Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes

Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes

Class	Grade II
Location	Fair Grounds Race Course New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Inaugurated	1992 (as Explosive Bid Handicap)
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	www.fairgroundsracecourse.com
Race information
Distance	1+1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs)
Surface	Turf
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Four-years-old and older
Weight	124 lbs with allowances
Purse	$300,000 (since 2014)

Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four and older at a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf run annually in early March at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event currently offers a purse of $300,000.

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 28 March 1992 as the Explosive Bid Handicap named after the 1984 winner of the Louisiana Handicap, Explosive Bid. ^[1]

In 1994 the event was run in two split divisions. ^[2]

In 1996 the American Graded Stakes Committee upgraded the event to Grade III ^[3] and once more to Grade II in 2001. ^[3]

In December 2003 the Louisiana Racing Commission agreed to honor Mervyn R. Muniz, Jr., a longtime racing secretary at Fair Grounds Race Course who died in 2003 by renaming the event to the Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap ^[4]

There was no race in 2006 due to after effects of Hurricane Katrina which had damaged the Fair Grounds race track and moved the shortened meeting that season to Louisiana Downs.

The 2019 winner of the event Bricks and Mortar continued his successful undefeated season enroute to being crowned US Champion Male Turf Horse and US Horse of the Year.

In 2020 the conditions of the event were changed from handicap to stakes allowance with the name of the race modified to Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes. ^[2]

Records

Speed record:

• 1:47.21 - Factor This (2020)

Margins:

• 6 lengths - Joyeux Danseur (1998)

Most wins:

• 2 - Proudinsky (GER) (2008, 2009)

Most wins by an owner:

• 3 - Gary A. Tanaka (2001, 2002, 2008)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 3 - Chad C. Brown (2012, 2019, 2024)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 4 - Robby Albarado (1998, 2001, 2004, 2007)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes
2025	Idratherbeblessed	5	Ben Curtis	Chris Hartman	JD Thoroughbreds & Wayne Scherr	1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.45	$300,000	II	[5]
2024	I'm Very Busy	4	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Chad C. Brown	Team Hanley, Richard Schermerhorn & Paul Braverman	1+1⁄8 miles	1:47.57	$300,000	II	[6]
2023	Spooky Channel	8	Joel Rosario	Jason Barkley	NBS Stable	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:54.11	$300,000	II	[7]
2022	Two Emmys	6	James Graham	Hugh H. Robertson	Wolfe Racing & Hugh H. Robertson	1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.83	$300,000	II	[8]
2021	Colonel Liam	4	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Todd A. Pletcher	Lawana L. & Robert E. Low	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.33	$300,000	II	[9]
2020	Factor This	5	Shaun Bridgmohan	Brad H. Cox	Gaining Ground Racing	1+1⁄8 miles	1:47.21	$300,000	II	[10]
Muniz Memorial Handicap
2019	Bricks and Mortar	5	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Chad C. Brown	Klaravich Stables Inc. & William Lawrence	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.44	$291,000	II	[11]
2018	Synchrony	5	Joe Bravo	Michael Stidham	Pin Oak Stable	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.59	$300,000	II	[12]
2017	Enterprising	6	Tyler Gaffalione	Michael J. Maker	Maxis Stable	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.41	$300,000	II	[13]
2016	Take the Stand (ARG)	5	Edgar S. Prado	William I. Mott	Earle I. Mack, Wachtel Stable & Brous Stable	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:47.80	$300,000	II	[14]
Mervin H. Muniz Jr Memorial Handicap
2015	Chocolate Ride	5	Joseph Talamo	Brad H. Cox	John Wentworth	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.18	$291,000	II	[15]
2014	Skyring	5	Joseph Rocco Jr.	D. Wayne Lukas	Calumet Farm	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:52.01	$288,000	II	[16]
2013	Amira's Prince (IRE)	4	Junior Alvarado	William I. Mott	Wachtel Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Gary Barber	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.76	$400,000	II	[17]
2012	Casino Host	4	John R. Velazquez	Chad C. Brown	Mary & Gary West	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.87	$400,000	II	[18]
2011	Smart Bid	5	Edgar S. Prado	H. Graham Motion	Augustin Stable	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.97	$400,000	II	[19]
2010	Blues Street	6	Javier Castellano	Todd A. Pletcher	Anstu Stable	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.10	$300,000	II	[20]
2009	Proudinsky (GER)	6	Victor Espinoza	Robert J. Frankel	Johanna Louise Glen-Teven	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.94	$500,000	II	[21]
2008	Proudinsky (GER)	5	Garrett K. Gomez	Robert J. Frankel	Gary A. Tanaka	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.44	$500,000	II	[22]
2007	Einstein (BRZ)	5	Robby Albarado	Helen Pitts-Blasi	Midnight Cry Stable	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.57	$500,000	II	[23]
2006	Race not held
2005	† A to the Z	5	Victor Espinoza	Paula S. Capestro	Andrew & Paula Capestro	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.99	$500,000	II	[24]
2004	Mystery Giver	6	Robby Albarado	Richard R. Scherer	Team Block	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.29	$500,000	II	[25]
Explosive Bid Handicap
2003	Candid Glen	6	Elvis Joseph Perrodin	Andrew Leggio Jr.	Glen C. Warren	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:51.15	$650,000	II	[26]
2002	Sarafan	5	Corey Nakatani	Neil D. Drysdale	Gary A. Tanaka	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.88	$700,000	II	[27]
2001	Tijiyr (IRE)	5	Robby Albarado	Niall M. O'Callaghan	Gary A. Tanaka	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.72	$600,000	II	[28]
2000	Brave Act (GB)	6	Cash Asmussen	Ron McAnally	Sidney Craig	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.98	$600,000	III	[29]
1999	Lord Smith (GB)	4	Garrett K. Gomez	Bruce L. Jackson	Michael Boich, David & Linda Kruse	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:51.27	$663,600	III	[30]
1998	Joyeux Danseur	5	Robby Albarado	Albert Stall Jr.	B. Wayne Hughes	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.30	$373,300	III	[31]
1997	Always a Classic	4	Eddie Martin Jr.	Mark R. Frostad	Sam-Son Farm	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:54.83	$219,950	III	[32]
1996	Kazabaiyn	6	Kent J. Desormeaux	Robert B. Hess Jr.	Jeremys Stable, et al	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.80	$155,325	III	[33]
1995	Earl of Barking (IRE)	5	Goncalino Almeida	Richard J. Cross	Henry E. Pabst	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:52.01	$155,625	Listed	[34]
1994	Pride of Summer	6	Robert King Jr.	Anthony J. Bizelia	TOC Stable, Patrick J. Purcell, et al	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.59	$127,375	Listed	Division 1 [35]
	Snake Eyes	4	Brent E. Bartram	Steven L. Morguelan	Melvin Isenstein		1:49.41	$127,170		Division 2 [36]
1993	Coaxing Matt	4	Eddie Martin Jr.	Neil L. Pessin	Elmer E. Miller	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.80	$78,350	Listed	[37]
1992	‡ Slick Groom	4	Kirk Paul LeBlanc	Donald J. Cormier Sr.	Albert Pusch	abt. 1+1⁄8 miles	1:52.60	$52,650	Listed	[38]

Notes:
† In the 2005 running of the event longshot Rapid Proof was first past the post. However, after a positive test for dexamethasone Rapid Proof was disqualified, and A to the Z was declared the winner with all prizemoney redistributed according to the adjusted finishing order ^[39]
‡ In the 1992 inaugural running, City Ballet was first past the post but was disqualified and place sixth for interference in the straight and Slick Groom was declared the winner.

See also

• List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

1. "EXPLOSIVE BID (USA) ch. H, 1978 - 59 Starts, 17 Wins, 14 Places, 6 Shows Career Earnings: $488,147". 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
2. "Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes (Gr. 2)". www.equibase.com. 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
3. "MERVIN H. MUNIZ JR. MEMORIAL HANDICAP - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Database. 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
4. "Meeting Notice - Louisiana Racing Commission (1 December 2003)" (PDF). 21 November 2003. p. 2.
5. "2025 Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes Presented by Horse Racing Nation Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. 22 March 2025. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
6. "2024 Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes Presented by Horse Racing Nation Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. 23 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
7. "2023 Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes Presented by Horse Racing Nation Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. 25 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
8. "2022 Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes Presented by Horse Racing Nation Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
9. "2021 Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes Grade 2 - (race 12)". Equibase. 20 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
10. "2020 Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. 21 March 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
11. "2019 Muniz Memorial Handicap Grade 2 - (race 11)". Equibase. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
12. "2018 Muniz Memorial Handicap Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 24 March 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
13. "2017 Muniz Memorial Handicap Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
14. "2016 Muniz Memorial Handicap Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 26 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
15. "2015 Mervin Handicap Muniz Jr. H. Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
16. "2014 Mervin Handicap Muniz Jr. H. Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
17. "2013 Mervin Handicap Muniz Jr. H. Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
18. "2012 Mervin Handicap Muniz Jr. Memorial H. Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 1 April 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
19. "2011 Mervin Handicap Muniz Jr. Memorial H. Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
20. "2010 Mervin Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 27 March 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
21. "2009 Mervin Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 14 March 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
22. "2008 Mervin Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 8 March 2008. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
23. "2007 Mervin Handicap Muniz Jr. Memorial H. Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 10 March 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
24. "2005 Mervin Handicap Muniz Jr. Memorial H. Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 19 March 2005. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
25. "2004 Mervin Handicap Muniz Jr. Memorial H. Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 21 March 2004. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
26. "2003 Explosive Bid Handicap Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 23 March 2003. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
27. "2002 Explosive Bid Handicap Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 24 March 2002. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
28. "2001 Explosive Bid Handicap Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 25 March 2001. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
29. "2000 Explosive Bid Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 26 March 2000. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
30. "1999 Explosive Bid Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 28 March 1999. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
31. "1998 Explosive Bid Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 29 March 1998. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
32. "1997 Explosive Bid Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 29 March 1997. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
33. "1996 Explosive Bid Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 24 March 1996. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
34. "1995 Explosive Bid Handicap Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 26 March 1995. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
35. "1994 (Mar) Explosive Bid Stakes Division 1 Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 27 March 1994. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
36. "1994 (Mar) Explosive Bid Stakes Division 2 Listed - (race 10)". Equibase. 27 March 1994. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
37. "1993 Explosive Bid Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 27 March 1993. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
38. "1992 Explosive Bid Stakes Listed - (race 10)". Equibase. 28 March 1992. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
39. BloodHorse Staff (21 June 2005). "Rapid Proof DQ'd from Mervin Muniz Win". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 9 March 2021.