| Class: | Grade II |
| Horse Race: | Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes |
| Location: | Churchill Downs Louisville, Kentucky, United States |
| Inaugurated: | 1920 |
| Race Type: | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Distance: | miles (8.5 furlongs) |
| Surface: | Dirt |
| Track: | left-handed |
| Qualification: | Two-year-olds |
| Weight: | Assigned |
| Purse: | $400,000 (2021) |
The Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the last week of November at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. A Grade II event, the race is open to two-year-olds willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt, and is a Road to the Kentucky Derby race, offering points to the top four horses towards being one of the 18 horses eligible for the race by points in North American races (there are spots available to European and Asian horses which participate in races in their respective continents, but if they decline, those spots go to the next highest in points from the North American events).
Inaugurated in 1920,[1] the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes was contested at a distance of one mile from its inception through 1979. The race was transferred to the Latonia Race Track in Covington, Kentucky in 1931 but returned to Churchill Downs in 1934.
There was no race run between 1939 and 1945 because of World War II.[2]
Five horses have won the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and then returned the next spring to win the Kentucky Derby. The most recent Derby winner was Super Saver (2010). Prior winners were Cannonade (1974), Twenty Grand (1931), Clyde Van Dusen (1929) and Reigh Count (1928).
In 1930, Twenty Grand won the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in a track record time of 1:36 flat which at the time was the fastest mile ever run by a two-year-old in the United States.[3]
In 1933, Mata Hari became the first filly to win the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes.[4]
Speed record: (at current distance of miles)
Most wins by a jockey
Most wins by a trainer
Most wins by an owner
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Win $ | Gr. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1-1/16 m | $97,500 | G2 | ||||||
| 2022 | Instant Coffee | Luis Saez | Brad H. Cox | Gold Square LLC | 1-1/16 m | 1:45.25 | $97,500 | G2 | |
| 2021 | Smile Happy | Corey Lanerie | Kenneth McPeek | Lucky Seven Stable | 1-1/16 m | 1:43.94 | $234,410 | G2 | |
| 2020 | Keepmeinmind | David Cohen | Robertino Diodoro | Cypress Creek, LLC & Arnold Bennewith | 1-1/16 m | 1:44.52 | $119,040 | G2 | |
| 2019 | Silver Prospector | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steven M. Asmussen | Ed & Susie Orr | 1-1/16 m | 1:45.94 | $180,420 | G2 | |
| 2018 | Signalman | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Kenneth McPeek | Tommie M. Lewis, David A. Bersen, LLC, Magdalena Racing | 1-1/16 m | 1:45.29 | $112,840 | G2 | |
| 2017 | Enticed | Junior Alvarado | Kiaran McLaughlin | Godolphin | 1-1/16 m | 1:44.42 | $114,080 | G2 | |
| 2016 | McCraken | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Ian R. Wilkes | Whitham Thoroughbreds | 1-1/16 m | 1:44.15 | $115,320 | G2 | |
| 2015 | Airoforce | Julien Leparoux | Mark E. Casse | John C. Oxley | 1-1/16 m | 1:45.48 | $114,080 | G2 | |
| 2014 | El Kabeir | Calvin H. Borel | John P. Terranova II | Zayat Stables | 1-1/16 m | 1:44.82 | $135,792 | G2 | |
| 2013 | Tapiture | Jesus Lopez Castanon | Chuck Peery | Kevin Jacobsen | 1-1/16 m | 1:43.51 | $104,279 | G2 | |
| 2012 | Uncaptured | Miguel Mena | Mark E. Casse | John C. Oxley | 1-1/16 m | 1:44.97 | $101,047 | G2 | |
| 2011 | Gemologist | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | WinStar Farm | 1-1/16 m | 1:44.46 | $103,855 | G2 | |
| 2010 | Santiva | Shaun Bridgmohan | Eddie Kenneally | Tom R. Walters | 1-1/16 m | 1:45.31 | $100,254 | G2 | |
| 2009 | Super Saver | Calvin H. Borel | Todd A. Pletcher | WinStar Farm | 1-1/16 m | 1:42.83 | $113,832 | G2 | |
| 2008 | Beethoven | Calvin H. Borel | John T. Ward Jr. | John C. Oxley | 1-1/16 m | 1:44.14 | $99,994 | G2 | |
| 2007 | Anak Nakal | Julien Leparoux | Nick Zito | Four Roses Thoroughbreds | 1-1/16 m | 1:43.16 | $168,156 | G2 | |
| 2006 | Tiz Wonderful | John R.Velazquez | Scott Blasi | Stonestreet Stable | 1-1/16 m | 1:42.84 | $133,208 | G2 | |
| 2005 | Private Vow | Shaun Bridgmohan | Steven M. Asmussen | Mike McCarty | 1-1/16 m | 1:45.80 | $137,888 | G2 | |
| 2004 | Greater Good | John McKee | Robert E. Holthus | Lewis G. Lakin | 1-1/16 m | 1:45.14 | $138,384 | G2 | |
| 2003 | The Cliff's Edge | Shane Sellers | Nick Zito | Robert V. LaPenta | 1-1/16 m | 1:45.50 | $137,764 | G2 | |
| 2002 | Soto | Larry Melancon | Michael W. Dickinson | Baron Georg von Ullman | 1-1/16 m | 1:44.67 | $143,344 | G2 | |
| 2001 | Repent | Tony D'Amico | Kenneth G. McPeek | Select Stable | 1-1/16 m | 1:44.42 | $134,540 | G2 | |
| 2000 | Dollar Bill | Calvin H. Borel | Dallas Stewart | Gary & Mary West | 1-1/16 m | 1:47.18 | $135,656 | G2 | |
| 1999 | Captain Steve | Robby Albarado | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | 1-1/16 m | 1:43.14 | $143,840 | G2 | |
| 1998 | Exploit | Chris McCarron | Bob Baffert | Bob & Beverly Lewis | 1-1/16 m | 1:44.16 | $140,740 | G2 | |
| 1997 | Cape Town | Willie Martinez | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 1-1/16 m | 1:43.97 | $142,228 | G3 | |
| 1996 | Concerto | Carlos H. Marquez Jr. | John Tammaro III | Kinsman Stable | 1-1/16 m | 1:46.91 | $142,104 | G3 | |
| 1995 | Ide | Craig Perret | Peter M. Vestal | Peter Willmott | 1-1/16 m | 1:44.31 | $97,500 | G3 | |
| 1994 | Jambalaya Jazz | Sam Maple | John T. Ward Jr. | John C. Oxley | 1-1/16 m | 1:46.46 | $97,500 | G3 | |
| 1993 | War Deputy | Garrett Gomez | Anthony L. Reinstedler | Windfields Farm | 1-1/16 m | 1:46.75 | $97,500 | G3 | |
| 1992 | Wild Gale | Shane Sellers | Michael J. Doyle | Little Fish Stable Inc. | 1-1/16 m | 1:45.64 | $105,918 | G3 | |
| 1991 | Dance Floor | Chris Antley | D. Wayne Lukas | Oaktown Stable | 1-1/16 m | 1:45.21 | $104,891 | G3 | |
| 1990 | Richman | Pat Day | William I. Mott | William F. Lucas | 1-1/16 m | 1:45.40 | $107,718 | G3 | |
| 1989 | Grand Canyon | Ángel Cordero Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | D. Wayne Lukas & Overbrook Farm | 1-1/16 m | 1:44.60 | $95,550 | G3 |