# Morven Stakes

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).

## Historical notes

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.
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.
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.

## Records

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:
* 2 - Angel Cordero Jr. (1979, 1982)
* 2 - Shaun Bridgmohan (1998, 2000)
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

| 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 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | 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 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | 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 |