The Music City Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-tear-old fillies, over a distance of 6+1⁄2 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.
| Grade II race | |
| Location | Kentucky Downs Franklin, Kentucky, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 2020 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Sponsor | AGS (since 2024) |
| Website | kentuckydowns |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 6+1⁄2 furlongs |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-old fillies |
| Weight | 124 lbs with allowances |
| Purse | $2,000,000 (2024) |
History
editThe race was inaugurated in 2020[1] with an attractive purse offered of $400,000.[2] The event was won by the lightly raced West-Coast filly Lighthouse who started at the odds of 11/1 and won by 1+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 1:14.99.[2] After returning to California, Lighthouse had two more starts before beings sent to Australia where she was placed twice at Group 1 level before capturing the Group 1 Coolmore Classic.[3]
In 2023 the event was upgraded to a Grade III.[4]
With the influx of gaming revenue at Kentucky Downs the initial purse for the event has risen dramatically to nearly $500,000 offered by 2022.[5]
Records
editSpeed record:
- 6+1⁄2 furlongs: 1:14.75 – Tobys Heart (2021)
Margins:
- 2+3⁄4 lengths – Tobys Heart (2021)
Most wins by a jockey:
- No jockey has won this race more than once.
Most wins by a trainer:
- No trainer has won this race more than once.
Most wins by an owner:
- No owner has won this race more than once.
Winners
edit| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Simply in Front | Luis Saez | Eddie Kenneally | Colebrook Farms | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.01 | $1,767,200 | II | [6] |
| 2023 | Secret Money | Tyler Gaffalione | Brendan Walsh | Fortune Farm (Richard Nicolai), Robert G. Hahn & Matthew Hand | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.14 | $996,570 | III | [7] |
| 2022 | Freedom Speaks | Jose Lezcano | Jeremiah Englehart | Reitman Stables | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.35 | $471,750 | Listed | [5] |
| 2021 | Tobys Heart | Joel Rosario | Brian A. Lynch | Gary Barber, Terry Hamilton & Brian A. Lynch | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:14.75 | $487,950 | [8] | |
| 2020 | Lighthouse | Umberto Rispoli | Simon Callaghan | LNJ Foxwoods | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:14.99 | $360,385 | [2] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "MUSIC CITY STAKES – MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ a b c "2020 Music City Stakes Black Type – (race 11)". Equibase. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ Roots, Chris (12 March 2022). "Lighthouse shines brightly for US connections in Coolmore Classic". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ "American Graded Stakes Committee Releases 2023 Grades; The Stephen Foster Stakes is the only new grade 1 stakes for 2023". Bloodhorse.com. Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ a b "2022 Nelson's Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey Music City Stakes Listed – (race 7)". Equibase. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ "2024 AGS Music City Stakes Grade II – (race 7)". Equibase. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ "2023 Big Ass Fans Music City Stakes Grade III – (race 9)". Equibase. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ "2021 Nelson's Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey Music City Stakes Black Type – (race 8)". Equibase. 12 September 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2023.