Matchmaker Stakes at Monmouth Park

Las Vegas, NV - The 46th running of the Grade 3 Matchmaker Stakes comes our way from Monmouth Park on the Jersey Shore this Sunday, July 29th. Fillies and mares three years old and upward will race 1 1/8 miles on Monmouth's turf track for a $150,000 purse.

A field of eight females has been confirmed for the Matchmaker. It goes as race 10 on Monmouth's busy Sunday card with a post time of 4:37 PM. Here is a look at the eight entries and what brought them to this Grade 3 event.

2012 Matchmaker Stakes Race Favorites

Laughing - had two straight wins in Europe before shipping to North America where she was seventh in her debut here in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine in October. 2012 has been better for Laughing on North American soil. A win in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Aqueduct in April was followed by an OK third last time out in the Grade 3 Gallorette Handicap at Pimlico in May. There are a lot of folks impressed by this filly and she is the favorite heading into Sunday.

Unbridled Humor - won the Grade 3 Noble Damsel Stakes last September at Belmont and has OK since. She has had third place finishes most recently in the Grade 3 Eatontown Handicap behind Silver Screamer to follow another third in the Grade 3 Violet Stakes - both on this track. Also in 2012 she had a second in the First Dude Turf Distaff in April, a third in the Grade 3 Hillsborough both at Tampa Bay Downs and she started her year with an OK fourth in the Florida Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf. Unbridled Humor has placed in her last four starts (10 of 13 career) but hasn't won since the Grade 3 Nobel Damsel at Belmont last September.

Matchmaker Stakes 2012 | Remaining Field Entries

Silver Screamer - has won six of her last eight races - three of which were Allowance Optional Claiming races. She took a huge step up in competition last time out with an ultra-impressive win in the Grade 3 Eatontown Handicap here on June 30th and will be looking for a second straight graded stakes score on Sunday.

Hessonite - is a multiple stakes winner - none of the graded however. Over the last year, Hessonite has wins at the Justenuffhumor Ticonderoga Stakes, the New York Stallion Series Stakes, the New York Stallion Cupecoy's Joy Stakes and an Allowance. She also has a second in the Pebble Stakes and a third in the Grade 3 Boiling Springs Stakes. More recently Hessonite has looked good - a second last time out in the Grade 3 Dr. James Penny Memorial Handicap at Parx was followed by another second in the Mount Vernon Stakes at Belmont in May. Hessonite is battle tested and could surprise this weekend.

Dealbata - had a decent career in Europe - five starts there with three wins and a second place finish. In her only North American start Dealbata won the Mohegan Sky Stakes at Belmont on June 16th. She is an interesting prospect in the Matchmaker for trainer Chad Brown.

Matchmaker Stakes betting at Monmouth Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Shimmering Moment - started out 2012 in impressive fashion - a win at an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream on January 2nd and since has raced to a pair of sixth place finished in a couple of Grade 3 races - the Orchid Stakes on March 31st and the Grey Goose Bewitch Stakes at Keeneland on April 26th and she most recently finished a decent third in the Grade 3 All Along Stakes at Colonial Downs on June 16th.

Island Time - will be making her graded stakes debut on Sunday but has had a successful 2012 so far in Allowance races - three wins and two third place finishes. She does have a stakes win here - the 2010 Desert Vixen.

Island School - has made one start in a graded stakes race - it resulted in a seventh in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks in April 2011. She has raced in five straight Allowance races with one fifth, two fourths and two consecutive seconds in her last two starts. Island School appears outclassed in the Matchmaker.

2012 Matchmaker Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 10 on Monmouth Park's Sunday card with a Post Time of 4:37 PM.