Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Stakes
| Grade III race | |
| Location | Flat racing |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Aristocrat Gaming (since 2023) |
| Website | Kentucky Downs |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+5⁄16 miles |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds and older |
| Weight | Base weights with allowances: 4-year-olds and up: 126 lbs. 3-year-olds: 122 lbs. |
| Purse | US$1,000,000 (since 2023) |
The Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Stakes is a
turf held annually in September at Kentucky Downs racetrack in Franklin, Kentucky
during their short turf meeting. The event currently carries a purse of $1,000,000 which includes $400,000 from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.
History
With the introduction of
Instant Racing in late 2011 the influx of revenue enabled the administration of the track added new events to an expanded racing season.[1]
One of these new events one was the Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Stakes.
The inaugural running of the event was on 15 September 2012 as the third event on the fourth day of the five day meeting at Kentucky Downs. A field of seven entrants lined up and the event was won by the Dreamfields Farm filly Maid of Heaven who started at 8/1 and was ridden by jockey Leandro Goncalves winning by a head in a time of 2:14.06.[2]
Due to sponsorship the event has had several name changes. In 2015 the Thoroughbred auction house
Television Games Network and was held as the TVG Stakes.[3]
The 2016 winner, Al's Gal proved the improving quality of the event by capturing the Grade 1 E. P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack in Canada in her next start.[4]
With the influx of gaming revenue at Kentucky Downs the purse for the event has risen dramatically to nearly $500,000 offered by 2020.[5]
In 2022 the event was upgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to a Grade III.[6]
Records
Speed record:
- 1+5⁄16 miles: 2:08.16 – Family Way (2021)
Margins:
- 2+1⁄4 lengths – Kitten's Roar (2017)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 – Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey(2016, 2017)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 2 – Joel Rosario (2022, 2023)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 2 – Michael J. Maker (2016, 2017)
Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2023 | Vergara | 4 | Joel Rosario | H. Graham Motion | Gary Broad | 1+5⁄16 miles | 2:10.96 | $900,000 | III | [7] |
| 2022 | Adventuring | 4 | Joel Rosario | Brad H. Cox | Godolphin | 1+5⁄16 miles | 2:08.28 | $550,000 | III | [8] |
| 2021 | Family Way | 4 | Tyler Gaffalione | Brendan P. Walsh | Hunter Valley Farm, Debra L. O'Connor & Marc Detampel | 1+5⁄16 miles | 2:08.16 | $501,000 | Listed | [9] |
| TVG Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2020 | Theodora B | 5 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Michael W. Dickinson
|
Augustin Stable
|
1+5⁄16 miles | 2:09.72 | $492,575 | Listed | [5] |
| Ramsey Farm Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2019 | Gentle Ruler | 4 | Chris Landeros | Ian R. Wilkes
|
Morsches Stable | 1+5⁄16 miles | 2:12.73 | $469,000 | Listed | [10] |
| 2018 | Tricky Escape | 5 | Christopher P. DeCarlo | Lynn Ashby | Jon A. Marshall | 1+5⁄16 miles | 2:13.40 | $360,000 | Listed | [11] |
| 2017 | Kitten's Roar | 5 | Jose L. Ortiz
|
Michael J. Maker | Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey
|
1+5⁄16 miles | 2:17.19 | $330,800 | Listed | [12] |
| Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2016 | Al's Gal | 5 | Florent Geroux | Michael J. Maker | Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey
|
1+5⁄16 miles | 2:12.16 | $199,700 | Listed | [13] |
| Fasig-Tipton Ladies Marathon Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2015 | Modernstone (GB) | 5 | Rafael Hernandez | Kelly Rubley | Brous Stable, Gary Barber & Wachtel Stable | 1+5⁄16 miles | 2:13.12 | $140,000 | Listed | [14] |
| Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2014 | White Rose | 4 | Shaun Bridgmohan | William I. Mott | Jake Ballis & Rashard Lewis | 1+5⁄16 miles | 2:13.76 | $190,000 | [15] | |
| 2013 | Mystical Star | 5 | Brice Blanc | Christophe Clement | Cheyenne Stable | 1+5⁄16 miles | 2:11.30 | $153,583 | [16] | |
| 2012 | Maid of Heaven | 4 | Leandro Goncalves | Kellyn Gorder | Dreamfields Farm | 1+5⁄16 miles | 2:14.06 | $75,000 | [2] | |
Legend:
Turf
See also
References
- ^ "KentuckyDowns.com". Archived from the original on 24 October 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
- ^ a b "2012 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes Black Type – (race 3)". Equibase. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "KENTUCKY DOWNS LADIES MARATHON - KENTUCKY DOWNS, KY". Thoroughbred Database. 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "Al's Gal (PA) Career Records 27: 8-8-3 $749,775". Equibase. 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ a b "2020 TVG Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ Schweigardt, Andrew (2022). "TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for February 2022-January 2023". Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "2023 Aristocrat Ladies Marathon Stakes Listed - (race 3)". Equibase. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
- ^ "2022 AGS Ladies Marathon Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "2021 Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 12 September 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "2019 Ramsey Farm Stakes Listed – (race 8)". Equibase. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "2018 Ramsey Farm Stakes Listed – (race 9)". Equibase. 13 September 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "2017 Ramsey Farm Stakes Listed – (race 9)". Equibase. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "2016 Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Stakes Listed – (race 9)". Equibase. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "2015 Fasig-Tipton Ladies Marathon Stakes Listed – (race 10)". Equibase. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "2014 Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Stakes Black Type – (race 7)". Equibase. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "2013 Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Stakes Black Type – (race 9)". Equibase. 7 September 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2022.