The Ben Ali Stakes is an American race for Thoroughbred horses run annually since 1937 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. Open to 4-year-olds and up, it is currently a Grade 3 event set at a distance of a mile and one eighth on the dirt course. As of 2025 it offers a purse of $350,000.
According to the official history at Keeneland racetrack, the Ben Ali (pronounced Ah-Lie) is named for James Ben Ali Haggin (1822–1914), a lawyer who made a fortune during the California Gold Rush and who used much of that money to create the biggest horse breeding farm in the world: the Rancho Del Paso near Sacramento, California. He also owned Elmendorf Farm in Lexington, Kentucky with its thousands of acres of prime Kentucky bluegrass. Haggin became a noteworthy breeder of great racehorses and a fervent supporter of the sport. Haggin owned the Hall of Famers, Salvator and the filly, Firenzi.
The first running of the Ben Ali Handicap took place in 1917 at the Lexington Race Course where it was raced through 1932 after which the track closed. It was not run again until the race name was revived at Keeneland in 1937.
Decidedly, the winner of the 1962 Kentucky Derby, won this race in 1963.
Records Speed records: (Keeneland) 1:25.40 - Fulcrum (1960) at 7.0278 furlongs (0.878475 miles) 1:41.40 - Decidedly (1963) at 1 1:46.63 - Wise Dan (2012) at 1:56.48 - Rattle N Roll (2023) at
Most wins: 3 - Knight Counter (1972, 1973, 1974)
Most wins by a jockey: 5 - Don Brumfield (1964, 1972, 1973, 1984, 1988) 5 - Javier Castellano (2006, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2022)
Most wins by a trainer: 5 - Neil J. Howard (1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2016)
Most wins by an owner: 5 - Calumet Farm (1937, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1951) 5 - William S. Farish III (1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2016)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner (Miles) Time Gr.1937 Count Morse4Irving AndersonFrank J. KearnsCalumet Farm1 M1:46.201938Main Man4Willis F. WardHoward C. HoffmanJerome B. Respess 1 M1:45.001939 Burning Star5Warren YarberryJohn J. Greely Jr.Shandon Farm Stable (Patrick A. & Richard J. Nash)1 M1:47.001940 Arabs Arrow6Carrol BiermanGilbert HardyLouise J. Hickman1 M1:48.801941Red Dock4Albert BodiouE. Leigh CottonGreentree Stable1 M1:46.001942Steel Heels6James GeorgeFrank P. LetellierJunius W. Bell1 M1:46.401943Aletern4Johnny AdamsJohn H. SkirvinAlwin C. Ernst1 M1:46.201944 Alquest4Johnny AdamsJohn H. SkirvinAlwin C. Ernst1 M1:45.601945 Pot O’ Luck3Douglas DodsonBen A. JonesCalumet Farm1 M1:46.601946Bull Play4Robert CampbellLee NilesWalter W. Jones1 M1:44.401947 Pot O’ Luck5Douglas DodsonBen A. JonesCalumet Farm1 M1:44.001948 Fervent4Leroy PiersonBen A. JonesCalumet Farm1 M1:43.801949 Shy Guy4Conn McCrearyJack C. HodginsDixiana Farm1 M1:45.00 1950Mount Marcy5Kenneth ChurchSylvester E. VeitchCornelius Vanderbilt Whitney1 M1:43.801951 Wistful5Douglas DodsonBen A. JonesCalumet Farm1 M1:45.001952 Seaward7Steve BrooksHarry TrotsekHasty House Farm1 M1:45.001953Oil Capitol6Conn McCrearyHarry TrotsekHasty House Farm & Cora Trotsek1 M1:44.001954 Mister Black5Johnny AdamsHarry TrotsekHasty House Farm 7.0278 F1:27.001955Sea O Erin4Steve BrooksHarry TrotsekHasty House Farm7.0278 F1:27.801956 Timely Tip5John L. RotzReid ArmstrongDr. Alfred Lewis Birch7.0278 F1:27.801957 Star Rover5John HeckmannEddie AnspachMrs. Irving Gushen 7.0278 F1:25.601958 Safe Message4Douglas DodsonJack C. HodginsDixiana Farm7.0278 F1:26.401959 Greek Chief4Bill HartackThomas J. KellyMichael G. Phipps7.0278 F1:26.601960Fulcrum5Steve BrooksJack C. HodginsMary V. Fisher7.0278 F1:25.401961 Cactus Tom4Lawrence HansmanThomas H. Stevens Sr.Natjolee Stable7.0278 F1:26.801962Run for Nurse5 Steve BrooksLee NilesJ. Graham Brown7.0278 F1:25.601963Decidedly4James D. NicholsHoratio LuroEl Peco Ranch1 M1:41.401964Copy Chief4Don BrumfieldS. Bryant OttFourth Estate Stable1 M1:42.801965 Gallant Romeo4Kenny KnappWillard L. ProctorJ. Graham Brown1 M1:42.801966 Swift Ruler4Larry SprakerGin L. CollinsEarl Allen1 M1:42.801967Francis U. 4Robert GallimoreDewey P. SmithT. Alie & J. E. Grissom1 M1:42.601968 Miracle Hill4Robert Gallimore Dewey P. SmithT. Alie & J. E. Grissom 1 M1:42.601969Court Recess4Eric GuerinGeorge T. PooleC. V. Whitney1 M1:44.601970Gallant Moment 6Dave KassenJack Long Circle M Farm (Edward S. Moore) 1 M1:42.601971 Great Mystery4Phil I. Grimm Lyle WhitingB. A. Dario1 M1:41.801972Knight Counter4Don Brumfield Victor A. Doleski Robert Huffman 1 M1:43.401973Knight Counter5Don Brumfield Victor A. Doleski Robert Huffman1 M1:43.00G31974Knight Counter6Earlie FiresVictor A. DoleskiRobert Huffman1 M1:41.80G31975 Navajo5James D. NicholsJames O. KeeferJoe Stevenson & Ray Stump1 M1:43.80G31976My Friend Gus4Darrel McHargueDouglas M. Davis Jr.Patricia Blass1 M1:42.60G31977Honest Pleasure4Craig PerretLeRoy JolleyBertram R. Firestone1 M1:42.40G31978Prince Majestic4Eddie DelahoussayeDewey P. SmithDorothy Dorsett Brown1 M1:41.80G31979 Kodiak5Gerland GallitanoHarvey L. VanierLouis F. Aitken1 M1:49.60G31980Architect 4Carl LauerHarvey L. VanierStanley Spencer1 M1:48.80G31981Withholding 4Bernon SaylerRonnie G. WarrenRussell Michael Jr.1 M1:50.20G31982 Withholding 5Larry Melancon Ronnie G. Warren Russell Michael Jr.1 M1:49.60G31983Aspro5Vincent Bracciale Jr.Grover G. DelpMr. & Mrs. James A. Bayard1 M1:49.60G31984Aspro6Don BrumfieldGrover G. DelpMrs. & Estate of James A. Bayard1 M1:50.80G31985 Bello4Gerland GallitanoJoseph M. BolleroLois Bollero1 M1:48.80G31986 Czar Nijinsky4Herb McCauleyJack HofherJacquelin & Miguel Torrealba1 M1:50.20G31987 Intrusion5Sandy HawleyLee J. RossiCarl J. Maggio1 M1:49.60G31988 Homebuilder4Don Brumfield Woody StephensRyehill Farm (James & Eleanor Ryan)1 M1:51.40G31989 Classic Account4Pat DayTerry L. MasonLaura Leigh Stables (Leslie E. Lunsford Jr.)1 M1:50.60G31990 Master Speaker5Jerry D. BaileyVirgil W. Raines Anderson Fowler1 M1:49.00G31991Sports View4Craig PerretD. Wayne LukasBarry Beal & D. Wayne Lukas1 M1:49.67G31992Profit Key (DH)5Shane SellersD. Wayne LukasJoe Allen & L. Don Mathis1 M1:49.55G31992 Loach (DH)4Patrick Valenzuela Richard J. Lundy Allen E. Paulson1 M1:49.55G31993Sunny Sunrise6Rick WilsonBud DelpHarry Meyerhoff1 M1:48.80G31994Pistols and Roses5Mike E. SmithGeorge GianosWillis Family Stables Inc.1 M1:51.60G31995Wildly Joyous4Mickey WallsJames E. BakerWoodlynn Farm1 M1:49.60G31996 Knockadoon4Jerry D. BaileyAnthony ReinstedlerWilliam K. Warren Jr.1 M1:48.80G31997Louis Quatorze 4Pat DayNick ZitoWilliam J. Condren et al.1 M1:49.60G31998Storm Broker4Robby AlbaradoJames E. BakerWoodlynn Farm1 M1:48.20G31999Jazz Club4Pat DayNeil J. HowardWilliam S. Farish III/J. Jamail1 M1:48.00G32000Midway Magistrate6Shane SellersRick HilesBMH Stable1 M1:49.00G32001Broken Vow4Edgar PradoH. Graham MotionPin Oak Stable1 M1:48.47G32002Duckhorn5Jorge F. ChavezPatrick B. ByrneMichael B. Tabor1 M1:50.18G32003 Mineshaft4Robby AlbaradoNeil J. HowardWilliam S. Farish III et al.1 M1:48.52G32004Midway Road4Robby AlbaradoNeil J. HowardWilliam S. Farish III1 M 1:46.78G32005Alumni Hall6 Robby Albarado Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III1 M 1:51.29G32006Wanderin Boy5Javier CastellanoNick ZitoArthur B. Hancock III1 M1:49.18G32007Jade's Revenge4Kent DesormeauxH. Graham MotionBushwood Stable1 M1:49.93G32008 Sterwins 5Shaun Bridgmohan Malcolm PierceMelnyk Racing1 M1:48.53G32009Parading6 Kent Desormeaux C. R. McGaughey III Phipps Stable1 M1:47.82G32010Dubious Miss6Calvin BorelPaul McGeeDavid P. Holloway1 M1:49.60G32011Exhi4Javier CastellanoTodd PletcherWertheimer et Frere1 M1:48.14G32012Wise Dan5John VelazquezCharles LoprestiMorton Fink1 M1:46.63G32013Successful Dan6Joel RosarioClaude R. McGaughey IIIPhipps Stable1 M1:51.14G32014Frac Daddy4Alan GarciaKenneth G. McPeekMagic City Thoroughbreds1 M1:49.61G32015Protonico4Javier CastellanoTodd PletcherSumaya U.S. Stable1 M1:48.79G32016Eagle4Brian Hernandez Jr.Neil J. HowardWilliam S. Farish III1 M1:48.57G32017Watershed5Paco LopezKiaran P. McLaughlinGodolphin Racing, LLC1 M1:50.92G32018Rated R Superstar5Javier CastellanoKiaran P. McLaughlinRadar Racing LLC1 M1:49.31G32019Bourbon Resolution4Chris LanderosIan R. WilkesBourbon Lane Stable1 M1:50.82G32020 Race not held2021Sliver Dust5Adam BeschizzaW. Bret CalhounTom R. Durant1 M1:50.21G32022 Scalding4Javier CastellanoClaude R. McGaughey IIIGrandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable & LNJ Foxwoods1 M1:50.30G32023Rattle N Roll4 Brian Hernandez Jr.Kenneth G. McPeekLucky Seven Stable (Ginny & Leo Mackin)1 M1:56.48 G32024 Kingsbarns 4Luis SaezTodd A. PletcherSpendthrift Farm1 M1:57.74G32025 Tennessee Lamb4José OrtizGeorge R. Arnold IICalumet Farm1 M1:59.00G32026Stars and Stripes4Luis SaezWilliam I. MottFrassetto Stables LLC M1:58.34G3
External links Keeneland Official site
References