Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap

Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap is a 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).

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

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
2020	Factor This	5	Shaun Bridgmohan	Brad H. Cox	Gaining Ground Racing LLC	1:47.21
2019	Bricks and Mortar	5	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Chad Brown	Klaravich Stables Inc. & William Lawrence	1:50.44
2018	Synchrony	5	Joe Bravo	Michael Stidham	Pin Oak Stable LLC	1:49.59
2017	Enterprising	6	Tyler Gaffalione	Michael J. Maker	Maxis Stable	1:48.41
2016	Take the Stand	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	Mary & Gary 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, Inc.	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	Race not held
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 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	Kirk 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