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 US150,000.

Athenia Stakes

Listed race
Location	Belmont Park Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated	1978 (as Athenia Handicap)
Race type	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Website	NYRA
Race information
Distance	1+1⁄8 miles
Surface	Turf
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)

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:

• 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
2023	Technical Analysis (IRE)	5	Jose L. Ortiz	Chad C. Brown	Klaravich Stables	1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.20	$150,000	Listed	[8]
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	[9]
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	[10]
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	[11]
2019	Xenobia (IRE)	5	John R. Velazquez	Jonathan Thomas	Augustin Stable	1+1⁄16 miles	1:41.21	$200,000	III	[12]
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	[13]
2017	Off Limits (IRE)	5	Joel Rosario	Chad C. Brown	Martin S. Schwartz	1+1⁄16 miles	1:41.73	$200,000	III	[14]
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	[15]
2015	Stellar Path (FR)	4	Joel Rosario	Christophe Clement	Trevor C. Stewart	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.41	$200,000	III	[16]
2014	La Tia	5	Joel Rosario	Armando De La Cerda	Salvador Hernandez	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.36	$200,000	III	[17]
2013	Pianist	4	Jose L. Ortiz	Chad C. Brown	Hidden Brook Farm & Dan Zucker	1+1⁄16 miles	1:39.94	$200,000	III	[18]
2012	La Cloche	5	Junior Alvarado	James J. Toner	Phillips Racing Partnership	1+1⁄16 miles	1:45.15	$150,000	III	[19]
2011	Denomination	5	Joe Bravo	Christophe Clement	Ghislaine Head	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.17	$100,000	III	[20]
2010	Eye of Taurus	4	Eddie Castro	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	Harvey A. Clarke	1+1⁄16 miles	1:47.04	$100,000	III	[21]
2009	Belle Allure (IRE)	4	Ramon A. Dominguez	Christophe Clement	Ronchalon Stable	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.30	$106,500	III	[22]
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	[23]
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	[24]
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	[25]
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[26]
At Aqueduct
2004	Finery	4	Pablo Fragoso	William H. Turner Jr.	Althea D. Richards	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.73	$115,700	III	[27]
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	[28]
2002	Babae (CHI)	6	Jorge F. Chavez	Frank A. Alexander	Joseph Platt Jr.	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.90	$116,700	III	[29]
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[30]
	Babae (CHI)	5	Jorge F. Chavez	Frank A. Alexander	Joseph Platt Jr.		1:42.09	$137,875		Division 2[31]
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	[32]
1999	Antoniette	4	Jorge F. Chavez	Joseph P. Schlich	Calumet Farm	1+1⁄16 miles	1:41.89	$111,400	III	[33]
1998	Tampico	5	Joe Bravo	Barclay Tagg	Ronald G. Cullis	1+1⁄16 miles	1:42.90	$85,350	III	[34]
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	[35]
1996	Sixieme Sens	4	Jerry D. Bailey	Robert J. Frankel	Three Plus U Stable	1 mile	1:37.80	$111,100	III	[36]
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[37]
1994	Lady Affirmed	3	Jorge F. Chavez	H. Allen Jerkens	Harbor View Farm	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.66	$87,076	III	[38]
At Belmont Park
1993	Trampoli	4	Mike E. Smith	Christophe Clement	Paul de Moussac	1+3⁄8 miles	2:17.16	$90,000	III	[39]
1992	Fairy Garden	4	Julie Krone	Roger L. Attfield	Michael J. Ryan	1+3⁄8 miles	2:13.62	$86,700	III	[40]
1991	Flaming Torch (IRE)	4	Pat Valenzuela	Robert J. Frankel	Juddmonte Farms	1+3⁄8 miles	2:13.99	$93,000	III	[41]
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[42]
1989	Capades	3	Angel Cordero Jr.	Richard O'Connell	Poma Stable	1+3⁄8 miles	2:13.20	$90,800	III	[43]
1988	High Browser	3	Pat Day	MacKenzie Miller	Rokeby Stables	1+3⁄8 miles	2:18.60	$96,300	III	[44]
1987	Lead Kindly Light	4	Julio Molina Pezua	Angel A. Penna Jr.	Cynthia Phipps	1+3⁄8 miles	2:23.80	$94,800	III	[45]
1986	Dawn's Curtsey	4	Eddie Maple	John M. Veitch	Darby Dan Farm	1+3⁄8 miles	2:16.00	$92,400	III	[46]
1985	Videogenic	3	Jean Cruguet	Gasper S. Moschera	Albert Davis	1+3⁄8 miles	2:15.40	$101,700	III	[47]
1984	Key Dancer	3	Angel Cordero Jr.	William J. Hirsch Jr.	Oxford Stable	1+3⁄8 miles	2:14.80	$94,500	III	[48]
1983	Rose Crescent	3	Robbie Davis	MacKenzie Miller	Rokeby Stables	1+3⁄8 miles	2:22.00	$57,300	III	[49]
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[50]
	Middle Stage	3	Jimmy J. Miranda	John P. Campo	Buckland Farm		2:17.40	$54,650		Division 2[51]
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	[52]
1980	Love Sign	3	Ruben Hernandez	Sidney J. Watters Jr.	Stephen C. Clark Jr.	1+1⁄4 miles	2:00.40	$84,150	III	[53]
1979	Poppycock	3	Jorge Velasquez	Woodford C. Stephens	Claiborne Farm	1+1⁄4 miles	2:03.60	$87,450		Off turf[54]
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

• List of American and Canadian Graded races

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. "2023 Athenia Stakes Listed - (race 7)". Equibase. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
9. "2022 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 3)". Equibase. 25 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
10. "2021 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 25 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
11. "2020 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 25 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
12. "2019 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 20 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
13. "2018 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 21 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
14. "2017 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 28 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
15. "2016 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 23 October 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
16. "2015 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
17. "2014 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 12 October 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
18. "2013 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 12 October 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
19. "2012 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 13 October 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
20. "2011 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
21. "2010 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 16 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
22. "2009 Athenia Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 21 October 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
23. "2008 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 11 October 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
24. "2007 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 13 October 2007. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
25. "2006 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 15 October 2006. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
26. "2005 Athenia Handicap Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 15 October 2005. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
27. "2004 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 31 October 2004. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
28. "2003 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 8 November 2003. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
29. "2002 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 9 November 2002. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
30. "2001 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 Division 1 - (race 5)". Equibase. 26 October 2001. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
31. "2001 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 Division 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 26 October 2001. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
32. "2000 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 29 October 2000. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
33. "1999 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 31 October 1999. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
34. "1998 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 1 November 1998. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
35. "1997 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 13 October 1997. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
36. "1996 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 14 October 1996. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
37. "1995 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 12 November 1995. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
38. "1994 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 18 October 1994. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
39. "1993 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 3 October 1993. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
40. "1992 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 4 October 1992. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
41. "1991 Athenia Handicap Grade 3 - (race 6)". Equibase. 5 October 1991. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
42. "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.
43. "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.
44. "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.
45. "Thoroughbred Racing (1987 Athenia Handicap – race 8: held 12 October 1987)". The Courier-Journal. 13 October 1987. p. 39. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
46. "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.
47. "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.
48. "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.
49. "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.
50. "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.
51. "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.
52. 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.
53. "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.
54. "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.