Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint Stakes
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| Class | Grade II |
|---|---|
| Location | Kentucky Downs Franklin, Kentucky, United States |
| Inaugurated | 1998 (as Kentucky Cup Turf Dash Stakes) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Sponsor | Ainsworth Gaming (2023) |
| Website | www.kentuckydowns.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 6 furlongs |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three years old and older |
| Weight | Base weights with allowances 4-year-olds and up: 125 lbs. 3-year-olds: 122 lbs. |
| Purse | $2,000,000 (2024) |
| Bonuses | Winner automatic entry into Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint |
The Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint Stakes, raced as the Ainsworth Turf Sprint Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old or older, over a distance of six furlongs on the turf held annually in September at Kentucky Downs racetrack in Franklin, Kentucky during their short turf meeting. The event currently carries a purse of $2,000,000 which includes $1,000,000 from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.
The race was inaugurated in 1998[1] with an attractive purse offered of $100,000.[1] The event was raced as the Kentucky Cup Turf Dash Stakes as part of the Kentucky Cup.
The event was not held in 2011[1] and the event renamed in 2016 to the Turf Sprint Stakes
In 2017 the event was upgraded to a Grade III.[2]
With the influx of gaming revenue at Kentucky Downs the purse for the event has risen dramatically to nearly $700,000 offered by 2019.[1]
Records
Speed record:
- 6 furlongs: 1:07.41 - Bran (FR) (2022) (new track record)
- 6+1⁄2 furlongs: 1:15.72 - Proforma (2018)
Margins:
- 6 lengths – Morluc (2000)
Most wins
- 2 – Hold the Salt (2007, 2008)
- 2 – Gear Jockey (2021, 2023)
Most wins by a jockey
- 4 – Robby Albarado (2000, 2001, 2015, 2016)
Most wins by a trainer
- 3 – George R. Arnold II (2019, 2021, 2023)
Most wins by an owner
- 2 – Cynthia Knight (2007, 2008)
- 2 – Calumet Farm (2021, 2023)