Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap

Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial

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	1 ^1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs)
Surface	Turf
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Four-years-old & up
Weight	Assigned
Purse	$300,000

Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap is an Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four and older run annually in early March at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana on the turf at a distance of 1 ¹⁄₈ miles (nine furlongs).

Race history

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:

• 1:47.80 - Take the Stand (2016) (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
2016	Take the Stand (ARG)	5	Edgar S. Prado	William I. Mott	Mack/Wachtel Stable/Brous Stable	1:47.80
2015	Chocolate Ride	5	Joseph Talamo	Brad H. Cox	John Wentworth	1:48.18
2014	Skyring	5	Joseph Rocco, Jr.	D. Wayne Lukas	Calumet Farm	1:52.01
2013	Amira's Prince	4	Junior Alvarado	William Mott	Wachtel Stable, Eclipse Thor. Part. & Gary Barber	1:49.76
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.

References

1. "Meeting Notice - Louisiana Racing Commission (1 December 2003)" (PDF). 21 November 2003. p. 2.

• The 2008 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap at the NTRA