The Grade III WinStar Matchmaker Stakes returns to Monmouth Park on Saturday, July 19, 2025, as Race 5 on the card. This $300,000 turf stakes for fillies and mares aged 3 and up spans 1⅛ miles, drawing a field of elite turf specialists, international pedigrees, and powerhouse East Coast connections.
Top Contenders & Pedigree Profiles
| Horse Name | Jockey | Trainer | Pedigree Highlights | Morning Line Odds |
| Sacred Wish | John Velazquez | George Weaver | Not This Time × Indian Wish (Indian Charlie) | 5-2 Favorite |
| Segesta | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Ghostzapper × Antonoe (First Defence) | 3-1 |
| Spaliday | Samuel Marin | Chad C. Brown | More Than Ready × Dayatthespa (City Zip) | 7-2 |
| Grayosh | Flavien Prat | Chad C. Brown | Yoshida (JPN) × Rosie O’Prado (Paddy O’Prado) | 4-1 |
| No Mo Candy | Javier Castellano | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Uncle Mo × Sweet (Blame) | 9-2 |
| Five Towns (GB) | Luis Saez | H. Graham Motion | Lord Kanaloa (JPN) × Guilty Twelve (Giant’s Causeway) | 6-1 |
| Madame Mischief | Umberto Rispoli | Jorge Delgado | Into Mischief × Madame Orbe (Orb) | 20-1 |
Pedigree Power Plays
Sacred Wish, by Not This Time, is a Grade 1 winner with a powerful closing kick. Her dam line traces back to Indian Charlie, adding turf versatility. Segesta, bred by Juddmonte, is out of Antonoe, a Group 1-winning turf mare. Her sire Ghostzapper adds stamina and class. Spaliday is a daughter of Dayatthespa, the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner. Her sire More Than Ready is a global turf influence. Grayosh, by Yoshida, brings Japanese turf bloodlines and enters off a solid effort in graded company. Five Towns (GB), by Lord Kanaloa, adds international flair and stamina from her dam Guilty Twelve, a stakes winner in the U.S.
Jockey & Trainer Dynamics
John Velazquez, aboard Sacred Wish, is a Hall of Fame rider with tactical brilliance—expect a well-timed late surge. Chad Brown sends out three contenders (Segesta, Spaliday, and Grayosh), all bred for turf and stakes success. Irad Ortiz Jr., riding Segesta, is one of the top turf jockeys in the country and excels in graded stakes. Javier Castellano and Saffie Joseph Jr. team up with No Mo Candy, a filly with stakes wins and tactical speed.
Race Strategy
Sacred Wish will likely sit mid-pack and unleash a powerful stretch run. Segesta and Spaliday may stalk the pace and pounce late, especially with Ortiz and Marin aboard. Grayosh could try to control the tempo from the front, leveraging Prat’s finesse. Madame Mischief is a longshot but enters off a win and could surprise with a clean trip.
