Grade III race | |
Location | Churchill Downs Louisville, Kentucky, United States |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1977 (as Mint Julep Handicap) |
Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
Sponsor | Old Forester (since 2015) |
Website | Churchill Downs |
Race information | |
Distance | 1+1⁄16 miles (8+1⁄2 furlongs) |
Surface | Turf |
Track | Left-handed |
Qualification | Fillies and Mares, four-year-olds and older |
Weight | 124lbs with allowances |
Purse | $225,000 (2023) |
The Mint Julep Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, four years old and older over a distance of one and one sixteenth miles on the turf scheduled annually in late May or early June at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.[1] It currently offers a purse of $225,000.[1]
From its inaugural running in 1977 to 1986, the event was run on the dirt course, but was moved to the turf course beginning in 1987.[2]
The race is named for the Mint Julep, a popular drink with racing fans at Churchill Downs, particularly seen on Kentucky Derby day.
The event was split into divisions in 1987 and 1990.[3]
Between 1983 and 2004 the conditions of the event were for fillies and mares that were four year olds and older.[4]
In 2001 the event was upgraded to a Grade III.[1]
From 2001 to 2014 the event was known as the Early Time Mint Julep Handicap.[4] Beginning in 2015, the Mint Julep Handicap became the Old Forester Mint Julep Handicap for sponsorship reasons.[4]
It has been run at the following distances:
Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Delahaye | 5 | Tyler Gaffalione | Chad C. Brown | William H. Lawrence & Three Chimneys Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.46 | $249,668 | III | [5] |
2023 | Henrietta Topham | 5 | James Graham | Geoff Mulcahy | Cambus-Kenneth Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.46 | $222,000 | III | [6] |
2022 | Gam's Mission | 4 | Adam Beschizza | Cherie DeVaux | Lazy F Ranch | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.53 | $193,350 | III | [7] |
2021 | Mintd (IRE) | 5 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Brendan P. Walsh | Bradley Thoroughbreds, Madaket Stables, Team Hanley, Tim & Anna Cambron | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.92 | $150,000 | III | [8] |
2020 | Secret Message | 5 | John Velazquez | H. Graham Motion | Madaket Stables, Heider Family Stables, ERJ Racing, Elayne Stables & S. Bouchey | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.13 | $100,000 | III | [9] |
2019 | Mom's On Strike | 5 | Adam Beschizza | Joe Sharp | Carl R. Moore Management & Brad Grady | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.63 | $125,000 | III | [10] |
2018 | Lovely Bernadette | 5 | Corey J. Lanerie | Bernard S. Flint | James M. Miller | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.36 | $100,000 | III | [11] |
2017 | Dona Bruja (ARG) | 5 | Declan Cannon | Ignacio Correas IV | Ivan Gasparotto | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.46 | $100,000 | III | [12] |
2016 | Cash Control | 4 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Brad H. Cox | Richard & Bertram Klein | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.12 | $100,000 | III | [13] |
2015 | Kiss Moon | 4 | Corey J. Lanerie | David R. Vance | Carl F. Pollard | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.94 | $100,000 | III | [14] |
2014 | Honey Hues | 5 | Jesus Lopez Castanon | Bernard S. Flint | L.T B. Inc/Childers | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.75 | $110,400 | III | [15] |
2013 | Miz Ida | 4 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Steve Margolis | Richard, Bertram & Elaine Klein | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.37 | $109,100 | III | [16] |
2012 | Bizzy Caroline | 4 | Manoel Cruz | Kenneth G. McPeek | Catesby W. Clay | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.29 | $111,000 | III | [17] |
2011 | My Baby Baby | 6 | Manoel Cruz | Kenneth G. McPeek | Magdalena Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.40 | $113,900 | III | [18] |
2010 | Hot Cha Cha | 4 | James Graham | Philip A. Sims | Nelson McMakin | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.27 | $110,800 | III | [19] |
2009 | Acoma | 4 | Corey J. Lanerie | David M. Carroll | Helen Groves & Helen Alexander | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.10 | $109,000 | III | [20] |
2008 | Dreaming of Anna | 4 | Garrett K. Gomez | Wayne M. Catalano | Frank C. Calabrese | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.77 | $169,950 | III | [21] |
2007 | Quite a Bride | 4 | Robby Albarado | William I. Mott | Haras Santa Maria de Araras | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.70 | $164,100 | III | [22] |
2006 | My Typhoon (IRE) | 4 | Robby Albarado | William I. Mott | Live Oak Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.55 | $115,000 | III | [23] |
2005 | Delta Princess | 6 | Robby Albarado | William I. Mott | Saud bin Khaled | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.43 | $110,100 | III | [24] |
2004 | Stay Forever | 7 | Eddie Castro | Martin D. Wolfson | Santa Cruz Ranch/Juan Rizo | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.66 | $168,300 | III | [25] |
2003 | Kiss the Devil | 5 | Lonnie Meche | David R. Vance | Carl F. Pollard | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.73 | $168,300 | III | [26] |
2002 | Megans Bluff | 5 | Craig Perret | John K. Hennig | James C. Routsong | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.87 | $112,900 | III | [27] |
2001 | Megans Bluff | 4 | Craig Perret | John K. Hennig | James C. Routsong | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.88 | $113,600 | III | [28] |
2000 | Pratella | 5 | Larry Melancon | Burk Kessinger Jr. | Bruce Barton/Alvin Haynes | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.08 | $111,900 | Listed | [29] |
1999 | Mingling Glances | 5 | Larry Melancon | Burk Kessinger Jr. | Morven Stud Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.59 | $114,400 | Listed | [30] |
1998 | B. A. Valentine | 5 | Francisco C. Torres | Dale L. Romans | Alberta Butner | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.42 | $114,200 | Listed | [31] |
1997 | †Valor Lady | 5 | Robby Albarado | Mark A. Hennig | Amerman Racing Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.20 | $114,900 | Listed | [32] |
1996 | Bail Out Becky | 4 | Craig Perret | William I. Mott | Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.86 | $84,150 | Listed | [33] |
1995 | Romy | 4 | Juvenal Lopez Diaz | Moises R. Yanez | William L. Pacella et al. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.69 | $84,525 | Listed | [34] |
1994 | Words of War | 5 | Carlos H. Marquez Jr. | Joseph E. Kasperski Jr. | Lawrence Karp | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.98 | $85,650 | Listed | [35] |
1993 | Classic Reign | 4 | Fabio A. Arguello Jr. | James E. Day | Sam-Son Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.84 | $57,500 | Listed | [36] |
1992 | Lady Shirl | 5 | Patrick A. Johnson | P. Noel Hickey | Irish Acres Farm (P. Noel Hickey) | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.41 | $57,050 | Listed | [37] |
1991 | Dance for Lucy | 5 | Larry Melancon | Sheldon Wolfe | Alexander Schmidt | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.07 | $57,150 | Listed | [38] |
1990 | Tunita | 5 | Robert J. Thibeau Jr. | George R. Arnold II | John Peace | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.80 | $48,425 | Listed | Division 1[39][4] |
Phoenix Sunshine | 5 | Joseph Deegan | Del Loveland | Judy Hicks | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.20 | $48,425 | Listed | Division 2[40][4] | |
1989 | Here's Your Silver | 4 | Michael McDowell | Steven C. Penrod | Hermitage Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.40 | $57,100 | Listed | [41][4] |
1988 | How I Wish | 4 | Earlie Fires | Joseph E. Broussard | Estate of Joe Siggio | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.00 | $56,400 | Listed | [42][4] |
1987 | Thunderdome | 4 | Steve H. Bass | Harry E. Trotsek | Edward A. Seltzer | 1 mile | 1:37.80 | $40,005 | Listed | Division 1[43][4] |
Innsbruck (GB) | 4 | Sandy Hawley | William I. Mott | Diana Firestone | 1 mile | 1:38.00 | $35,280 | Listed | Division 2[44][4] | |
1986 | Zenobia Empress | 5 | Earlie Fires | Joseph M. Bollero | Russell Fortune Jr. | 1 mile | 1:35.80 | $44,695 | Listed | [45][4] |
1985 | Stave | 4 | Charles R. Woods Jr. | Ted McClain | Hidaway Farm | 1 mile | 1:35.00 | $32,375 | Listed | [46][4] |
1984 | Lass Trump | 4 | Garth Patterson | C. R. McGaughey III | Al Samford | 1 mile | 1:37.00 | $40,410 | Listed | [47][4] |
1983 | Naskra Magic | 4 | Phil Rubbicco | James O. Keefer | Jim Thomas | 1 mile | 1:36.60 | $35,750 | Listed | [48][4] |
1982 | Kate's Cabin | 4 | Eddie Snell | Lee Snell | Ruth Cummings | 7 furlongs | 1:25.20 | $36,100 | Listed | [49][4] |
1981 | Lillian Russell | 4 | Ronald J. Hirdes Jr. | Raymond S. Lawrence Jr. | Leslie Combs II | 7 furlongs | 1:23.20 | $29,950 | Listed | [50][4] |
1980 | Likely Exchange | 6 | David E. Whited | Thomas H. Stevens Sr. | G. Watts Humphrey Jr. & Pamela Firman | 7 furlongs | 1:24.20 | $30,225 | Listed | [51][4] |
1979 | Bold Rendezvous | 4 | Alexander L. Fernandez | James E. Morgan | John Bolan, T. Wood Jr. & C. Labanz | 7 furlongs | 1:25.00 | $28,175 | Listed | [52][4] |
1978 | Time for Pleasure | 4 | Thomas Barrow | Phil A. Grosser | William Q. Muir | 7 furlongs | 1:23.40 | $22,475 | [53][4] | |
1977 | Satan's Cheer | 5 | Mike Manganello | Peter W. Salmen Jr. | Crimson King Farm | 7 furlongs | 1:24.00 | $22,000 | [54] |
Legend:
Turf
Dirt
Notes:
† In 1997, Romy won but was disqualified for interference in the stretch and set back to fourth.[32]