# Sycamore Stakes

The Sycamore Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds or older, over a distance of 1+1⁄2 miles on the turf held annually in October at Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky during the autumn meeting. The event currently carries a purse of $300,000.

## History

The inaugural running of the event was on 12 October 1995 over a distance of 1+5⁄8 miles and was won by Frank Mansell's five-year-old Lindon Lime who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Craig Perret. Lindon Lime started as the even money favorite and won finishingf strongly by 4+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 2:42.11 setting a new track record for the distance.
In 2001 the distance was reduced one furlong to 1+1⁄2 miles. The event was won by Rochester who in his career win the event two more times (2002, 2005) and placing third as well in 2004.
In 2015 the event was upgraded to a Grade III.
Due to extremely wet conditions, the Sycamore was run "off the turf" on the polytrack in 2011. The event was also run at 1+5⁄8 miles, originally scheduled for 1+1⁄2 miles. The American Graded Stakes Committee determined that the race lose its grade for the 2013 running which was also run on the polytrack.
Between 2001 and 2006 the Breeders' Cup sponsored the event which reflected in the name of the event.

## Records

Speed record
* 1+1⁄2 miles: 2:26.08 (new track record) Highway Robber (2024)
* 1+5⁄8 miles (turf): 2:38.68 Royal Strand (IRE) (1999)
* 1+5⁄8 miles (polytrack): 2:39.40 Sanagas (GER) (2011)
Margins
* 5+1⁄2 lengths: Royal Strand (IRE) (1999)
Most wins:
* 3 – Rochester (2001, 2002, 2005)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 4 – Pat Day (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 5 – Jonathan E. Sheppard (2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2009)
Most wins by an owner:
* 6 – Augustin Stable (2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2014, 2015)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade |
| 2024 | Highway Robber | 4 | Tyler Gaffalione | Brian A. Lynch | Jim & Susan Hill | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:26.08 | $289,500 | III |
| 2023 | Bold Act (IRE) | 3 | Jamie Spencer | Charlie Appleby | Godolphin | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:28.08 | $269,213 | III |
| 2022 | Highland Chief (IRE) | 5 | John R. Velazquez | H. Graham Motion | Mrs. Fitriani Hay | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:28.87 | $266,813 | III |
| 2021 | Spooky Channel | 6 | Julien R. Leparoux | Jason Barkley | NBS Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:29.71 | $150,000 | III |
| 2020 | Red Knight | 6 | James Graham | William I. Mott | Trinity Farm | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:28.81 | $150,000 | III |
| 2019 | Marzo | 4 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Michael J. Maker | Three Diamond Farms | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:32.72 | $150,000 | III |
| 2018 | Zulu Alpha | 5 | Channing Hill | John Alexander Ortiz | Michael M. Hui | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:34.21 | $100,000 | III |
| 2017 | Big Bend | 3 | Drayden Van Dyke | Thomas F. Proctor | Union Rags Racing | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:33.24 | $100,000 | III |
| 2016 | Renown (GB) | 5 | Angel Cruz | Elizabeth Voss | Merriebelle Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:35.37 | $100,000 | III |
| 2015 | Holiday Star | 5 | Edgar S. Prado | H. Graham Motion | Augustin Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:33.06 | $100,000 | III |
| 2014 | Holiday Star | 4 | Rosie Napravnik | H. Graham Motion | Augustin Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:33.83 | $100,000 | III |
| 2013 | Najjaar | 4 | James Graham | Daniel C. Peitz | Shadwell Farm | 1+5⁄8 miles | 2:41:49 | $100,000 | Listed |
| 2012 | Kindergarten Kid | 5 | Julien R. Leparoux | Michael J. Maker | Ken & Sarah Ramsey | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:31.80 | $100,000 | III |
| 2011 | Sanagas (GER) | 5 | Rajiv Maragh | H. Graham Motion | Andreas Jacobs | 1+5⁄8 miles | 2:39.40 | $100,000 | III |
| 2010 | Brass Hat | 9 | Calvin H. Borel | William B. Bradley | Fred Bradley | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:30.73 | $100,000 | III |
| 2009 | Cloudy's Knight | 9 | Rosemary Homeister Jr. | Jonathan E. Sheppard | S J Stables | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:30.87 | $125,000 | III |
| 2008 | Always First (GB) | 7 | Rene R. Douglas | Thomas H. Voss | Merriefield Farm | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:30.98 | $150,000 | III |
| 2007 | Transduction Gold | 4 | James Graham | John Glenney | Kim & John Glenney | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:31.96 | $137,500 | III |
| 2006 | Revved Up | 8 | Garrett K. Gomez | Christophe Clement | Live Oak Plantation Racing | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:29.83 | $163,800 | III |
| 2005 | Rochester | 9 | Gary L. Stevens | Jonathan E. Sheppard | Augustin Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:34.30 | $161,100 | III |
| 2004 | Mustanfar | 3 | Jose A. Santos | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | Shadwell Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:30.88 | $162,300 | III |
| 2003 | Sharbayan (IRE) | 5 | Pat Day | Wallace Dollase | Iron County Farms & Miller Trust | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:29.55 | $138,200 | III |
| 2002 | Rochester | 6 | Pat Day | Jonathan E. Sheppard | Augustin Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:30.48 | $154,400 | Listed |
| 2001 | Rochester | 5 | Pat Day | Jonathan E. Sheppard | Augustin Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:31.29 | $166,200 | Listed |
| 2000 | Crowd Pleaser | 5 | Calvin H. Borel | Jonathan E. Sheppard | Augustin Stable | 1+5⁄8 miles | 2:44.00 | $74,675 | Listed |
| 1999 | Royal Strand (IRE) | 5 | Pat Day | W. Elliott Walden | James H. Stone | 1+5⁄8 miles | 2:38.68 | $69,375 | Listed |
| 1998 | Royal Strand (IRE) | 4 | Shane Sellers | W. Elliott Walden | James H. Stone | 1+5⁄8 miles | 2:41.93 | $55,500 | Listed |
| 1997 | Gleaming Key | 5 | Shane Sellers | Hilary A. Pridham | Barry Golden | 1+5⁄8 miles | 2:45.86 | $54,000 | Listed |
| 1996 | Gleaming Key | 4 | Robby Albarado | P. Noel Hickey | George B. Peterson Jr. | 1+5⁄8 miles | 2:44.49 | $52,910 | Listed |
| 1995 | Lindon Lime | 5 | Craig Perret | W. Elliott Walden | Frank Mansell | 1+5⁄8 miles | 2:42.11 | $60,760 | Listed |
Legend:
 All Weather Track  Turf