The Very One Stakes (Pimlico)
Introduction '''The Very One Stakes''' is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Open to fillies and mares three years old and up, it is contested over a distance of five furlongs on turf.The Very One Stakes is run on the third Friday of May each year on the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes under card. The race is run on the "Filly Friday" of Preakness Stakes weekend. The race was not run between 1994 and 2000.The first year the race was run in 1993, it was contested at  miles on the main track at "Old Hilltop" on a dirt surface; since that time it has been run at a distance of five furlongs and on the turf.The Very One Stakes attracts female turf sprinters. It was named in honor of The Very One, one of the best race mares in training during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Purchased out of the 1977 two-year-old in training sale at Timonium for $22,000, she became a millionaire, racing in 71 times with a record of 22 wins, 12 second-place finishes and 18 third-place finishes and earnings of $1,030,120.Her most famous wins came in the grade one Santa Barbara Handicap in California and the grade two Dixie Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, over the best turf males in the country in 1979.The Very One Stakes is the lead off leg of the '''Mid Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships''' Fillies and Mares Sprint Turf Division or '''MATCh Races.''' MATCh is a series of five races in five separate thoroughbred divisions run throughout four Mid-Atlantic States including; Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park Racecourse in Maryland; Delaware Park Racetrack in Delaware; Parx, Philadelphia Park and Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania and Monmouth Park in New Jersey.
Records '''Speed record: '''* 5 furlongs - 55.60 - Unbridled Sidney  (2007)'''Most wins by a jockey:'''* 2 - Ramon Dominguez (2001 & 2002)* 2 - Edgar Prado (1993 & 2005)* 2 - Javier Castellano (2006, 2017)'''Most wins by a trainer:'''* 3 - Kathleen DeMasi (2002, 2004, 2017)'''Most wins by an owner:'''* 2 - Darley Stables (2003 & 2009)
Winners of The Very One Stakes since 1993  Year Winner Age Jockey TrainerOwner Dist. Time Purse Grd2022Can The Queen6Victor R. CarrascoRodolfo Sanchez-SalomonJoanne Shankle5 fur.59.09$100,0002021 Caravel4 Florent Geroux Elizabeth M. Merryman   Elizabeth M. Merryman 5 fur.56.21$100,0002020 A Great Time4 Julian Pimentel Michael J. Trombetta  Larry Johnson 5 fur.1:00.14$100,0002019 Wild About Star5 Daniel Centeno Jose M. Camejo  Brittlyn Stable, Inc.  5 fur.56.93$100,0002018 Girl Knows Best4 Javier Castellano Eddie Kenneally  Brian Chenvert  5 fur.55.66$100,0002017 Everything Lovely4 Javier Castellano Kathleen DeMasi  Pewter Stable  5 fur.57.93$100,0002016 Lady Shipman4 Joel Rosario Kiaran P. McLaughlin Ranlo Investments5 fur.57.85$100,0002015 Ageless6 Julien Leparoux Arnaud Delacour Lael Stables5 fur.55.66$100,0002014 Ageless5 Luis Garcia Arnaud Delacour Lael Stables 5 fur.58.91$100,0002013 Sensible Lady3 Angel Serpa Timothy Salzman Three Lyons Racing5 fur.56.57$100,0002012 Sensible Lady3 Xavier Perez Timothy Salzman Three Lyons Racing5 fur.56.13$100,0002011 Suzzona7 Julian Pimentel Benjamin Feliciano Sandy Valley Farms5 fur.1:00.41$75,0002010 Starfish Bay4 John Velazquez Todd Pletcher Gainesway Stable 5 fur.56.56$70,0002009 Criticism5 Edgar Prado Thomas Albertrani Darley Stables5 fur.56.00$75,0002008 All Giving4 Erick Rodriguez Flint Stites Catherine J. Smith5 fur.57.46$75,0002007 Unbridled Sidney6 Calvin Borel Ronny Werner Norrine & Doug Devenport5 fur.55.60$75,0002006 Gilded Gold5 Javier Castellano Alan E. Goldberg Bobby Flay & Rob. Masterson5 fur.57.20$75,0002005 Gabianna5 Horacio Karamanos Jorge Prado Andre and Lenard Vaughn 5 fur.59.60$75,0002004Go Go Baby Go5Ryan FogelsongerKathleen DeMasiJoseph Boff & C. Burke5 fur.56.00$75,0002003Forest Heiress4Pat DayWilliam I. MottDarley Stables5 fur.57.60$75,0002002Merry Princess6Ramon DominguezKathleen DeMasiPewter Stable5 fur.56.60$50,0002001Confessional5Ramon DominguezH. Graham MotionPin Oak Stable5 fur.56.40$75,0001943 - 1944 ''Race not held''1993Logan's Mist5Edgar PradoFrancis CampitelliFran & Jessie Campitelli1-1/161:42.80$29,000
See also * The Very One Stakes top three finishers* Pimlico Race Course* List of graded stakes at Pimlico Race Course
References