# 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.

## 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. 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. The event continued to be restricted to three-year-old fillies until 1983.
In 1980 the event was classified as Grade III. In 2005 the event was moved to the main track due to the inclement weather and consequently was downgraded.
The race has been held at Aqueduct Racetrack several times with the last such running in 2004.
The event was raced in split divisions in 1982 and 2001.
The event has been contested at various distances over its history with the current distance of 1+1⁄8 miles being reinstated in 2021.
The event in 2022 was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.
In 2023 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status

## 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:
* 9 – Chad C. Brown (2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
| At Aqueduct – Athenia Stakes |||||||||||
| 2024 | Child of the Moon (FR) | 4 | Manuel Franco | Chad C. Brown | Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, & Louis Lazzinnaro | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.63 | $150,000 | Listed | |
| 2023 | Technical Analysis (IRE) | 5 | Jose L. Ortiz | Chad C. Brown | Klaravich Stables | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.20 | $150,000 | Listed | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 2019 | Xenobia (IRE) | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Jonathan Thomas | Augustin Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.21 | $200,000 | III | |
| 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 | |
| 2017 | Off Limits (IRE) | 5 | Joel Rosario | Chad C. Brown | Martin S. Schwartz | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.73 | $200,000 | III | |
| 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 | |
| 2015 | Stellar Path (FR) | 4 | Joel Rosario | Christophe Clement | Trevor C. Stewart | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.41 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2014 | La Tia | 5 | Joel Rosario | Armando De La Cerda | Salvador Hernandez | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.36 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2013 | Pianist | 4 | Jose L. Ortiz | Chad C. Brown | Hidden Brook Farm & Dan Zucker | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:39.94 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2012 | La Cloche | 5 | Junior Alvarado | James J. Toner | Phillips Racing Partnership | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.15 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2011 | Denomination | 5 | Joe Bravo | Christophe Clement | Ghislaine Head | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.17 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2010 | Eye of Taurus | 4 | Eddie Castro | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | Harvey A. Clarke | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.04 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2009 | Belle Allure (IRE) | 4 | Ramon A. Dominguez | Christophe Clement | Ronchalon Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.30 | $106,500 | III | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
| At Aqueduct |||||||||||
| 2004 | Finery | 4 | Pablo Fragoso | William H. Turner Jr. | Althea D. Richards | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.73 | $115,700 | III | |
| 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 | |
| 2002 | Babae (CHI) | 6 | Jorge F. Chavez | Frank A. Alexander | Joseph Platt Jr. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.90 | $116,700 | III | |
| 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 |
| 2001 | Babae (CHI) | 5 | Jorge F. Chavez | Frank A. Alexander | Joseph Platt Jr. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.09 | $137,875 | III | Division 2 |
| 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 | |
| 1999 | Antoniette | 4 | Jorge F. Chavez | Joseph P. Schlich | Calumet Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.89 | $111,400 | III | |
| 1998 | Tampico | 5 | Joe Bravo | Barclay Tagg | Ronald G. Cullis | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.90 | $85,350 | III | |
| 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 | |
| 1996 | Sixieme Sens | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Three Plus U Stable | 1 mile | 1:37.80 | $111,100 | III | |
| 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 |
| 1994 | Lady Affirmed | 3 | Jorge F. Chavez | H. Allen Jerkens | Harbor View Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.66 | $87,076 | III | |
| At Belmont Park |||||||||||
| 1993 | Trampoli | 4 | Mike E. Smith | Christophe Clement | Paul de Moussac | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:17.16 | $90,000 | III | |
| 1992 | Fairy Garden | 4 | Julie Krone | Roger L. Attfield | Michael J. Ryan | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:13.62 | $86,700 | III | |
| 1991 | Flaming Torch (IRE) | 4 | Pat Valenzuela | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:13.99 | $93,000 | III | |
| 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 |
| 1989 | Capades | 3 | Angel Cordero Jr. | Richard O'Connell | Poma Stable | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:13.20 | $90,800 | III | |
| 1988 | High Browser | 3 | Pat Day | MacKenzie Miller | Rokeby Stables | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:18.60 | $96,300 | III | |
| 1987 | Lead Kindly Light | 4 | Julio Molina Pezua | Angel A. Penna Jr. | Cynthia Phipps | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:23.80 | $94,800 | III | |
| 1986 | Dawn's Curtsey | 4 | Eddie Maple | John M. Veitch | Darby Dan Farm | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:16.00 | $92,400 | III | |
| 1985 | Videogenic | 3 | Jean Cruguet | Gasper S. Moschera | Albert Davis | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:15.40 | $101,700 | III | |
| 1984 | Key Dancer | 3 | Angel Cordero Jr. | William J. Hirsch Jr. | Oxford Stable | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:14.80 | $94,500 | III | |
| 1983 | Rose Crescent | 3 | Robbie Davis | MacKenzie Miller | Rokeby Stables | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:22.00 | $57,300 | III | |
| 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 |
| 1982 | Middle Stage | 3 | Jimmy J. Miranda | John P. Campo | Buckland Farm | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:17.40 | $54,650 | III | Division 2 |
| 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 | |
| 1980 | Love Sign | 3 | Ruben Hernandez | Sidney J. Watters Jr. | Stephen C. Clark Jr. | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:00.40 | $84,150 | III | |
| 1979 | Poppycock | 3 | Jorge Velasquez | Woodford C. Stephens | Claiborne Farm | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:03.60 | $87,450 | | Off turf |
| 1978 | Terpsichorist | 3 | Michael Venezia | Woodford C. Stephens | Hickory Tree Stable | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:03.20 | $55,500 | | |
Legend:
 Dirt  Turf

## :See also

* List of American and Canadian Graded races