Elkhorn Stakes

The event is named for Elkhorn and area which it is believed that Daniel Boone took his first steps in what is now Kentucky near present-day Elkhorn City on a hunting expedition.^[1] Also the name is synonymous with Elkhorn Creek, a stream running through several counties in Central Kentucky.

The event was inaugurated on 20 April 1986 and was won by Lieutenant's Lark, starting 10-1 went wire-to-wire with Frank Lovato Jr. aboard in a time of 1:543⁄5 over the 1+1⁄8 miles distance.^[2] The event was increased to the current distance of a mile and one half in 1996.^[3]

A Grade III event from 1988 to 1989 and from 1996 to 2007, it was a Grade II event from 1990 to 1995 and in 2008 was returned to its Grade II status.^[4]

Several champions have won this event including the 1986 US Champion Male Turf Horse Manila in his season debut of 1987^[5] and the dual Breeders' Cup Mile winner Lure who won this event in 1994 easily by four lengths as a short priced favorite.^[6] Both these champions won the event when it was 1+1⁄8 miles. Chief Bearhart won this event at the 1+1⁄2 miles distance in 1997 en route to becoming Canadian Horse of the Year and also US Champion Male Turf Horse.

Speed record

• 1+1⁄2 miles: 2:27.10 – Channel Maker (2022)
• 1+1⁄8 miles: 1:47.00 – Marvin's Faith (IRE) (1995)

Margin

• 9+3⁄4 lengths – Burnham Square (2026)

Most wins

• 2 – African Dancer (1998, 1999)
• 2 – Kim Loves Bucky (2002, 2003)
• 2 – Musketier (GER) (2010, 2011)

Most wins by an owner

• 2 – Pin Oak Stable (1998, 1999)
• 2 – Kim Glenney (2002, 2003)
• 2 – Phipps Stable (2008, 2012)
• 2 – Sam-Son Farm (1997, 2021)

Most wins by a jockey

• 5 – Jerry Bailey (1992, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004)

Most wins by a trainer

• 4 – Roger Attfield (2006, 2009, 2010, 2011)
• 4 – Michael J. Maker (2013, 2016, 2019, 2020)

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
2026	Burnham Square	4	Brian J. Hernandez Jr.	Ian R. Wilkes	Whitham Thoroughbreds	1+1⁄2 miles	2:32.55	$389,500	II	[7]
2025	Utah Beach	5	Vincent Cheminaud	Ignacio Correas IV	Jeffrey S. Amling & Merriebelle Stable	1+1⁄2 miles	2:29.78	$394,188	II	[8]
2024	Silver Knott (GB)	4	Flavien Prat	Charlie Appleby	Godolphin Racing	1+1⁄2 miles	2:27.37	$313,750	II	[9]
2023	Verstappen	4	Declan Cannon	Brendan P. Walsh	Andrew Farm, For the People Racing Stable, & Windmill Manor Farm	1+1⁄2 miles	2:29.28	$333,157	II	[10]
2022	Channel Maker	8	Luis Saez	William I. Mott	Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R.A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing	1+1⁄2 miles	2:27.10	$310,538	II	[11]
2021	Say the Word	6	Luis Saez	Philip D'Amato	Agave Racing Stable & Sam-Son Farm	1+1⁄2 miles	2:28.26	$200,000	II	[12]
2020	Zulu Alpha	7	Tyler Gaffalione	Michael J. Maker	Michael M Hui	1+1⁄2 miles	2:30.82	$175,000	II	[13]
2019	Bigger Picture	6	Tyler Gaffalione	Michael J. Maker	Three Diamonds Farm	1+1⁄2 miles	2:32.00	$250,000	II	[14]
2018	One Go All Go	6	Chris Landeros	Charles L. Dickey	Rodney Paden	1+1⁄2 miles	2:30.76	$250,000	II	[15]
2017	Itsinthepost (FR)	5	Tyler Baze	Jeff Mullins	Red Baron's Barn	1+1⁄2 miles	2:31.22	$250,000	II	[16]
2016	Da Big Hoss	5	Florent Geroux	Michael J. Maker	Skychai Racing	1+1⁄2 miles	2:31.29	$250,000	II	[17]
2015	Dramedy	6	Joe Bravo	Gerald Russel Aschinger	John James Revocable Trust	1+1⁄2 miles	2:31.17	$250,000	II	[18]
2014	Unitarian	4	Javier Castellano	Todd A. Pletcher	Robert S. Evans	1+1⁄2 miles	2:32.60	$250,000	II	[19]
2013	Dark Cove	6	Joel Rosario	Michael J. Maker	Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey	1+1⁄2 miles	2:30.84	$150,000	II	[20]
2012	Point of Entry	4	John R. Velazquez	Claude R. McGaughey III	Phipps Stable	1+1⁄2 miles	2:29.45	$150,000	II	[21]
2011	Musketier (GER)	9	John R. Velazquez	Roger L. Attfield	Stella Perdomo	1+1⁄2 miles	2:32.04	$150,000	II	[22]
2010	Musketier (GER)	8	John R. Velazquez	Roger L. Attfield	Johanna Louise Glen-Teven	1+1⁄2 miles	2:31.32	$200,000	II	[23]
2009	Spice Route (GB)	5	René R. Douglas	Roger L. Attfield	Attfield, Harlequin & Ralph Johnson	1+1⁄2 miles	2:29.23	$200,000	II	[24]
2008	Dancing Forever	5	René R. Douglas	Claude R. McGaughey III	Phipps Stable	1+1⁄2 miles	2:29.79	$200,000	II	[25]
2007	Ascertain (IRE)	6	Jamie Theriot	Niall M. O'Callaghan	Mrs. S. K. Johnston Jr., Paul J. Dixon & Dr. Gene Voss	1+1⁄2 miles	2:30.40	$200,000	III	[26]
2006	Pellegrino (BRZ)	7	Shaun Bridgmohan	Roger L. Attfield	Gary A. Tanaka	1+1⁄2 miles	2:29.84	$200,000	III	[27]
2005	Macaw (IRE)	6	Javier Castellano	Angel A. Penna Jr.	George Melillo	1+1⁄2 miles	2:32.62	$200,000	III	[28]
2004	Epicentre	5	Jerry D. Bailey	Robert J. Frankel	Juddmonte Farms	1+1⁄2 miles	2:31.96	$150,000	III	[29]
2003	Kim Loves Bucky	6	Kent J. Desormeaux	John Glenney	Kim Glenney	1+1⁄2 miles	2:29.39	$150,000	III	[30]
2002	Kim Loves Bucky	5	Jorge F. Chavez	John Glenney	Kim Glenney	1+1⁄2 miles	2:32.49	$150,000	III	[31]
2001	Williams News	6	Robby Albarado	Thomas M. Amoss	On Target Racing Stable	1+1⁄2 miles	2:29.13	$113,400	III	[32]
2000	Drama Critic	4	Jerry D. Bailey	Mark A. Hennig	Amerman Racing Stables	1+1⁄2 miles	2:28.00	$112,500	III	[33]
1999	African Dancer	7	Jerry D. Bailey	William I. Mott	Pin Oak Stable	1+1⁄2 miles	2:27.80	$109,900	III	[34]
1998	African Dancer	6	Jerry D. Bailey	William I. Mott	Pin Oak Stable	1+1⁄2 miles	2:31.60	$107,600	III	[35]
1997	Chief Bearhart	4	José A. Santos	Mark R. Frostad	Sam-Son Farm	1+1⁄2 miles	2:28.40	$110,200	III	[36]
1996	Vladivostok	6	Pat Day	Neil J. Howard	Bayard Sharp	1+1⁄2 miles	2:30.80	$110,100	III	[37]
1995	Marvin's Faith (IRE)	4	Craig Perret	Ian P. D. Jory	Marvin Malmouth	1+1⁄8 miles	1:47.00	$114,000	II	[38]
1994	Lure	5	Mike E. Smith	Claude R. McGaughey III	Claiborne Farm	1+1⁄8 miles	1:53.60	$107,300	II	[6]
1993	Coaxing Matt	4	Pat Day	Neil L. Pessin	Elmer E. Miller	1+1⁄8 miles	1:47.60	$110,650	II	[39]
1992	Fourstars Allstar	4	Jerry D. Bailey	Leo O'Brien	Richard M. Bomze	1+1⁄8 miles	1:47.60	$112,300	II	[40]
1991	Itsallgreektome	4	Russell Baze	Wallace Dollase	Jhayare Stables	1+1⁄8 miles	1:51.20	$109,450	II	[41]
1990	Ten Keys	6	Randy Romero	Michael V. Pino	Charles Linhoss	1+1⁄8 miles	1:51.80	$109,950	II	[42]
1989	Exclusive Partner	7	Fernando Toro	Richard E. Mandella	R. Dee Hubbard	1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.40	$84,450	III	[43]
1988	Yankee Affair	6	Pat Day	Henry L. Carroll	Ju Ju Jen Stable	1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.60	$86,900	III	[44]
1987	Manila	4	Jacinto Vásquez	LeRoy Jolley	Bradley M. Shannon	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.40	$53,875		[5]
1986	Lieutenant's Lark	4	Frank Lovato Jr.	Howard M. Tesher	Lowell T. Stevens	1+1⁄8 miles	1:54.60	$55,925		[2]