Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes
Horse race
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes is a Grade II American thoroughbred horse race for horses age three and older over a distance of 5+1⁄2 furlongs on the turf held annually in early May on the Kentucky Oaks day meeting at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky during the spring meeting.
ClassGrade II
Inaugurated1995 (as Churchill Downs Turf Sprint Stakes)
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
| Class | Grade II |
|---|---|
| Location | Churchill Downs Louisville, Kentucky, United States |
| Inaugurated | 1995 (as Churchill Downs Turf Sprint Stakes) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Sponsor | Accenture (2026) |
| Website | Churchill Downs |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 5+1⁄2 furlongs |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds and older |
| Weight | Base weights with allowances: 4-year-olds and up: 124 lbs. 3-year-olds: 122 lbs. |
| Purse | $600,000 (2024) |
History
The event was inaugurated on 5 May 1995 as the Churchill Downs Turf Sprint Stakes as the sixth race on the undercard of the Kentucky Oaks day meeting over a distance of five furlongs. The event was won by the second favorite Long Suit, who led all the way to record a 1+3⁄4 length victory in a time of 56.90 seconds.[1]
In 1999, Aegon committed to a long term sponsorship which reflected in the name of the event. This sponsorship ended in 2009.[2] In 2011 Churchill Downs administration renamed the event to the current name, Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes.[2]
The event was first classified as Grade III in 2001[3] and a Grade II race in 2020.[4]
In 2015, Power Alert set the course record of 0.55.17.[5]
In 2019, the distance of the event was increased to 5+1⁄2 furlongs.[2]
Records
- Speed record
- 5+1⁄2 furlongs: 1:02.20 - Yellow Card (2026)
- 5 furlongs: 55.17 - Power Alert (2015)
- Margins
- 3+3⁄4 lengths - World of Trouble (2019)
- Most wins by a jockey
- 3 - Julien Leparoux (2006, 2010, 2015)
- 3 - Irad Ortiz Jr. (2021, 2022, 2024)
- Most wins by a trainer
- 3 - W. Bret Calhoun (2008, 2009, 2014)
- 3 - Steven M. Asmussen (2007, 2011, 2024)
- Most wins by an owner
- 2 - Mike Cloonan (2001, 2005)
- 2 - Carl R. Moore Management (2008, 2009)
- 2 - Martin Racing Stable (2008, 2014)
- 2 - Heiligbrodt Racing Stable (2007, 2024)
Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2026 | Yellow Card | 5 | Flavien Prat | Michael W. McCarthy | James M. Daniell | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:02.20 | $594,600 | II | [6] |
| 2025 | Think Big | 4 | Ben Curtis | Michael Stidham | Godolphin | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:02.35 | $569,600 | II | [7] |
| 2024 | Cogburn | 5 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Steven M. Asmussen | Clark O. Brewster, William L. & Corinne Heiligbrodt | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:03.16 | $569,770 | II | [8] |
| 2023 | Nobals | 4 | Gerardo Corrales | Larry Rivelli | Patricia's Hope | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:02.45 | $500,000 | II | [9] |
| 2022 | Arrest Me Red | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Wesley A. Ward | Lael Stables | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:04.18 | $500,000 | II | [10] |
| 2021 | Fast Boat | 6 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Joe Sharp | Brad Grady | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:03.29 | $250,000 | II | [11] |
| 2020 | Diamond Oops | 5 | Florent Geroux | Patrick Biancone | Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy E Dunne Et Al | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:04.18 | $250,000 | II | [12] |
| 2019 | World of Trouble | 4 | Manuel Franco | Jason Servis | Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables & Bethlehem Stables | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:03.97 | $250,000 | II | [13] |
| 2018 | Will Call | 4 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Brad H. Cox | Klein Racing | 5 furlongs | 0:56.68 | $200,000 | III | [14] |
| 2017 | Green Mask | 6 | Javier Castellano | Brad H. Cox | Abdullah Saeed Almaddah | 5 furlongs | 0:58.02 | $150,000 | III | [15] |
| 2016 | Rocket Heat | 4 | Flavien Prat | Vann Belvoir | Mike Sanchez | 5 furlongs | 0:56.47 | $150,000 | III | [16] |
| 2015 | Power Alert (AUS) | 5 | Julien R. Leparoux | Brian A. Lynch | James Covello, AJ Suited Racing Stable & Brian A. Lynch | 5 furlongs | 0:55.17 | $150,000 | III | [17] |
| 2014 | Marchman | 4 | Robby Albarado | W. Bret Calhoun | Martin Racing Stable | 5 furlongs | 0:56.04 | $167,550 | III | [18] |
| 2013 | Berlino Di Tiger (BRZ) | 5 | Leandro D. Goncalves | Eduardo Caramori | Stud Sampaio | 5 furlongs | 0:57.01 | $138,250 | III | [19] |
| 2012 | Great Attack | 5 | Joel Rosario | Wesley A. Ward | Houyhnhnm Stable | 5 furlongs | 0:56.61 | $150,350 | III | [20] |
| 2011 | Regally Ready | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Steven M. Asmussen | Vinery Stables | 5 furlongs | 0:56.57 | $111,200 | III | [21] |
| Churchill Downs Turf Sprint Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2010 | Silver Timber | 7 | Julien R. Leparoux | Chad C. Brown | Michael Dubb & High Grade Racing Stable Dubb | 5 furlongs | 0:55.45 | $119,100 | III | [22] |
| Aegon Turf Sprint Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2009 | Chamberlain Bridge | 5 | Garrett K. Gomez | W. Bret Calhoun | Carl Moore Management | 5 furlongs | 0:57.06 | $112,800 | III | [23] |
| 2008 | Mr. Nightlinger | 4 | Jamie Theriot | W. Bret Calhoun | Martin Racing Stable & Carl Moore Management | 5 furlongs | 0:56.18 | $126,400 | III | [24] |
| 2007 | Gaff | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Steven M. Asmussen | Heiligbrodt Racing Stable | 5 furlongs | 0:56.84 | $169,050 | III | [25] |
| 2006 | Man Of Illusion (AUS) | 5 | Julien R. Leparoux | Patrick L. Biancone | A. C. Cotter, D H K Investments, R. Goldbloom et al. | 5 furlongs | 0:56.28 | $116,000 | III | [26] |
| 2005 | Mighty Beau | 6 | Pat Valenzuela | Jeff Mullins | Mike Cloonan & Anthony Carolan | 5 furlongs | 0:56.18 | $113,500 | III | [27] |
| 2004 | Lydgate | 4 | Pat Day | Eoin G. Harty | Darley Stable | 5 furlongs | 0:56.56 | $114,700 | III | [28] |
| 2003 | Fiscally Speaking | 4 | Jon Court | Carl A. Nafzger | Janis R. Whitman | 5 furlongs | 0:56.01 | $115,300 | III | [29] |
| 2002 | Testify | 5 | Eddie Delahoussaye | Randy L. Morse | Robert S. Mitchell Trust | 5 furlongs | 0:57.39 | $121,300 | III | [30] |
| 2001 | Morluc | 4 | Robby Albarado | Randy L. Morse | Michael Cloonan | 5 furlongs | 0:56.60 | $113,700 | III | [31] |
| 2000 | Bold Fact | 5 | Richard Migliore | John C. Kimmel | Juddmonte Farms | 5 furlongs | 0:56.37 | $121,500 | Listed | [32] |
| 1999 | Howbaddouwantit | 4 | Mike E. Smith | Benjamin W. Perkins Jr. | Larry F. Hall | 5 furlongs | 0:57.03 | $115,300 | Listed | [33] |
| Churchill Downs Turf Sprint Stakes | ||||||||||
| 1998 | Indian Rocket (GB) | 4 | Gary L. Stevens | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | Shadwell Racing | 5 furlongs | 0:57.32 | $122,500 | Listed | [34] |
| 1997 | Sandtrap | 4 | Alex O. Solis | Ben D. A. Cecil | Estate of Robert E. Hibbert | 5 furlongs | 0:56.51 | $115,700 | Listed | [35] |
| 1996 | Danjur | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Neil D. Drysdale | Aaron U. Jones | 5 furlongs | 0:56.09 | $88,125 | Listed | [36] |
| 1995 | Long Suit | 4 | Willie Martinez | Angel O. Montano Sr. | Larry Telle | 5 furlongs | 0:56.90 | $87,825 | Listed | [1] |