Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint Stakes

6+1⁄2 furlongsSurfaceTurfTrackLeft-handedQualificationFillies and Mares, three years old and olderWeightBase weights with allowances:
4-year-olds and up: 125 lbs.
3-year-olds: 122 lbs.Purse$1,000,000 (2023)

The Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint Stakes, raced as the AGS Ladies Sprint Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are three years old or older, over a distance of 6+1⁄2 furlongs on the turf held annually in September at Kentucky Downs racetrack in Franklin, Kentucky during their short turf meeting. The event currently carries a purse of $1,000,000 which includes $400,000 from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.

History

The race was inaugurated in 2013^[1] with an attractive purse offered of $150,000.^[1]

In 2018 the event was upgraded to a Grade III.^[2]

With the influx of gaming revenue at Kentucky Downs the purse for the event has risen dramatically to nearly $500,000 offered by 2019.^[1]

In 2023 the American Graded Stakes Committee upgraded the event to Grade II status.^[3]

Records

Speed record:

• 6+1⁄2 furlongs – 1:15.35 - In Good Spirits (2021)

Margins:

• 2 lengths – Lull (2017)

Most wins by a jockey

• 2 – Florent Geroux (2016, 2018, 2023)

Most wins by a trainer

• 3 – Mark E. Casse (2015, 2016, 2020)
• 3 – Wesley A. Ward (2013, 2014, 2022)

Most wins by an owner:

• No owner has won the event more than once

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
2023	Bay Storm	4	Florent Geroux	Jonathan Thomas	Bridlewood Farm	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:17.06	$900,000	II	[4]
2022	Campanelle (IRE)	4	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Wesley A. Ward	Stonestreet Stables	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.57	$736,030	III	[5]
2021	In Good Spirits	4	John R. Velazquez	Albert Stall, Jr.	Bal Mar Equine	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.35	$563,100	III	[6]
2020	Got Stormy	5	Tyler Gaffalione	Mark E. Casse	Gary Barber	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.41	$498,000	III	[7]
2019	Morticia	5	Tyler Gaffalione	George R. Arnold II	G. Watts Humphrey Jr.	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.85	$471,820	III	[8]
2018	Ruby Notion	5	Florent Geroux	Darrin Miller	Silverton Hill Farm	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.80	$329,720	III	[9]
2017	Lull	3	Brian Hernandez Jr.	Christophe Clement	Claiborne Farm & Adele Dilschneider	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:17.22	$348,000	Listed	[10]
2016	Mississippi Delta	4	Florent Geroux	Mark E. Casse	Jackpot Ranch &. M.G. Rutherford	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:18.79	$278,220	Listed	[11]
2015	Sky Treasure	5	Julien R. Leparoux	Mark E. Casse	John C. Oxley	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:19.83	$298,400		[12]
2014	Richies Party Girl	3	Rafael Manuel Hernandez	Wesley A. Ward	Richard Ravin & Wesley A. Ward	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:16.51	$199,600		[13]
2013	To My Valentine (FR)	3	David R. Flores	Wesley A. Ward	Ice Wine Stable	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:17.15	$125,151		[14]

References