Matt Winn Stakes
Horse race
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Matt Winn Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles on the dirt at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The event currently offers a purse of $400,000. It is usually run in mid-June but in 2020 was moved up to mid-May.[1]
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
| Class | Grade III Stakes |
|---|---|
| Location | Churchill Downs Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Inaugurated | 2002 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄16 miles |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | 123 lbs with allowances |
| Purse | US$400,000 (since 2023) |
History
The race was inaugurated in 2002[2] in honor Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs's Col. Matt Winn, who served as president and general manager of the historic track from 1902 to 1949. Known by the media as "Mr. Derby," Winn is credited with building the Kentucky Derby into America's greatest race and one of the world's great sports events. The inaugural running was over a distance of six furlongs.[1]
In 2009 the distance was set at 7 furlongs.[2] In 2011, it was changed to its current 1+1⁄16 miles.[2]
In 2011 the event was upgraded to Grade III status.[1]
In 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the event was rescheduled to May 23 from its normal date in mid-June. The race was added to the 2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby as a result of the rescheduling of that race.[3]
In 2023 the event was moved to Ellis Park after Churchill Downs closed their spring meeting earlier due to a spate of injuries. The distance of the event was increased to 1+1⁄8 miles.[4]
Records
Speed Record:
- 1+1⁄16 miles: 1:41.12 – Gun Runner (2016)
- 1+1⁄8 miles: 1:49.59 – Disarm (2023)
Margins:
- 7+1⁄4 lengths – Neck 'n Neck (2012)
- Most wins by a jockey
- 3 – Florent Geroux (2016, 2021, 2022)
- Most wins by a trainer
- 6 – Steve Asmussen (2003, 2005, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2023)
Most wins by an Owner
- 3 – Winchell Thoroughbreds (2014, 2016, 2023)
Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At Churchill Downs | ||||||||||
| 2025 | East Avenue | Luis Saez | Brendan P. Walsh | Godolphin Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.12 | $387,000 | III | [5] | |
| 2024 | Society Man | Corey J. Lanerie | Danny Gargan | Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, West Paces Racing, GMP Stables, Carl F. & Yurie Pascarella | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.33 | $395,000 | III | [6] | |
| At Ellis Park | ||||||||||
| 2023 | Disarm | Joel Rosario | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.59 | $400,000 | III | [7] | |
| At Churchill Downs | ||||||||||
| 2022 | Cyberknife | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Gold Square LLC | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.98 | $225,000 | III | [8] | |
| 2021 | Fulsome | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Juddmonte | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.88 | $150,000 | III | [9] | |
| 2020 | Maxfield | José L. Ortiz | Brendan P. Walsh | Godolphin | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.05 | $150,000 | III | [10] | |
| 2019 | Mr. Money | Gabriel Saez | W. Bret Calhoun | Allied Racing Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.28 | $150,000 | III | [11] | |
| 2018 | King Zachary | Robby Albarado | Dale L. Romans | Thomas F. Conway | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.86 | $100,000 | III | [12] | |
| 2017 | McCraken | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Ian R. Wilkes | Whitham Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.24 | $100,000 | III | [13] | |
| 2016 | Gun Runner | Florent Geroux | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds, Three Chimneys Farm & Besilu Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.12 | $100,000 | III | [14] | |
| 2015 | Island Town | Julien R. Leparoux | Ian R. Wilkes | Six Column Stables et al. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.46 | $100,000 | III | [15] | |
| 2014 | Tapiture | Rosie Napravnik | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.99 | $109,400 | III | [16] | |
| 2013 | Code West | Rosie Napravnik | Bob Baffert | Gary & Mary West | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.37 | $113,100 | III | [17] | |
| 2012 | Neck 'n Neck | Leandro D. Goncalves | Ian R. Wilkes | A. Steven Miles Jr. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.72 | $107,100 | III | [18] | |
| 2011 | Scotus | Alan Garcia | Kenneth G. McPeek | Peter Callahan | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.12 | $138,500 | III | [19] | |
| 2010 | Thiskyhasnolimit | Shaun Bridgmohan | Steven M. Asmussen | Cathy & Bob Zollars & Mark Wagner | 7 furlongs | 1:22.29 | $108,000 | Listed | [20] | |
| 2009 | Capt. Candyman Can | Javier Castellano | Ian R. Wilkes | Joseph Rauch & David Zell | 7 furlongs | 1:22.89 | $106,900 | Listed | [21] | |
| 2008 | Eaton's Gift | Elvis Trujillo | Dale L. Romans | Zayat Stables | 6 furlongs | 1:09.48 | $108,800 | Listed | [22] | |
| 2007 | Spin Master | Miguel Mena | Dale L. Romans | Eldon Farm | 6 furlongs | 1:08.30 | $108,500 | Listed | [23] | |
| 2006 | Changing Weather | Robby Albarado | Eoin G. Harty | Darley Racing | 6 furlongs | 1:09.86 | $109,800 | Listed | [24] | |
| 2005 | Razor | Mike E. Smith | Steven M. Asmussen | Padua Stables | 6 furlongs | 1:09.48 | $109,700 | Listed | [25] | |
| 2004 | Fire Slam | Pat Day | David M. Carroll | Stan E. Fulton | 6 furlongs | 1:09.64 | $103,499 | Listed | [26] | |
| 2003 | Posse | Corey J. Lanerie | Steven M. Asmussen | Heiligbrodt Racing Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:09.43 | $111,400 | Listed | [27] | |
| 2002 | Day Trader | Calvin H. Borel | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 6 furlongs | 1:09.43 | $109,600 | Listed | [28] | |