Aristides Stakes
Grade III Thoroughbred horse race
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Aristides Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four-year-olds and older over a distance of six furlongs on the dirt scheduled annually in late May or early June at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The event currently offers a purse of $275,000.
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
| Class | Grade III |
|---|---|
| Location | Churchill Downs Louisville, Kentucky, United States |
| Inaugurated | 1989 (as Aristides Breeders' Cup Handicap) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | Churchill Downs |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 6 furlongs |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Four-year-olds and older |
| Weight | 122 lbs with allowances |
| Purse | US$275,000 (since 2024) |
History
The Aristides Stakes is named in honor of the racehorse Aristides who won the inaugural Kentucky Derby in 1875 on the Churchill Downs track.
The race itself was inaugurated on June 18, 1989, as the Aristides Breeders' Cup Handicap over a distance of 6+1⁄2 furlongs and was won by the Paul McGee=trained ex-claimer Bet the Pot.[1] The condition of entry to the handicap were for horses three years old older.
Breeders' Cup sponsorship ceased in 1996 but the quality of entrants continued to improve and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association upgraded the event to Grade III status.[2]
Bet on Sunshine, the first two-time winner in the race's history, set a new track record of 1:15.11 for 6+1⁄2 furlongs in 2000 as an eight-year-old[3] then in 2001 beat his own record with a time of 1:14.79.[4]
Breeders' Cup sponsorship resumed in 2004 for three runnings of the event and the distance was decreased to six furlongs.[2] Kelly's Landing ran the fastest six furlongs in Churchill Downs history when he won the 2005 edition in a time of 1:07.59.[5] Later in 2020 Volatile would better the stakes record with a time of 1:07.57 when he won easily by eight lengths as the 1/2 odds-on favorite.[6]
In 2019 the event lost its graded status.[4]
In 2020 the conditions of the event were modified so that only horses four years old and older could enter.[6]
In 2025 the event was upgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to a Grade III.[7]
Records
Speed record
- 6 furlongs: 1:07.57 – Volatile (2020)
- 6+1⁄2 furlongs: 1:14.41 – Orientate (2002)
Margins
- 8 lengths – Volatile (2020)
Most wins
- 2 – Bet On Sunshine (2000, 2001)
- 2 – Alsvid (2015, 2016)
- 2 – Bango (2021, 2022)
Most wins by a jockey
- 3 – Shane J. Sellers (1994, 1997, 1998)
- 3 – Corey J. Lanerie (2003, 2017, 2019)
Most wins by a trainer
- 5 – Steven M. Asmussen (2003, 2010, 2012, 2020, 2023)
Most wins by an owner
- 2 – David P. Halloway Racing (2000, 2001)
- 2 – Maggi Moss (2008, 2014)
- 2 – Black Hawk Stable (2015, 2016)
- 2 – Tamaroak Partners (2021, 2022)
Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aristides Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2025 | Durante | 6 | Jose L. Ortiz | David Jacobson | David Jacobson | 6 furlongs | 1:09.23 | $275,000 | III | [8] |
| 2024 | Closethegame Sugar | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Adam Rice | Adam Rice & Sugar Diaz | 6 furlongs | 1:08.39 | $260,000 | Listed | [9] |
| 2023 | Gunite | 4 | Tyler Gaffalione | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 6 furlongs | 1:08.46 | $224,500 | Listed | [10] |
| 2022 | Bango | 5 | Tyler Gaffalione | Gregory D. Foley | Tamaroak Partners | 6 furlongs | 1:08.54 | $199,833 | Listed | [11] |
| 2021 | Bango | 4 | Marcelino Pedroza Jr. | Gregory D. Foley | Tamaroak Partners | 6 furlongs | 1:09.65 | $150,000 | Listed | [12] |
| 2020 | Volatile | 4 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steven M. Asmussen | Phoenix Thoroughbred III & Three Chimneys Farm | 6 furlongs | 1:07.57 | $100,000 | Listed | [6] |
| 2019 | Wilbo | 7 | Corey J. Lanerie | Chris A. Hartman | Chris Wilkins | 6 furlongs | 1:09.27 | $125,000 | Listed | [13] |
| 2018 | Chief Cicatriz | 5 | James Graham | Shawn H. Davis | Roy Gene Stables | 6 furlongs | 1:08.44 | $100,000 | III | [14] |
| 2017 | Limousine Liberal | 5 | Corey J. Lanerie | Ben Colebrook | Katherine Ball | 6 furlongs | 1:09.12 | $100,000 | III | [15] |
| 2016 | Alsvid | 7 | Chris Landeros | Chris A. Hartman | Black Hawk Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:08.26 | $100,000 | III | [16] |
| 2015 | Alsvid | 6 | Chris Landeros | Chris A. Hartman | Black Hawk Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:09.34 | $100,000 | III | [17] |
| 2014 | Delaunay | 7 | Rosie Napravnik | Thomas M. Amoss | Maggi Moss | 6 furlongs | 1:09.59 | $112,900 | III | [18] |
| 2013 | Scatman | 4 | Shaun Bridgmohan | William I. Mott | JEOG Racing | 6 furlongs | 1:10.56 | $106,800 | III | [19] |
| 2012 | Rothko | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Steven M. Asmussen | Padua Stables | 6 furlongs | 1:09.40 | $109,400 | III | [20] |
| 2011 | Noble's Promise | 4 | Alan Garcia | Kenneth G. McPeek | Chasing Dreams Racing | 6 furlongs | 1:08.74 | $110,300 | III | [21] |
| 2010 | Riley Tucker | 5 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Steven M. Asmussen | Zayat Stables | 6 furlongs | 1:08.34 | $107,900 | III | [22] |
| 2009 | Bold Start | 5 | Robby Albarado | Kenneth G. McPeek | Lawrence Carroll | 6 furlongs | 1:09.04 | $112,600 | III | [23] |
| 2008 | Indian Chant | 5 | Jamie Theriot | Tom Amoss | Maggi Moss | 6 furlongs | 1:08.40 | $119,125 | III | [24] |
| 2007 | Fabulous Strike | 4 | Ramon Dominguez | Todd Beattie | Tea Party Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:07.64 | $159,600 | III | [25] |
| Aristides Breeders' Cup Handicap | ||||||||||
| 2006 | Lost in the Fog | 4 | Russell Baze | Greg Gilchrist | Harry J. Aleo | 6 furlongs | 1:08.52 | $131,450 | III | [26] |
| 2005 | Kelly's Landing | 4 | Gary Stevens | Eddie Kenneally | Summerplace Farm | 6 furlongs | 1:07.59 | $162,450 | III | [5] |
| 2004 | Champali | 4 | Rafael Bejarano | Gregory Foley | Lloyd Madison Farms | 6 furlongs | 1:09.04 | $162,150 | III | [27] |
| Aristides Handicap | ||||||||||
| 2003 | Mountain General | 5 | Corey J. Lanerie | Steven M. Asmussen | Keith I. Asmussen | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.01 | $109,000 | III | [28] |
| 2002 | Orientate | 4 | Robby Albarado | D. Wayne Lukas | Bob & Beverly Lewis | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:14.41 | $107,500 | III | [29] |
| 2001 | Bet On Sunshine | 9 | Calvin Borel | Paul J. McGee | David P. Halloway Racing | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:14.79 | $108,400 | III | [30] |
| 2000 | Bet On Sunshine | 8 | Francisco Torres | Paul J. McGee | David P. Halloway Racing | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.11 | $109,700 | III | [3] |
| 1999 | Run Johnny | 7 | Pat Day | Morris G. Nicks | John Oakley | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.27 | $110,600 | III | [31] |
| 1998 | Thisnearlywasmine | 4 | Shane J. Sellers | Randy K. Bradshaw | Samantha Siegal, Jan Siegal, & Mace Siegal | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.72 | $108,900 | Listed | [32] |
| 1997 | High Stakes Player | 5 | Shane J. Sellers | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.85 | $109,000 | Listed | [33] |
| 1996 | Lord Carson | 4 | Donna M. Barton | D. Wayne Lukas | David P. Reynolds | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.94 | $108,500 | Listed | [34] |
| Aristides Breeders' Cup Handicap | ||||||||||
| 1995 | Boones Mill | 3 | Donna M. Barton | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.90 | $103,825 | Listed | [35] |
| 1994 | Never Wavering | 5 | Shane J. Sellers | W. Elliott Walden | John Sullivan & V.I. Fisher | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.55 | $91,025 | Listed | [36] |
| 1993 | Gold Spring (ARG) | 5 | Fabio A. Arguello Jr. | Jesse N. Wigginton | Ross Harris | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.43 | $63,701 | Listed | [37] |
| 1992 | Tricky Fun | 4 | Pat Day | William H. Fires | Patricia B. Blass | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.35 | $68,800 | [38] | |
| 1991 | Bio | 5 | Brent E. Bartman | Steven C. Penrod | Waddell W. Hancock | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.62 | $63,520 | [39] | |
| 1990 | Beau Genius (CAN) | 5 | Ricardo D. Lopez | Gerald S. Bennett | Dr Brian Davidson | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.51 | $67,100 | [40] | |
| 1989 | Bet The Pot | 4 | Charles R. Woods Jr. | Paul J. McGee | McMichael's Racing Stables | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.44 | $49,350 | [1] | |