated in 2021.[3]

The event in 2022 was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.[6]

In 2023 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status[7]

Records

Speed record:

  • 1+1⁄16 miles: 1:39.94 – Pianist (2013)
  • 1+1⁄8 miles: 1:47.11 – Rapid Selection (1997)
  • 1+1⁄4 miles: 2:00.40 – Love Sign (1980), De La Rosa (1981)
  • 1+3⁄8 miles: 2:13.20 – Capades (1989)

Margins:

  • 20 lengths – Rose Crescent (1983)

Most wins:

  • 2 – Babae (2001, 2002)

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

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

Legend:
  Dirt   Turf

:See also

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