| Surface: | Turf |
| Class: | Grade I |
| Horse Race: | Franklin-Simpson Stakes |
| Location: | Kentucky Downs Franklin, Kentucky, United States |
| Inaugurated: | 2017 |
| Race Type: | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website: | Kentucky Downs |
| Distance: | furlongs |
| Track: | Left-handed |
| Qualification: | Three-year-olds |
| Weight: | 124 lbs with allowances |
| Purse: | $2,000,000 (since 2024) |
| Sponsor: | Aristocrat (since 2024) |
The Franklin-Simpson Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for three years olds, over a distance of 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 $2,000,000 which includes $1,000,000 from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.
The event was inaugurated on 14 September 2017 over the seven furlong distance and was won by the Wesley A. Ward trained Master Merion by 2 lengths in a time of 1:27.95.
The event was named honor the city, Franklin, and the county Simpson where the Kentucky Downs racetrack is located.[1]
The name of this event was used previously in 2008 for a race which was open for three-year-olds and older over the one mile distance. However, that event was later renamed and the name was idle since 2014.
In 2018 the distance of the event was decreased to furlongs.[2]
In 2019 the event was upgraded to a Grade III.[1] 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 2024 the event was upgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to a Grade I.[3]
Speed record:
Margins:
Most wins by an owner:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin-Simpson Stakes | |||||||||||||||||
| align=center | 2024 | Howard Wolowitz | align=center | 3 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Jose D'Angelo | Gold Square | align=center | furlongs | align=center | 1:14.20 | align=center | $1,847,100 | align=center | I | [4] | |
| align=center | 2023 | Private Creed | align=center | 3 | Joel Rosario | Steven M. Asmussen | Mike McCarty | align=center | furlongs | align=center | 1:17.03 | align=center | $968,000 | align=center | II | [5] | |
| align=center | 2022 | One Timer | align=center | 3 | Edward T. Baird | Larry Rivelli | Richard Ravin & Patricia's Hope | align=center | furlongs | align=center | 1:14.59 | align=center | $527,250 | align=center | II | [6] | |
| align=center | 2021 | The Lir Jet | align=center | 3 | Tyler Gaffalione | Brendan P. Walsh | Qatar Racing and Racehorse Club | align=center | furlongs | align=center | 1:15.38 | align=center | $413,700 | align=center | II | [7] | |
| align=center | 2020 | Guildsman (FR) | align=center | 3 | Tyler Gaffalione | Brendan P. Walsh | Qatar Racing | align=center | furlongs | align=center | 1:15.87 | align=center | $343,875 | align=center | III | [8] | |
| align=center | 2019 | Legends of War | align=center | 3 | Rafael Bejarano | Doug F. O'Neill | C T R Stables, Qatar Racing & Steve Keh | align=center | furlongs | align=center | 1:16.83 | align=center | $497,500 | align=center | III | [9] | |
| align=center | 2018 | Angaston | align=center | 3 | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Lon Wiggins | Twin Magnolia Farm | align=center | furlongs | align=center | 1:17.45 | align=center | $257,125 | align=center | [10] | ||
| align=center | 2017 | Master Merion | align=center | 3 | Julio A. Garcia | Wesley A. Ward | Vivienne Day & Kate V. Rose | align=center | 7 furlongs | align=center | 1:27.95 | align=center | $250,000 | align=center | [11] |
List of American and Canadian Graded races