The Bourbon Stakes is a Grade II American thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds over a distance of 1+116 miles on the turf held annually in early October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky during the fall meeting.

Bourbon Stakes
Grade II race
LocationKeeneland Race Course
Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Inaugurated1991 (as Hopemont Stakes)
Race typeThoroughbredFlat racing
SponsorCastle & Key (since 2022)
WebsiteKeeneland
Race information
Distance1+116 miles
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationTwo-year-olds
Weight122 lbs with allowances
Purse$350,000 (2022)
BonusesWin and You're In Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

History edit

The event was inaugurated on 23 October 1991 as the Hopemont Stakes and was won by the short priced 1-2 favorite Stress Buster who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day in a time of 1:44.84.[1] The name of the event was in honor of the Hunt–Morgan House, historically known as Hopemont located in Lexington.[2]

The event was run in two divisions in 1998.[3]

In 2003 the event was renamed to the Bourbon County StakesBourbon County is near Lexington and is home to many famous Throroughbred farms.[4]

From 2005 to 2008, the event was run as the Bourbon Stakes, with sponsorship from Woodford Reserve which reflected in the name of the race.[4] Since 2014, the race has been sponsored by Dixiana Farm.[4]

In 2006, 2013 and 2017, the race was switched from turf to the main track due to weather conditions.[5]

In 2008 the event was classified as Grade III[5] and in 2020 was upgraded to Grade II.[6] The race is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series. The winner of the Bourbon Stakes receives a "Win and You're In" berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.[7]

Records edit

Speed record:

  • 1:41.27 – Andthewinneris (2022)

Margins

  • 11+14 lengths – Stage Call (IRE) (2001)

Most wins by an owner

Most wins by a jockey

Most wins by a trainer

Winners edit

Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
Bourbon Stakes
2023 Can Group Francisco Arrieta Mark E. Casse D. J. Stable & Cash is King 1+116 miles $350,000 II [8]
2022 Andthewinneris Flavien Prat Wayne M. Catalano Susan Moulton 1+116 miles 1:41.27 $348,125 II [9]
2021 Tiz the Bomb Brian Hernandez Jr. Kenneth G. McPeek Phoenix Thoroughbred III 1+116 miles 1:43.69 $200,000 II [10]
2020 Mutasaabeq Luis Saez Todd A. Pletcher Shadwell Stable 1+116 miles 1:43.13 $200,000 II [11]
2019 Peace Achieved Miguel Mena Mark E. Casse JSM Equine 1+116 miles 1:43.06 $250,000 III [12]
2018 Current Jose L. Ortiz Todd A. Pletcher Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Robert V. LaPenta 1+116 miles 1:45.10 $250,000 III [13]
2017 Flameaway Julien R. Leparoux Mark E. Casse John C. Oxley 1+116 miles 1:45.77 $250,000 III [14]
2016 Keep Quiet (FR) Florent Geroux Mark E. Casse Gary Barber 1+116 miles 1:44.92 $250,000 III [15]
2015 Airoforce Julien R. Leparoux Mark E. Casse John C. Oxley 1+116 miles 1:44.12 $250,000 III [16]
2014 Lawn Ranger Chris Landeros Kenneth G. McPeek Turf Stable Racing 1+116 miles 1:44.41 $250,000 III [17]
2013 Poker Player Channing Hill Wayne M. Catalano Gary and Mary West 1+116 miles 1:43.46 $150,000 III [18]
2012 Balance the Books Julien R. Leparoux Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables & William H. Lawrence 1+116 miles 1:45.15 $150,000 III [19]
2011 Animal Spirits Robby Albarado Albert Stall Jr. Klaravich Stables & William H. Lawrence 1+116 miles 1:44.24 $150,000 III [20]
2010 Rogue Romance Julien R. Leparoux Kenneth G. McPeek Catesby W. Clay 1+116 miles 1:43.76 $100,000 III [21]
2009 Interactif Kent J. Desormeaux Todd A. Pletcher Wertheimer et Frère 1+116 miles 1:45.24 $125,000 III [22]
2008 Bittel Road Rajiv Maragh Todd A. Pletcher James T. Scatuorchio & John Iracane 1+116 miles 1:44.29 $200,000 III [23]
2007 Gio Ponti Ramon A. Dominguez Christophe Clement Castleton Lyons 1+116 miles 1:45.92 $150,000 Listed [24]
2006 Twilight Meteor John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Peachtree Stable 1+116 miles 1:43.25 $125,000 Listed [25]
2005 Yankee Master Rafael Bejarano Linda L. Rice Team Power Play Racing 1+116 miles 1:43.85 $125,000 Listed [26]
Bourbon County Stakes
2004 Rey de Cafe Craig Perret George R. Arnold II G. Watts Humphrey Jr. 1+116 miles 1:42.90 $112,200 Listed [27]
2003 Commendation Cornelio Velasquez H. Graham Motion Courtlandt Farm 1+116 miles 1:43.99 $112,800 Listed [28]
Hopemont Stakes
2002 Rapid Proof Calvin H. Borel Hal R. Wiggins Dolphus C. Morrison 1+116 miles 1:46.45 $115,000 Listed [29]
2001 Stage Call (IRE) Mark Guidry W. Elliott Walden WinStar Farm, Richard Nip & Gloria Gaines Callum 1+116 miles 1:45.85 $111,800 Listed [30]
2000 Overview Mike E. Smith John T. Ward Jr. John C. Oxley 1+116 miles 1:43.02 $81,775 Listed [31]
1999 Gateman (GB) Pat Day W. Elliott Walden Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds 1+116 miles 1:42.42 $70,175 Listed [32]
1998 Pineaff Pat Day Kenneth G. McPeek Joyce & Roy K. Monroe 1+116 miles 1:44.63 $70,100 Listed Division 1[33]
Bold Caleb Robby Albarado Hal R. Wiggins Ann & Charles Patterson 1:44.73 $70,850 Division 2[34]
1997 Reformer Rally Craig Perret Peter M. Vestal Thomas M. Carey 1+116 miles 1:46.91 $67,750 Listed [35]
1996 Thesaurus Craig Perret Peter M. Vestal Charles J. Cella 1+116 miles 1:44.49 $55,000 Listed [36]
1995 Red Shadow Willie Martinez Patrick B. Byrne Prestonwood Farm 1+116 miles 1:46.71 $54,960 Listed [37]
1994 Claudius John R. Velazquez William I. Mott Darley Racing 1+116 miles 1:45.50 $53,000 [38]
1993 Star of Manila Shane Sellers Burk Kessinger Jr. New Phoenix Stable 1+116 miles 1:43.34 $49,000 [39]
1992 The Real Vaslav Shane Sellers D. Wayne Lukas Gonzalo B. Torrealba 1+116 miles 1:46.01 $45,500 [40]
1991 Stress Buster Pat Day Joseph H. Pierce Jr. G. Watts Humphrey Jr. & Sheila Pierce 1+116 miles 1:44.84 $44,100 [1]

Legend:
  Turf   All Weather Track   Dirt

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "1991 Hopemont Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 23 October 1991. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  2. ^ "History of Hopemont". The Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation. 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  3. ^ "BOURBON STAKES (2ND. DIV.) - KEENELAND, KY". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "Bourbon Stakes Profile". Equibase. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  5. ^ a b "BOURBON STAKES - KEENELAND, KY". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  6. ^ Schweigardt, Andrew (2019). "TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2020". Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  7. ^ "The Breeders' Cup Challenge". www.breederscup.com. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  8. ^ "2023 Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. 8 October 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  9. ^ "2022 Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  10. ^ "2021 Bourbon Stakes Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  11. ^ "2020 Bourbon Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  12. ^ "2019 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 6 October 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  13. ^ "2018 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  14. ^ "2017 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  15. ^ "2016 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 9 October 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  16. ^ "2015 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 4 October 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  17. ^ "2014 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  18. ^ "2013 Bourbon Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  19. ^ "2012 Bourbon Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 7 October 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  20. ^ "2011 Bourbon Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 9 October 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  21. ^ "2010 Bourbon Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 10 October 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  22. ^ "2009 Bourbon Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  23. ^ "2008 Woodford Reserve Bourbon Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 5 October 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  24. ^ "2007 Woodford Reserve Bourbon Stakes Listed - (race 7)". Equibase. 7 October 2007. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  25. ^ "2006 Woodford Reserve Bourbon Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 27 October 2006. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  26. ^ "2005 Woodford Reserve Bourbon Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 28 October 2005. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  27. ^ "2004 Bourbon County Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 29 October 2004. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  28. ^ "2003 Bourbon County Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 24 October 2003. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  29. ^ "2002 Hopemont Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 25 October 2002. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  30. ^ "2001 Hopemont Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 26 October 2001. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  31. ^ "2000 Hopemont Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 27 October 2000. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  32. ^ "1999 Hopemont Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 29 October 1999. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  33. ^ "1998 Hopemont Stakes Listed Division 1 - (race 7)". Equibase. 30 October 1998. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  34. ^ "1998 Hopemont Stakes Listed Division 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 30 October 1998. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  35. ^ "1997 Hopemont Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 24 October 1997. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  36. ^ "1996 Hopemont Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 24 October 1996. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  37. ^ "1995 Hopemont Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 27 October 1995. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  38. ^ "1994 Hopemont Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 27 October 1994. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  39. ^ "1993 Hopemont Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 28 October 1993. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  40. ^ "1992 Hopemont Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 30 October 1992. Retrieved 14 September 2020.