# Mint Julep Stakes

The Mint Julep Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, four years old and older over a distance of one and one sixteenth miles on the turf scheduled annually in late May or early June at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. It currently offers a purse of $225,000.

## History

From its inaugural running in 1977 to 1986, the event was run on the dirt course, but was moved to the turf course beginning in 1987.
The race is named for the Mint Julep, a popular drink with racing fans at Churchill Downs, particularly seen on Kentucky Derby day.
The event was split into divisions in 1987 and 1990.
Between 1983 and 2004 the conditions of the event were for fillies and mares that were four year olds and older.
In 2001 the event was upgraded to a Grade III.
From 2001 to 2014 the event was known as the Early Time Mint Julep Handicap. Beginning in 2015, the Mint Julep Handicap became the Old Forester Mint Julep Handicap for sponsorship reasons.

### Distances

It has been run at the following distances:
* 1+1⁄16 miles (1.71 km) : 1990–present
* 1+1⁄8 miles (1.81 km) : 1988–1989
* 1 mile (1.61 km) : 1983–1987
* 7 furlongs (1.41 km) : 1977–1982

## Records
### Speed record

* 1+1⁄16 miles – 1:40.70 Quite A Bride (2007)

### Margins

* 5 lengths – Lillian Russell (1981)

### Most wins

* 2 – Megans Bluff (2001, 2002)

### Most wins by an owner

* 2 – Carl F. Pollard (2003, 2015)
* 2 – James C. Routsong (2001, 2002)
* 2 – Richard and Bertram Klein (2013, 2016)
* 2 – Madaket Stables (2020, 2021)

### Most wins by a jockey

* 4 – Robby Albarado (1997, 2005, 2006, 2007)

### Most wins by a trainer

* 5 – William I. Mott (1987, 1996, 2005, 2006, 2007)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
| 2024 | Delahaye | 5 | Tyler Gaffalione | Chad C. Brown | William H. Lawrence & Three Chimneys Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.46 | $249,668 | III | |
| 2023 | Henrietta Topham | 5 | James Graham | Geoff Mulcahy | Cambus-Kenneth Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.46 | $222,000 | III | |
| 2022 | Gam's Mission | 4 | Adam Beschizza | Cherie DeVaux | Lazy F Ranch | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.53 | $193,350 | III | |
| 2021 | Mintd (IRE) | 5 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Brendan P. Walsh | Bradley Thoroughbreds, Madaket Stables, Team Hanley, Tim & Anna Cambron | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.92 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2020 | Secret Message | 5 | John Velazquez | H. Graham Motion | Madaket Stables, Heider Family Stables, ERJ Racing, Elayne Stables & S. Bouchey | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.13 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2019 | Mom's On Strike | 5 | Adam Beschizza | Joe Sharp | Carl R. Moore Management & Brad Grady | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.63 | $125,000 | III | |
| 2018 | Lovely Bernadette | 5 | Corey J. Lanerie | Bernard S. Flint | James M. Miller | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.36 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2017 | Dona Bruja (ARG) | 5 | Declan Cannon | Ignacio Correas IV | Ivan Gasparotto | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.46 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2016 | Cash Control | 4 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Brad H. Cox | Richard & Bertram Klein | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.12 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2015 | Kiss Moon | 4 | Corey J. Lanerie | David R. Vance | Carl F. Pollard | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.94 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2014 | Honey Hues | 5 | Jesus Lopez Castanon | Bernard S. Flint | L.T B. Inc/Childers | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.75 | $110,400 | III | |
| 2013 | Miz Ida | 4 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Steve Margolis | Richard, Bertram & Elaine Klein | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.37 | $109,100 | III | |
| 2012 | Bizzy Caroline | 4 | Manoel Cruz | Kenneth G. McPeek | Catesby W. Clay | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.29 | $111,000 | III | |
| 2011 | My Baby Baby | 6 | Manoel Cruz | Kenneth G. McPeek | Magdalena Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.40 | $113,900 | III | |
| 2010 | Hot Cha Cha | 4 | James Graham | Philip A. Sims | Nelson McMakin | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.27 | $110,800 | III | |
| 2009 | Acoma | 4 | Corey J. Lanerie | David M. Carroll | Helen Groves & Helen Alexander | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.10 | $109,000 | III | |
| 2008 | Dreaming of Anna | 4 | Garrett K. Gomez | Wayne M. Catalano | Frank C. Calabrese | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.77 | $169,950 | III | |
| 2007 | Quite a Bride | 4 | Robby Albarado | William I. Mott | Haras Santa Maria de Araras | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.70 | $164,100 | III | |
| 2006 | My Typhoon (IRE) | 4 | Robby Albarado | William I. Mott | Live Oak Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.55 | $115,000 | III | |
| 2005 | Delta Princess | 6 | Robby Albarado | William I. Mott | Saud bin Khaled | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.43 | $110,100 | III | |
| 2004 | Stay Forever | 7 | Eddie Castro | Martin D. Wolfson | Santa Cruz Ranch/Juan Rizo | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.66 | $168,300 | III | |
| 2003 | Kiss the Devil | 5 | Lonnie Meche | David R. Vance | Carl F. Pollard | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.73 | $168,300 | III | |
| 2002 | Megans Bluff | 5 | Craig Perret | John K. Hennig | James C. Routsong | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.87 | $112,900 | III | |
| 2001 | Megans Bluff | 4 | Craig Perret | John K. Hennig | James C. Routsong | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.88 | $113,600 | III | |
| 2000 | Pratella | 5 | Larry Melancon | Burk Kessinger Jr. | Bruce Barton/Alvin Haynes | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.08 | $111,900 | Listed | |
| 1999 | Mingling Glances | 5 | Larry Melancon | Burk Kessinger Jr. | Morven Stud Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.59 | $114,400 | Listed | |
| 1998 | B. A. Valentine | 5 | Francisco C. Torres | Dale L. Romans | Alberta Butner | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.42 | $114,200 | Listed | |
| 1997 | †Valor Lady | 5 | Robby Albarado | Mark A. Hennig | Amerman Racing Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.20 | $114,900 | Listed | |
| 1996 | Bail Out Becky | 4 | Craig Perret | William I. Mott | Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.86 | $84,150 | Listed | |
| 1995 | Romy | 4 | Juvenal Lopez Diaz | Moises R. Yanez | William L. Pacella et al. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.69 | $84,525 | Listed | |
| 1994 | Words of War | 5 | Carlos H. Marquez Jr. | Joseph E. Kasperski Jr. | Lawrence Karp | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.98 | $85,650 | Listed | |
| 1993 | Classic Reign | 4 | Fabio A. Arguello Jr. | James E. Day | Sam-Son Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.84 | $57,500 | Listed | |
| 1992 | Lady Shirl | 5 | Patrick A. Johnson | P. Noel Hickey | Irish Acres Farm (P. Noel Hickey) | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.41 | $57,050 | Listed | |
| 1991 | Dance for Lucy | 5 | Larry Melancon | Sheldon Wolfe | Alexander Schmidt | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.07 | $57,150 | Listed | |
| 1990 | Tunita | 5 | Robert J. Thibeau Jr. | George R. Arnold II | John Peace | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.80 | $48,425 | Listed | Division 1 |
| 1990 | Phoenix Sunshine | 5 | Joseph Deegan | Del Loveland | Judy Hicks | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.20 | $48,425 | Listed | Division 2 |
| 1989 | Here's Your Silver | 4 | Michael McDowell | Steven C. Penrod | Hermitage Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.40 | $57,100 | Listed | |
| 1988 | How I Wish | 4 | Earlie Fires | Joseph E. Broussard | Estate of Joe Siggio | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.00 | $56,400 | Listed | |
| 1987 | Thunderdome | 4 | Steve H. Bass | Harry E. Trotsek | Edward A. Seltzer | 1 mile | 1:37.80 | $40,005 | Listed | Division 1 |
| 1987 | Innsbruck (GB) | 4 | Sandy Hawley | William I. Mott | Diana Firestone | 1 mile | 1:38.00 | $35,280 | Listed | Division 2 |
| 1986 | Zenobia Empress | 5 | Earlie Fires | Joseph M. Bollero | Russell Fortune Jr. | 1 mile | 1:35.80 | $44,695 | Listed | |
| 1985 | Stave | 4 | Charles R. Woods Jr. | Ted McClain | Hidaway Farm | 1 mile | 1:35.00 | $32,375 | Listed | |
| 1984 | Lass Trump | 4 | Garth Patterson | C. R. McGaughey III | Al Samford | 1 mile | 1:37.00 | $40,410 | Listed | |
| 1983 | Naskra Magic | 4 | Phil Rubbicco | James O. Keefer | Jim Thomas | 1 mile | 1:36.60 | $35,750 | Listed | |
| 1982 | Kate's Cabin | 4 | Eddie Snell | Lee Snell | Ruth Cummings | 7 furlongs | 1:25.20 | $36,100 | Listed | |
| 1981 | Lillian Russell | 4 | Ronald J. Hirdes Jr. | Raymond S. Lawrence Jr. | Leslie Combs II | 7 furlongs | 1:23.20 | $29,950 | Listed | |
| 1980 | Likely Exchange | 6 | David E. Whited | Thomas H. Stevens Sr. | G. Watts Humphrey Jr. & Pamela Firman | 7 furlongs | 1:24.20 | $30,225 | Listed | |
| 1979 | Bold Rendezvous | 4 | Alexander L. Fernandez | James E. Morgan | John Bolan, T. Wood Jr. & C. Labanz | 7 furlongs | 1:25.00 | $28,175 | Listed | |
| 1978 | Time for Pleasure | 4 | Thomas Barrow | Phil A. Grosser | William Q. Muir | 7 furlongs | 1:23.40 | $22,475 | | |
| 1977 | Satan's Cheer | 5 | Mike Manganello | Peter W. Salmen Jr. | Crimson King Farm | 7 furlongs | 1:24.00 | $22,000 | | |
Legend:
 Turf  Dirt
Notes:
† In 1997, Romy won but was disqualified for interference in the stretch and set back to fourth.