# Ashland Stakes

The Ashland Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early April at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. It and the Ashland Oaks, the Kentucky Association racetrack's predecessor race, were named for Ashland, the homestead and breeding farm of statesman Henry Clay in Lexington, Kentucky. Restricted to three-year-olds fillies the race is currently run at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles. The race is a Grade I event with a current purse of $500,000 and has been a prep race to the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, including the Kentucky Oaks, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and Mother Goose Stakes.
Part of the 1936 inaugural events for the new Keeneland Race Course, the first two editions of the Ashland Stakes were open to fillies and mares, 3-years of age and older. Not run again until 1940, it was then made a race exclusively for 3-year-old fillies. During World War II, from 1943 through 1945 the race was hosted by Churchill Downs in Louisville.
The Ashland Stakes was run in two heats in 1952, 1965, 1974 and 1980. Don Brumfield is the only jockey to ever have won both heats. In the 1974 edition, Brumfield rode to victory on Winged Wishes, a horse owned by his mother, Viola, then took the second running aboard Darby Dan Farm's, Maud Muller.
Since its inception, the Ashland Stakes has been raced at various distances:
* 1936–1937, 1981 to present : 1+1⁄16 miles
* 1940–1973 : 6 furlongs
* 1974–1980 : 7 furlongs, 184 feet
In 2014, the Ashland finished in a Dead heat between Rosalind and Room Service.

## Records

Speed record at current distance
* 1:41.26 – 1+1⁄16 miles set by Speech in 2020.
Most wins by an owner
* 3 – Calumet Farm (1948, 1952, 1980)
* 3 – Cain Hoy Stable (1957, 1959, 1963)
Most wins by a jockey
* 3 – Bill Shoemaker (1964, 1981, 1982)
* 3 – Don Brumfield (1974 (2), 1984)
* 3 – Randy Romero (1980, 1985, 1990)
* 3 – Shane Sellers (1991, 1993, 2000)
Most wins by a trainer
* 4 – Woody Stephens (1949, 1957, 1959, 1963)

## Winners of the Ashland Stakes since 1969

| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
| 2024 | Leslie's Rose | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | Whisper Hill Farm | 1:43.85 |
| 2023 | Defining Purpose | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Kenneth G. McPeek | Magdalena Racing, Colette Marie Vanmatre & James Ball | 1:43.31 |
| 2022 | Nest | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Michael House | 1:44.16 |
| 2021 | Malathaat | Joel Rosario | Todd A. Pletcher | Shadwell Stable | 1:42.94 |
| 2020 | Speech | Javier Castellano | Michael W. McCarthy | Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Madaket Stables LLC | 1:41.26 |
| 2019 | Out For A Spin | Paco Lopez | Dallas Stewart | Commonwealth Stable | 1:44.95 |
| 2018 | Monomoy Girl | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group & Bethlehem Stables | 1:43.74 |
| 2017 | Sailor's Valentine | Corey Lanerie | Edward J. Kenneally | Semaphore Racing | 1:45.54 |
| 2016 | Weep No More | Corey Lanerie | Rusty Arnold | Ashbrook Farm | 1:43.57 |
| 2015 | Lovely Maria | Kerwin D. Clark | J. Larry Jones | Brereton C. Jones | 1:43.66 |
| 2014 | Rosalind (DH) | Joel Rosario | Kenneth G. McPeek | Landaluce Educe Stable | 1:43.38 |
| 2014 | Room Service (DH) | Shaun Bridgmohan | Wayne Catalano | Mary & Gary West | 1:43.38 |
| 2013 | Emollient | Mike E. Smith | William I. Mott | Juddmonte Farms | 1:43.49 |
| 2012 | Karlovy Vary | James Graham | Rusty Arnold | Alex G. Campbell Jr. | 1:44.82 |
| 2011 | Lilacs and Lace | Javier Castellano | John P. Terranova II | Covello, Hicks & Nikkel | 1:42.73 |
| 2010 | Evening Jewel | Kent Desormeaux | James M. Cassidy | Braly Family Trust | 1:43.80 |
| 2009 | Hooh Why | Corey Lanerie | Donna L. Dupuy | Derby Daze Farm & M. Hoffman | 1:43.54 |
| 2008 | Little Belle | Rajiv Maragh | Kiaran McLaughlin | Darley Stable | 1:43.69 |
| 2007 | Christmas Kid | René R. Douglas | James A. Jerkens | Edward P. Evans | 1:42.90 |
| 2006 | Bushfire | Cornelio Velásquez | Eddie Kenneally | Homewrecker Stable | 1:45.16 |
| 2005 | Sis City | Edgar S. Prado | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | Stonerside Stable, Sanford Goldfarb, Joe Torre, Michael Dubb & Ira Davis | 1:46.35 |
| 2004 | Madcap Escapade | René R. Douglas | Frank L. Brothers | W. Bruce Lunsford | 1:44.55 |
| 2003 | Elloluv | Robby Albarado | Craig Dollase | Reddam Racing | 1:43.58 |
| 2002 | Take Charge Lady | Tony D'Amico | Kenneth G. McPeek | Select Stable | 1:43.29 |
| 2001 | Fleet Renee | John R. Velazquez | Michael W. Dickinson | V.H.W. Stable Inc | 1:43.77 |
| 2000 | Rings a Chime | Shane Sellers | Lonnie Arterburn | Turf Side Stables | 1:44.40 |
| 1999 | Silverbulletday | Jerry D. Bailey | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | 1:41.60 |
| 1998 | Well Chosen | Charles R. Woods Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor | 1:43.00 |
| 1997 | Glitter Woman | Mike E. Smith | Claude R. McGaughey III | H. Joseph Allen | 1:43.80 |
| 1996 | My Flag | Jerry D. Bailey | Claude R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 1:42.60 |
| 1995 | Urbane | Eddie Delahoussaye | Brian Mayberry | Samantha Siegel | 1:43.40 |
| 1994 | Inside Information | Mike E. Smith | Claude R. McGaughey III | Ogden Mills Phipps | 1:46.80 |
| 1993 | Lunar Spook | Shane Sellers | J. Bert Sonnier | Sandbar Farms | 1:43.40 |
| 1992 | Prospectors Delite | Craig Perret | Neil J. Howard | William S. Farish III | 1:42.60 |
| 1991 | Do It With Style | Shane Sellers | Gary C. Contessa | DJ Stable | 1:43.60 |
| 1990 | Go for Wand | Randy Romero | William Badgett Jr. | Christiana Stable | 1:43.60 |
| 1989 | Gorgeous | Eddie Delahoussaye | Neil Drysdale | Robert N. Clay | 1:43.20 |
| 1988 | Willa On the Move | Chris McCarron | Leon J. Blusiewicz | Lorraine Quinichett | 1:45.80 |
| 1987 | Chic Shirine | Sandy Hawley | D. Wayne Lukas | Emory Alexander | 1:44.60 |
| 1986 | Classy Cathy | Earlie Fires | Joseph M. Bollero | Edward A. Cox Jr. | 1:44.00 |
| 1985 | Koluctoo's Jill | Randy Romero | Bruce N. Levine | Brandy Hills Farm | 1:44.40 |
| 1984 | Enumerating | Don Brumfield | Dennis W. Ebert | Hardesty/Walden/Ebert | 1:49.20 |
| 1983 | Princess Rooney | Jacinto Vásquez | Frank Gomez | Paula J. Tucker | 1:45.40 |
| 1982 | Blush With Pride | Bill Shoemaker | D. Wayne Lukas | Stonereath Farm | 1:45.00 |
| 1981 | Truly Bound | Bill Shoemaker | Grover G. Delp | Windfields Farm | 1:44.00 |
| 1980-1 | Flos Florum | Randy Romero | William S. Borders | Strapro Stable | 1:26.40 |
| 1980-2 | Sugar and Spice | Jeffrey Fell | John M. Veitch | Calumet Farm | 1:27.20 |
| 1979 | Candy Eclair | Anthony Black | Mary Edens | Adele W. Paxson | 1:27.00 |
| 1978 | Mucchina | Jose Amy | Alan B. Marcus | Donald Newman | 1:27.20 |
| 1977 | Sound of Summer | Fernando Toro | Thomas A. Pratt | T. Busching/C. Bernstein | 1:26.80 |
| 1976 | Optimistic Gal | Braulio Baeza | LeRoy Jolley | Diana M. Firestone | 1:26.80 |
| 1975 | Sun and Snow | Garth Patterson | George T. Poole | Cornelius V. Whitney | 1:26.60 |
| 1974-1 | Winged Wishes | Don Brumfield | David Kassen | Viola Brumfield | 1:28.80 |
| 1974-2 | Maud Muller | Don Brumfield | Lou Rondinello | Darby Dan Farm | 1:27.00 |
| 1973 | Raging Whirl | Weston Soirez | Glenn Hild | Glenn Hild | 1:10.80 |
| 1972 | Barely Even | John L. Rotz | Lou M. Goldfine | Mrs. S. L. Gilmartin | 1:11.00 |
| 1971 | You All | Kenny Knapp | George T. Poole | Cornelius V. Whitney | 1:11.00 |
| 1970 | Gay Missile | Ray Broussard | Del W. Carroll | Michael Grace Phipps | 1:10.00 |
| 1969 | Double Delta | Carlos H. Marquez Sr. | Stanley M. Rieser | Drymon & Greenslit | 1:10.00 |

## Earlier winners

* 1968 – Miss Swapsco
* 1967 – Dun-Cee
* 1966 – Justakiss
* 1965 – Terentia
* 1965 – Bright Bauble
* 1964 – Blue Norther
* 1963 – Sally Ship
* 1962 – Windy Miss
* 1961 – Goldflower
* 1960 – Tingle
* 1959 – Hidden Talent
* 1958 – Ramadel
* 1957 – Jota Jota
* 1956 – Doubledogdare
* 1955 – Insouciant
* 1954 – Jenjay
* 1953 – Cerise Reine
* 1952 – Free For Me
* 1952 – Real Delight
* 1951 – Sickle's Image
* 1950 – Wondring
* 1949 – Tall Weeds
* 1948 – Bewitch
* 1947 – Cosmic Missile
* 1946 – Sweet Caprice
* 1945 – Come And Go
* 1944 – Harriet Sue
* 1943 – Valdina Marl
* 1942 – The Swallow
* 1941 – Valdina Myth
* 1940 – June Bee
* 1939 – No race
* 1938 – No race
* 1937 – Drowsy
* 1936 – Myrtlewood