# Modesty Stakes

The Modesty Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
A Grade III race contested over a distance of 1+1⁄8 miles on turf, it is open to fillies and mares aged four and older. Run in May during on Kentucky Oaks day, the event currently offers a purse of $250,000.
Inaugurated in 1942 at the old Washington Park Race Track as a race for three-year-old fillies, the following year it was made open to both fillies and older mares. Until 1951, it was run as the Modesty Stakes. It was raced on dirt from 1942 through 1955, 1958 through 1965, and again in 1996.
It has been run at various distances:
* 1 mile : 1942, 1944–1946, 1952, 1966
* 3/4 mile (6 furlongs) : 1947–1951, 1953–1954, 1958–1962
* 7/8 mile (7 furlongs) : 1943, 1963–1965
* 1+1⁄16 miles (8.5 furlongs) : 1955–1957, 1967–1968,1986
* 1+1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs) : 1987
* 1+3⁄16 miles (9.5 furlongs) : 1980–1985, 1989–present
The race was hosted by Washington Park Race Track from 1942 through 1945 and from 1968 through 1961. Hawthorne Race Course hosted it in 1985. The race was named in honor of Modesty, a filly owned by Edward Corrigan who beat her male counterparts to win the 1884 inaugural running of the American Derby at Washington Park Race Track under African-American U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey, Isaac Burns Murphy.
In 1966, the Modesty Handicap was run in two divisions. There was no race from 1969 through 1979 inclusive, nor in 1988, 1995, 1998 and 1999. In 2022, the event was moved to Churchill Downs after the closure of Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

## Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 1+3⁄16 miles)
* 1:53.80 – Fantasia (GB) (2011)
Most wins:
* 2 – Sickle's Image (1951, 1954)
* 2 – Indian Maid (1960, 1961)
* 2 – Gaily Gaily (1989, 1990)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 – Calumet Farm (1948, 1952, 1959)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 3 – René Douglas (2002, 2003, 2008)
* 3 – Earlie Fires (1982, 1986, 1993)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 3 – Harry Trotsek (1953, 1956, 1958)
* 3 – William I. Mott (1989, 1990, 2005)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance (Miles) | Time |
| 2024 | Fast as Flight | 6 | José Ortiz | Martin Drexler | TEC Racing | 1-1/8 | 1:50.63 |
| 2023 | Didia | 5 | Vincent Cheminaud | Ignacio Correas IV | Merriebelle Stables | 1-1/8 | 1:47.46 |
| 2022 | Bleeker Street | 4 | Flavien Prat | Chad Brown | Peter Brant | 1-1/8 | 1:50.10 |
| 2021 | Naval Laughter | 4 | Sophie Doyle | Christopher Davis | Two Hearts Farm, LLC | 1-3/16 | 1:54.58 |
| | no race 2020 | | | | | | |
| 2019 | Juliet Foxtrot | 4 | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Juddmonte Farms | 1-3/16 | 1:54.00 |
| 2018 | Daddys Lil Darling | 4 | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Kenneth McPeek | Normandy Farm | 1-3/16 | 1:53.80 |
| 2017 | Dona Bruja | 5 | Declan Cannon | Ignacio Correas IV | Dom Felipe | 1-3/16 | 1:55.75 |
| 2016 | Faufiler | 5 | Jose Valdivia Jr. | H. Graham Motion | Flaxman Holdings | 1-3/16 | 1:56.12 |
| 2015 | Walk Close | 4 | James Graham | Christophe Clement | Highland Yard | 1-3/16 | 1:57.08 |
| 2014 | I'm Already Sexy | 4 | Florent Geroux | Wayne M. Catalano | Hit The Board Stables | 1-3/16 | 1:57.56 |
| 2013 | Ausus | 4 | James Graham | Daniel C. Peitz | Shadwell Stable | 1-3/16 | 1:53.94 |
| 2012 | Romacaca | 6 | Francisco Torres | Danny L. Miller | Frank Carl Calabrese | 1-3/16 | 1:56.67 |
| 2011 | Fantasia | 6 | Rajiv Maragh | Jonathan E. Sheppard | Augustin Stable | 1-3/16 | 1:53.80 |
| 2010 | Tuscan Evening | 5 | Rafael Bejarano | Jerry Hollendorfer | William de Burgh | 1-3/16 | 1:55.11 |
| 2009 | Pure Clan | 4 | Julien Leparoux | Robert E. Holthus | Lewis Lakin | 1-3/16 | 1:55.27 |
| 2008 | Communique | 4 | René Douglas | George R. Arnold II | G. Watts Humphrey Jr. | 1-3/16 | 1:58.89 |
| 2007 | Bridge Game | 4 | Jeremy Rose | H. Graham Motion | Elizabeth H. Alexander | 1-3/16 | 1:54.62 |
| 2006 | Chic Dancer | 5 | Christopher Emigh | Christine K. Janks | S.D. Brilie Ltd. Partnership | 1-3/16 | 1:57.48 |
| 2005 | Noisettes | 5 | Cornelio Velásquez | William I. Mott | Haras Santa Maria Aras S.A. | 1-3/16 | 1:57.30 |
| 2004 | Bedanken | 5 | Donald Pettinger | Donnie K. Von Hemel | Pin Oak Stable LLC | 1-3/16 | 1:57.00 |
| 2003 | Owsley | 5 | René Douglas | Randy Schulhofer | Arthur B. Hancock III | 1-3/16 | 1:55.06 |
| 2002 | England's Legend | 5 | René Douglas | Christophe Clement | Edouard de Rothschild | 1-3/16 | 1:55.69 |
| 2001 | Ioya Two | 6 | Mark Guidry | Chris M. Block | Team Block | 1-3/16 | 1:55.47 |
| 2000 | Wade For Me | 5 | Christopher Emigh | Harvey L. Vanier | Nancy A. Vanier | 1-3/16 | 1:57.06 |
| 1999 | no race | | | | | | |
| 1998 | no race | | | | | | |
| 1997 | War Thief | 5 | Shane Sellers | Clinton Stuart | Lane Thoroughbreds | 1-3/16 | 1:57.47 |
| 1996 | Belle of Cozzene | 4 | Donald Pettinger | Steve Hobby | B. & J. Smicklas | 1-3/16 | 1:58.24 |
| 1995 | no race | | | | | | |
| 1994 | Assert Oneself | 4 | Willie Martinez | Mike Chambers | Three Sisters Stable | 1-3/16 | 1:56.01 |
| 1993 | Hero's Love | 5 | Earlie Fires | Daniel J. Vella | Frank Stronach | 1-3/16 | 1:55.31 |
| 1992 | Tango Charlie | 3 | Abner G. Sorrows Jr. | Kenneth Hoffman | T. Canonie Jr. | 1-3/16 | 1:58.79 |
| 1991 | Lady Shirl | 4 | Shane Sellers | P. Noel Hickey | Irish Acres Farm | 1-3/16 | 1:56.53 |
| 1990 | Gaily Gaily | 7 | Mike E. Smith | William I. Mott | Diana M. Firestone | 1-3/16 | 1:55.40 |
| 1989 | Gaily Gaily | 6 | Julie Krone | William I. Mott | Diana M. Firestone | 1-3/16 | 1:58.20 |
| 1988 | no race | | | | | | |
| 1987 | Spruce Luck | 6 | Don Brumfield | Doug Tribert | C. Kenimer | 1-1/8 | 1:51.60 |
| 1986 | Zenobia Empress | 5 | Earlie Fires | Joseph M. Bollero | R. Fortune Jr. | 1-1/16 | 1:44.00 |
| 1985 | Kapalua Butterfly | 4 | Darrel McHargue | Harvey L. Vanier | Tom Gentry | 1-3/16 | 1:55.00 |
| 1984 | Jay's Sue | 5 | Pat Day | Jerry Calvin | C. P. Blake | 1-3/16 | 2:01.20 |
| 1983 | Dana Calqui | 5 | Frank Lovato Jr. | Stephen L. DiMauro | Dogwood Farm | 1-3/16 | 2:01.40 |
| 1982 | Office Wife | 5 | Earlie Fires | Willard C. Freeman | Helen Hertz Hexter | 1-3/16 | 1:58.20 |
| 1981 | Innocent Victim | 3 | Roger Cox | George J. Getz | Friedman & P. Teinowitz | 1-3/16 | 1:59.00 |
| 1980 | Allison's Gal | 4 | Michael Morgan | Steve Morguelan | Adrienne Krumhorn | 1-3/16 | 2:01.20 |
| 1968 | Ludham | 4 | Jacinto Vásquez | Frank I. Wright | Happy Hill Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:44.40 |
| 1967 | Amerivan | 5 | Ron Turcotte | Joseph H. Pierce Jr. | William S. Woodside | 1-1/16 | 1:46.20 |
| 1966 | Margarethen | 4 | Jimmy Nichols | Charles P. Sanborn | Ernest H. Woods | 1 | 1:37.40 |
| 1966 | Treasure Chest | 3 | John Beebe | Joseph H. Pierce Jr. | David Shaer | 1 | 1:37.20 |
| 1965 | Isaduchess | 4 | Kennard Knapp | Edward I. Kelly Sr. | Brookfield Farm | 7/8 | 1:23.20 |
| 1964 | Alecee | 5 | Walter Blum | John J. Gavin Jr. | Forest H. Lindsay | 7/8 | 1:23.00 |
| 1963 | Hushaby | 4 | Bill Hartack | Chuck R. Werstler | Mary V. Fisher | 7/8 | 1:23.00 |
| 1962 | Goldflower | 4 | Herberto Hinojosa | Chuck R. Werstler | Mary V. Fisher | 3/4 | 1:10.40 |
| 1961 | Indian Maid | 5 | Johnny Sellers | Howard C. Hoffman | Mary D. Keim | 3/4 | 1:09.80 |
| 1960 | Indian Maid | 4 | John L. Rotz | Elmer Heubeck Jr. | Mary D. Keim | 3/4 | 1:09.60 |
| 1959 | A. Glitter | 4 | Chris Rogers | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 3/4 | 1:10.00 |
| 1958 | Melody Mine | 3 | Richard L. Barnett | Harry Trotsek | Hasty House Farm | 3/4 | 1:10.80 |
| 1957 | Grecian Ayr | 4 | Larry Gilligan | Jimmy Wallace | Agoura Stock Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:43.60 |
| 1956 | Queen Hopeful | 5 | John Adams | Harry Trotsek | Hasty House Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:44.80 |
| 1955 | Insouciant | 3 | Billie Fisk | Howard Wells | Dr. Eslie Asbury | 1-1/16 | 1:43.40 |
| 1954 | Sickle's Image | 6 | Douglas Dodson | Clarence Hartwick | Clarence Hartwick | 3/4 | 1:10.00 |
| 1953 | Bella Figura | 4 | Don Wagner | Harry Trotsek | Brownell Combs | 3/4 | 1:10.20 |
| 1952 | Real Delight | 3 | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1 | 1:35.60 |
| 1951 | Sickle's Image | 3 | Charles Swain | Clarence Hartwick | Clarence Hartwick | 3/4 | 1:10.80 |
| 1950 | Myrtle Charm | 4 | Glen Lasswell | Tom Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 3/4 | 1:10.00 |
| 1949 | No Strings | 3 | Fred Smith | Howard C. Hoffman | Mrs. John Marsch | 3/4 | 1:10.00 |
| 1948 | Bewitch | 3 | Hedley Woodhouse | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 3/4 | 1:10.20 |
| 1947 | Sea Snack | 4 | Manuel N. Gonzalez | James A. Healey | Christiana Stables | 3/4 | 1:11.60 |
| 1946 | Athene | 3 | Warren Mehrtens | Max Hirsch | Edward Lasker | 1 | 1:36.00 |
| 1945 | War Date | 3 | John Adams | Tom Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 1 | 1:38.80 |
| 1944 | Gold Princess | 5 | Jesse Higley | David V. McClure | David V. McClure | 1 | 1:39.40 |
| 1943 | Burgoo Maid | 3 | George Burns | Homer C. Pardue | Ruth Sidell | 7/8 | 1:27.40 |
| 1942 | Lotopoise | 3 | Steve Brooks | Kenneth Osborne | Hal Price Headley | 1 | 1:37.80 |
* ↑ The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States