Manila Stakes
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Elmont, New York, United States
| Class | Grade III |
|---|---|
| Location | Belmont Park Elmont, New York, United States |
| Inaugurated | 2014 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | NYRA |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 mile |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | 122 lbs. with allowances |
| Purse | US$250,000 (since 2023) |
The Manila Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of one mile on the turf scheduled annually in early July at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The current purse is $250,000.
The event is named after the US Hall of Famer Manila, the 1986 U.S. Champion Older Male Horse who won the 1986 Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs.[1]
The event was inaugurated on June 28, 2014, and run over a distance of one mile and was won by R. Lee Lewis's Cabo Cat. Cabo Cat started at odds of 8/1 was ridden by jockey Joe Bravo who settled near the rear from the gate, was four-wide into the lane, rallied down the stretch while widest and held off Long On Value in the final stages to win by a length in a time of 1:33.57.[2]
In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, NYRA did not schedule the event in their updated and shortened spring-summer meeting.[3]
Three winners of this event have gone on and have won Grade I events.[4] In 2023 the event was upgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to a Grade III.[5]
In 2024 the event was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.[6]
Records
Speed record
- 1 mile: 1:31.56 – Win Win Win (2019)
Margins
- 3+1⁄2 lengths – Up the Ante (2018)
Most wins by a jockey
- 2 – John R. Velazquez (2016, 2023)
Most wins by a trainer
- 2 – Chad C. Brown (2017, 2025)
Most wins by an owner
- No owner has won the event more than once