Elkhorn Stakes
# Elkhorn Stakes

The Elkhorn Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for four-year-olds and older over a distance of 1+1⁄2 miles on the turf held annually in early April at Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky during the spring meeting. It currently offers a purse of $350,000.

## History

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. 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. The event was increased to the current distance of a mile and one half in 1996.

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.

Several champions have won this event including the 1986 US Champion Male Turf Horse Manila in his season debut of 1987 and the dual Breeders' Cup Mile winner Lure who won this event in 1994 easily by four lengths as a short priced favorite. 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.

## Records

Speed record

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

Margins

* 4+3⁄4 lengths – Epicentre (2004)

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)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2020 | Zulu Alpha | 7 | Tyler Gaffalione | Michael J. Maker | Michael M Hui | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:30.82 | $175,000 | II |
| 2019 | Bigger Picture | 6 | Tyler Gaffalione | Michael J. Maker | Three Diamonds Farm | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:32.00 | $250,000 | II |
| 2018 | One Go All Go | 6 | Chris Landeros | Charles L. Dickey | Rodney Paden | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:30.76 | $250,000 | II |
| 2017 | Itsinthepost (FR) | 5 | Tyler Baze | Jeff Mullins | Red Baron's Barn | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:31.22 | $250,000 | II |
| 2016 | Da Big Hoss | 5 | Florent Geroux | Michael J. Maker | Skychai Racing | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:31.29 | $250,000 | II |
| 2015 | Dramedy | 6 | Joe Bravo | Gerald Russel Aschinger | John James Revocable Trust | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:31.17 | $250,000 | II |
| 2014 | Unitarian | 4 | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | Robert S. Evans | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:32.60 | $250,000 | II |
| 2013 | Dark Cove | 6 | Joel Rosario | Michael J. Maker | Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:30.84 | $150,000 | II |
| 2012 | Point of Entry | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Claude R. McGaughey III | Phipps Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:29.45 | $150,000 | II |
| 2011 | Musketier (GER) | 9 | John R. Velazquez | Roger L. Attfield | Stella Perdomo | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:32.04 | $150,000 | II |
| 2010 | Musketier (GER) | 8 | John R. Velazquez | Roger L. Attfield | Johanna Louise Glen-Teven | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:31.32 | $200,000 | II |
| 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 |
| 2008 | Dancing Forever | 5 | René R. Douglas | Claude R. McGaughey III | Phipps Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:29.79 | $200,000 | II |
| 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 |
| 2006 | Pellegrino (BRZ) | 7 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Roger L. Attfield | Gary A. Tanaka | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:29.84 | $200,000 | III |
| 2005 | Macaw (IRE) | 6 | Javier Castellano | Angel A. Penna Jr. | George Melillo | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:32.62 | $200,000 | III |
| 2004 | Epicentre | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:31.96 | $150,000 | III |
| 2003 | Kim Loves Bucky | 6 | Kent J. Desormeaux | John Glenney | Kim Glenney | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:29.39 | $150,000 | III |
| 2002 | Kim Loves Bucky | 5 | Jorge F. Chavez | John Glenney | Kim Glenney | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:32.49 | $150,000 | III |
| 2001 | Williams News | 6 | Robby Albarado | Thomas M. Amoss | On Target Racing Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:29.13 | $113,400 | III |
| 2000 | Drama Critic | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Mark A. Hennig | Amerman Racing Stables | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:28.00 | $112,500 | III |
| 1999 | African Dancer | 7 | Jerry D. Bailey | William I. Mott | Pin Oak Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:27.80 | $109,900 | III |
| 1998 | African Dancer | 6 | Jerry D. Bailey | William I. Mott | Pin Oak Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:31.60 | $107,600 | III |
| 1997 | Chief Bearhart | 4 | José A. Santos | Mark R. Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:28.40 | $110,200 | III |
| 1996 | Vladivostok | 6 | Pat Day | Neil J. Howard | Bayard Sharp | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:30.80 | $110,100 | III |
| 1995 | Marvin's Faith (IRE) | 4 | Craig Perret | Ian P. D. Jory | Marvin Malmouth | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.00 | $114,000 | II |
| 1994 | Lure | 5 | Mike E. Smith | Claude R. McGaughey III | Claiborne Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:53.60 | $107,300 | II |
| 1993 | Coaxing Matt | 4 | Pat Day | Neil L. Pessin | Elmer E. Miller | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.60 | $110,650 | II |
| 1992 | Fourstars Allstar | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Leo O'Brien | Richard M. Bomze | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.60 | $112,300 | II |
| 1991 | Itsallgreektome | 4 | Russell Baze | Wallace Dollase | Jhayare Stables | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.20 | $109,450 | II |
| 1990 | Ten Keys | 6 | Randy Romero | Michael V. Pino | Charles Linhoss | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.80 | $109,950 | II |
| 1989 | Exclusive Partner | 7 | Fernando Toro | Richard E. Mandella | R. Dee Hubbard | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.40 | $84,450 | III |
| 1988 | Yankee Affair | 6 | Pat Day | Henry L. Carroll | Ju Ju Jen Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.60 | $86,900 | III |
| 1987 | Manila | 4 | Jacinto Vásquez | LeRoy Jolley | Bradley M. Shannon | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.40 | $53,875 | |
| 1986 | Lieutenant's Lark | 4 | Frank Lovato Jr. | Howard M. Tesher | Lowell T. Stevens | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:54.60 | $55,925 | |
