Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes
| Grade II race | |
| Location | Fair Grounds Race Course New Orleans, Louisiana, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1992 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www.fairgroundsracecourse.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1⅛ miles (9 furlongs) |
| Track | Grass, left-handed |
| Qualification | Four-years-old & up |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | $400,000 |
Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early March at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. A Grade II event since 2001, the race is open to horses age four and older. It is contested on turf over a distance of one and one-eighth miles (nine furlongs).
The race was formerly known as the Explosive Bid Handicap but was renamed for the 2004 edition to honor Mervyn R. Muniz, Jr., a longtime racing secretary at Fair Grounds Race Course who died in 2003. [1]
There was no race in 2006 due to Hurricane Katrina.
Records
Speed record:
- 1:48.29 - Mystery Giver (2004) (new course record)
Most wins:
- Proudinsky, 2008, 2009
Most wins by an owner:
- 3 - Gary A. Tanaka (2001, 2002, 2008)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 4 - Robby Albarado (1998, 2001, 2004, 2007)
Winners
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
| 2012 | Casino Host | 4 | John Velazquez | Chad Brown | Gary & Mary West | 1:50.87 |
| 2011 | Smart Bid | 5 | Edgar Prado | H. Graham Motion | Augustin Stable | 1:49.97 |
| 2010 | Blues Street | 6 | Javier Castellano | Todd Pletcher | Anstu Stables | 1:50.10 |
| 2009 | Proudinsky | 6 | Victor Espinoza | Bobby Frankel | Johanna Louise Glen-Teven | 1:50.94 |
| 2008 | Proudinsky | 5 | Garrett Gomez | Robert J. Frankel | Gary A. Tanaka | 1:50.44 |
| 2007 | Einstein | 5 | Robby Albarado | Helen Pitts | Midnight Cry Stable | 1:49.57 |
| 2006 | no race | |||||
| 2005 | A to the Z † | 5 | Victor Espinoza | Paula Capestro | Andrew & Paula Capestro | 1:50.99 |
| 2004 | Mystery Giver | 6 | Robby Albarado | Richard R. Scherer | Team Block | 1:48.29 |
| 2003 | Candid Glen | 6 | Elvis J. Perrodin | Andrew Leggio, Jr. | Glen C. Warren | 1:51.15 |
| 2002 | Sarafan | 5 | Corey Nakatani | Neil D. Drysdale | Gary A. Tanaka | 1:48.88 |
| 2001 | Tijiyr | 5 | Robby Albarado | Niall O'Callaghan | Gary A. Tanaka | 1:50.72 |
| 2000 | Brave Act | 6 | Cash Asmussen | Ron McAnally | Sidney Craig | 1:48.98 |
| 1999 | Lord Smith | 4 | Garret Gomez | Bruce C. Jackson | Boich, Kruse & Kruse | 1:51.27 |
| 1998 | Joyeux Danseur | 5 | Robby Albarado | Albert M. Stall, Jr. | B. Wayne Hughes | 1:49.20 |
| 1997 | Always A Classic | 4 | Eddie Martin, Jr. | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 1:54.83 |
| 1996 | Kazabaiyn | 6 | Kent Desormeaux | Robert Hess, Jr. | Jeremy Stable, et al | 1:50.80 |
| 1995 | Earl of Barking | 5 | Goncalino Almeida | Richard L. Cross | Henry E. Pabst | 1:52.01 |
| 1994 | Pride of Summer | 6 | Robert King, Jr. | Anthony J. Bizelia | TOC Stable | 1:49.59 |
| 1993 | Coaxing Matt | 4 | Eddie Martin, Jr. | Neil L.Pessin | Elmer E. Miller | 1:50.80 |
| 1992 | Slick Groom | 4 | K. P. Leblanc | Donald Cormier, Sr. | Albert Pusch | 1:52.60 |
* † In 2005, Rapid Proof won the race but later was disqualified after he tested positive for an anti-therapeutic steroid not allowed to be administered to a horse on race day.