Limestone Stakes
Horse race
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Limestone Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of 5+1⁄2 furlongs on the turf held annually in early April at Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky during the spring meeting. The event currently offers a purse of $350,000.
Lexington, Kentucky
United States
| Class | Grade III |
|---|---|
| Location | Keeneland Racecourse Lexington, Kentucky United States |
| Inaugurated | 2019 (as Limestone Turf Sprint Stakes) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Sponsor | FanDuel (since 2022) |
| Website | Keeneland |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 5+1⁄2 furlongs |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-old fillies |
| Weight | 123 lbs with allowances |
| Purse | US$350,000 (2026) |
History
The event is named after the Lexington Limestone, a prominent geologic formation that heavily influenced both the surface topography and economy of the region.[1]
In the inaugural running of the event was as the Limestone Turf Sprint Stakes on April 12, 2019, and the winner was the Irish-bred three-year-old filly Ginger Nut who ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario and won by one and a quarters lengths in a time of 1:03.53.[2]
In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Keeneland did not schedule the event in their updated and shortened summer meeting.[3]
In 2024 the event was moved off the turf and held on a sloppy track. The event was won by Hot Beach by four lengths. The event lost its Listed status for the running.[4]
In 2026 the event was upgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to a Grade III.[5]
Records
Speed record
- 5+1⁄2 furlongs: 1:01:99 – Slay the Day (2026)
Margins
- 4 lengths – Hot Beach (2024)
Most wins by a jockey
- 2 – Joel Rosario (2019, 2023)
- 2 – John R. Velazquez (2022, 2026)
Most wins by a trainer
- 3 – Brian A. Lynch (2021, 2024, 2026)
Most wins by an owner
- 2 – Stonestreet Stables (2022, 2023)
Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limestone Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2026 | Slay the Day | John R. Velazquez | Brian A. Lynch | Flying Dutchmen Breeding & Racing | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:01.99 | $328,150 | III | [6] | |
| 2025 | Shisospicy | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Jose F. D'Angelo | Morplay Racing | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:03.94 | $293,850 | Listed | [7] | |
| 2024 | Hot Beach | José Ortiz | Brian A. Lynch | Boardshorts Stable | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:05.70 | $244,563 | Off turf[8] | ||
| 2023 | Love Reigns (IRE) | Joel Rosario | Wesley A. Ward | Stonestreet Stables | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:02.45 | $208,188 | Listed | [9] | |
| 2022 | Ruthin (GB) | John R. Velazquez | Wesley A. Ward | Stonestreet Stables | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:03.33 | $155,100 | Listed | [10] | |
| Limestone Turf Sprint Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2021 | Tobys Heart | Javier Castellano | Brian A. Lynch | Gary Barber, Terry Hamilton & Brian A. Lynch | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:02.29 | $100,000 | [11] | ||
| 2020 | Race not held | |||||||||
| 2019 | Ginger Nut (IRE) | Joel Rosario | John W. Sadler | Hronis Racing | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:03.53 | $100,000 | [2] | ||
Legend:
Dirt
Turf