Kentucky Juvenile Stakes Explained

Class:	Black Type
Horse Race:	Kentucky Juvenile Stakes
Location:	Churchill Downs Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Inaugurated:	1988 (as Kentucky Budweiser Breeders' Cup Stakes)
Race Type:	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Distance:	5 furlong sprint
Surface:	Dirt
Track:	left-handed
Qualification:	Two-year-olds
Weight:	Base weights with allowances: Colts and geldings: 122 lbs. Fillies: 119 lbs.
Purse:	$200,000 (since 2022)

The Kentucky Juvenile Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The event is open to two-year-old horses. Previously a race contested at furlongs on dirt, it has been run at a distance of five furlongs since 2006.

It first became a Grade III race in 1999. The event was not run in 2005 and six years later in 2011 was removed from the calendar. The event was resumed in 2016 as a Black Type event.

Records

Speed record

• 5 furlongs – 0:57.46 – Rated Fiesty (2007)
• 5.5 furlongs – 1:03.11 – Leelanau (2001) (new track record)

Most wins by a trainer

• 7 – Steven M. Asmussen (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2017, 2021) (five consecutive editions)

Most wins by a jockey

• 4 – Shane Sellers (1994, 1996, 1998 & 2004)

Most wins by an owner

• 4 – Heiligbrodt Racing Stable (2002, 2004, 2006, 2007)

Winners of the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes since 1988

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Grade
2024	West Memorial	Reylu Gutierrez	John A. Hancock	Swinbank Stables	5-fur.	0:58.29
2023	Youalmosthadme	Tyler Gaffalione	Brad H. Cox	Qatar Racing, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson & Black Type Thoroughbreds	5-fur.	0:57.49
2022	Tom's Regret	Tyler Baze	Jorge Periban	Griffin Stables, Saul Carrillo, Victor M. Flores & Eugene Zondlo	5-fur.	0:58.23
2021	† Vodka N Water	Ricardo Santana Jr.	Steven M. Asmussen	Hat Creek Racing	5-fur.	0:58.64
2020	Not held
2019	Rookie Salsa	Angel Suarez	Jeremiah O'Dwyer	Designated Hitters Racing	5-fur.	0:59.32
2018	Weiland	Carlos Villasana	John Ennis	John Ennis	5-fur.	0:59.32
2017	Buy Sell Hold	Florent Geroux	Steven M. Asmussen	Kirk Robison & Judy Robison	5-fur.	0:58.33
2016	Silvertoni	Jose Valdivia Jr.	Wesley A. Ward	Silverton Hill LLC	5-fur.	0:58.63
2011 - 2015		Not held
2010	Lou Brissie	John R. Velazquez	Neil Howard	Dogwood Stable	5-fur.	0:57.80	III
2009	Aegean	René Douglas	Wesley Ward	Steven Michael Bell	5-fur.	0:58.24	III
2008	Run Away and Hide	Robby Albarado	Ronny Werner	Ronald K. Kirk, John C. Bates & Michael Riordan	5-fur.	0:57.56	III
2007	Rated Fiesty	Shaun Bridgmohan	Steven M. Asmussen	Heiligbrodt Racing Stables & JMJ Racing Stable	5-fur.	0:57.46	III
2006	Datrick	Shaun Bridgmohan	Steven M. Asmussen	Heiligbrodt Racing Stable	5-fur.	0:58.37	III
2005	Not held
2004	Lunarpal	Shane Sellers	Steven M. Asmussen	Heiligbrodt Racing Stable	5.5-fur.	1:04.07	III
2003	Cuvee	Lonnie Meche	Steven M. Asmussen	Winchell Thoroughbreds	5.5-fur.	1:04.45	III
2002	Posse	Donnie Meche	Steven M. Asmussen	Heiligbrodt Racing Stable	5.5-fur.	1:03.73	III
2001	Leelanau	Jon Court	Steven Morguelan	Iron Horse Racing	5.5-fur.	1:03.11	III
2000	Gold Mover	Craig Perret	Mark A. Hennig	Edward P. Evans	5.5-fur.	1:03.67	III
1999	Chilukki	Robby Albarado	Bob Baffert	Stonerside Stable	5.5-fur.	1:04.01	III
1998	Yes It's True	Shane Sellers	D. Wayne Lukas	Padua Stables	5.5-fur.	1:03.61
1997	Favorite Trick	Pat Day	Patrick B. Byrne	Joseph LaCombe	5.5-fur.	1:04.80
1996	Move	Shane Sellers	Frank L. Brothers	Cherry Valley Farm	5.5-fur.	1:05.74
1995	Miraloma	Donna Barton	D. Wayne Lukas	Robert B. Lewis & Beverly J. Lewis	5.5-fur.	1:04.04
1994	My My	Shane Sellers	William H. Fires	Patricia B. Blass	5.5-fur.	1:05.96
1993	Asta's Foxy Lady	Tracy J. Hebert	Byron Glibert	Valene Farms	5.5-fur.	1:05.51
1992	Tempered Halo	Patrick A. Johnson	William I. Mott	John A. Franks	5.5-fur.	1:05.39
1991	Hippomenes	Pat Day	Carlos A. Garcia	Prestonwood Farm	5.5-fur.	1:06.30
1990	To Freedom	Julio C. Espinoza	John J. Tammaro Jr.	Prestonwood Farm	5.5-fur.	1:05.00
1989	Summer Squall	Charles R. Woods Jr.	Neil J. Howard	Dogwood Stable	5.5-fur.	1:05.00
1988	Island Escape	Charles R. Woods Jr.	Neil J. Howard	William S. Farish	5.5-fur.	1:04.60

Notes:
† In the 2021 running of the event Averly Jane was first past the post and wagering was paid out as the winner, however the horse returned a positive swab testing positive for metformin^[1] and consequently was disqualified from the prize money and was placed seventh (last). Vodka N Water was declared the official winner of the event.

References

• The 2008 Kentucky Stakes at the NTRA

Notes and References

1. Web site: Wesley Ward Suspended 30 Days Over Positive Test For Diabetes Drug. November 8, 2010 . January 28, 2022. Paulick Report .