The Morven Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run between 1978 and 2001 at Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey. A race on turf for two-year-old horses or either sex, it was last run over a distance of five furlongs (5/8 mile).

Morven Stakes
Discontinued stakes race
LocationMeadowlands Racetrack,
East Rutherford, New Jersey
United States
Inaugurated1978
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
Race information
Distance5/8 mile (5 furlongs)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationTwo-year-olds
Purse$50,000

Historical notes

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From inception in 1978 through 1998, the event was run on dirt. Its first two editions were run as the Morven Handicap. By 1984 the race had earned Grade 3 status which it maintained through 1987.[1]

Future Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr. won the 1979 and 1982 runnings of the Morven Stakes. Cordero was aboard Fappiano to win the December 20, 1979 when cold weather had frozen the racetrack surface. However, in spite of the difficult racing conditions, Fappiano broke the Meadowlands track record for six furlongs with a time of 1:08 3/5.[2]

The only filly to win the Morven Stakes was Clever Power in 1987. Ridden by future Hall of Fame inductee, Kent Desormeaux, she won easily by four lengths for owner Sondra Bender.[3]

Records

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Speed record:

  • 0:57 4/5 @ 5 furlongs on turf: Numbers Man (2001)
  • 1:08 3/5 @ 6 furlongs on dirt: Fappiano (1979)

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

  • no trainer won this race more than once.

Most wins by an owner:

  • 2 - Sondra D. Bender (1987, 1992)

Winners

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Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner
Dist.
(Miles)
Time Win $ Gr.
2001 Numbers Man 2 José Vélez Jr. Edwin T. Broome Richard Malouf 5 f (t) 0:57.80 $50,000 L/R
2000 Unchained Storm 2 Shaun Bridgmohan Mark E. Casse Harry T. Mangurian Jr. 5 f (t) 0:58.09 $45,000 B/T
1999 Brilliant Deniro 2 John R. Velazquez H. Graham Motion Minranshe Nanbri Stables, Inc. 5 f (t) 0:58.60 $45,000 B/T
1998 Shadow Caster 2 Shaun Bridgmohan Charles Assimakopoulos Gatsas Thoroughbreds LLC 6 f (d) 1:10.74 $60,000 B/T
1997 Unreal Madness 2 Chuck Lopez Edward T. Allard Gilbert G. Campbell 6 f (d) 1:10.32 $35,000 B/T
1996 Hoop Coyote Hoop 2 William S. Klinke Cathleen J. Rera Jeannette Lupoli 6 f (d) 1:10.60 $40,000 B/T
1995 In Contention 2 Anthony Black Cynthia G. Reese Noreen Carpenito 6 f (d) 1:10.32 $35,000 B/T
1994 Highest Yield 2 Edwin L. King Jr. Daniel Perlsweig Guy H. Burt 6 f (d) 1:09.88 $60,000 B/T
1943 Race not held
1992 Secret Odds 2 Larry Saumell Lawrence E. Murray Sondra D. Bender 6 f (d) 1:10.80 $60,000 B/T
1991 Pas by Pas 2 Chris Antley James H. Iselin Robert Kaufman 6 f (d) 1:09.77 $60,000 B/T
1990 Ole Grumby 2 Mike E. Smith Glenn L. Hild Sharon Hild 6 f (d) 1:10.80 $35,000 UGS
1989 Housebuster 2 Art Madrid Jr. Ronald L. Benshoff Robert P. Levy 6 f (d) 1:09.80 $25,000 UGS
1943 Race not held
1987 Clever Power 2 Kent Desormeaux Marvin L. Moncrief Sondra D. Bender 6 f (d) 1:10.00 $50,000 G3
1986 Great Smoke 2 Rafael Arroyave John E. Salzman Sr. Guy P. Snowden 6 f (d) 1:11.60 $50,000 G3
1985 Georgia Bird Dog 2 José A. Santos Norman R. Pointer Thoroughbred Racing Stable 6 f (d) 1:11.40 $50,000 G3
1984 Medieval Love 2 William J. Passmore Robert L. Wheeler Napton Hill Farm 6 f (d) 1:12.60 $50,000 G3
1983 Fortunate Prospect 2 Buck Thornburg LeRoy Jolley Philip Pender, et al. 6 f (d) 1:10.60 $50,000 L/R
1982 Game Dancer 2 Angel Cordero Jr. John P. Campo W. Gaston Caperton III 6 f (d) 1:12.00 $40,000 UGS
1981 Grey Bucket 2 Richard Migliore Stephen A. DiMauro Akuma Stable 6 f (d) 1:11.00 $50,000 UGS
1980 Triocala 2 Ruben Hernandez Frank "Pancho" Martin Viola Sommer 6 f (d) 1:11.40 $50,000 UGS
1979 Fappiano 2 Angel Cordero Jr. Jan H. Nerud John A. Nerud 6 f (d) 1:08.60 $50,000 UGS
1978 Terrific Son 2 Vincent Bracciale Jr. Anthony J. Delloso Jacques Zinman 6 f (d) 1:11.40 $50,000 UGS

References

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  1. ^ "Morven Stakes". Equibase Co., LLC. 2020-12-30. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  2. ^ "Cordero Wns 5th Big M stake". The Record, page 72. 1982-12-10. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  3. ^ "Thoroughbred Racing". Louisville Courier-Journal. 1987-11-27. Retrieved 2020-12-29.