The Aristides Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four-year-olds and older over a distance of six furlongs on the dirt scheduled annually in late May or early June at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The event currently offers a purse of $275,000.

History The Aristides Stakes is named in honor of the racehorse Aristides who won the inaugural Kentucky Derby in 1875 on the Churchill Downs track.

The race itself was inaugurated on June 18, 1989, as the Aristides Breeders' Cup Handicap over a distance of furlongs and was won by the Paul McGee=trained ex-claimer Bet the Pot. The condition of entry to the handicap were for horses three years old older.

Breeders' Cup sponsorship ceased in 1996 but the quality of entrants continued to improve and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association upgraded the event to Grade III status.

Bet on Sunshine, the first two-time winner in the race's history, set a new track record of 1:15.11 for furlongs in 2000 as an eight-year-old then in 2001 beat his own record with a time of 1:14.79.

Breeders' Cup sponsorship resumed in 2004 for three runnings of the event and the distance was decreased to six furlongs. Kelly's Landing ran the fastest six furlongs in Churchill Downs history when he won the 2005 edition in a time of 1:07.59. Later in 2020 Volatile would better the stakes record with a time of 1:07.57 when he won easily by eight lengths as the 1/2 odds-on favorite.

In 2019 the event lost its graded status.

In 2020 the conditions of the event were modified so that only horses four years old and older could enter.

In 2025 the event was upgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to a Grade III.

Records

Speed record 6 furlongs: 1:07.57 – Volatile (2020) furlongs: 1:14.41 – Orientate (2002)

Margins 8 lengths – Volatile (2020)

Most wins 2 – Bet On Sunshine (2000, 2001) 2 – Alsvid (2015, 2016) 2 – Bango (2021, 2022)

Most wins by a jockey 3 – Shane J. Sellers (1994, 1997, 1998) 3 – Corey J. Lanerie (2003, 2017, 2019)

Most wins by a trainer 5 – Steven M. Asmussen (2003, 2010, 2012, 2020, 2023)

Most wins by an owner 2 – David P. Halloway Racing (2000, 2001) 2 – Maggi Moss (2008, 2014) 2 – Black Hawk Stable (2015, 2016) 2 – Tamaroak Partners (2021, 2022) 2 – Three Chimneys Farm (2020, 2026)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAristides Stakes2026Cornucopian 4Flavien PratBob BaffertThree Chimneys Farm & Whisper HillFarm 6 furlongs1:10.02$263,500III2025Durante6Jose L. OrtizDavid JacobsonDavid Jacobson6 furlongs1:09.23$275,000III2024 4 Irad Ortiz Jr. Adam Rice Adam Rice & Sugar Diaz6 furlongs1:08.39$260,000Listed2023Gunite 4 Tyler Gaffalione Winchell Thoroughbreds 6 furlongs 1:08.46 $224,500 Listed2022Bango 5 Tyler Gaffalione Gregory D. Foley Tamaroak Partners 6 furlongs 1:08.54 $199,833 Listed2021Bango 4 Gregory D. Foley Tamaroak Partners 6 furlongs 1:09.65 $150,000 Listed2020Volatile 4 Ricardo Santana Jr. Steven M. Asmussen Phoenix Thoroughbred III & Three Chimneys Farm 6 furlongs 1:07.57 $100,000 Listed2019Wilbo 7 Corey J. Lanerie Chris A. Hartman Chris Wilkins 6 furlongs 1:09.27 $125,000 Listed2018Chief Cicatriz 5 James Graham Shawn H. Davis Roy Gene Stables 6 furlongs 1:08.44 $100,000 III2017 Limousine Liberal 5 Corey J. Lanerie Ben Colebrook Katherine Ball 6 furlongs 1:09.12 $100,000 III2016 Alsvid 7 Chris Landeros Chris A. Hartman Black Hawk Stable 6 furlongs 1:08.26 $100,000 III2015 Alsvid 6 Chris Landeros Chris A. Hartman Black Hawk Stable 6 furlongs 1:09.34 $100,000 III2014 Delaunay 7Rosie NapravnikThomas M. AmossMaggi Moss 6 furlongs 1:09.59 $112,900 III2013Scatman 4Shaun BridgmohanWilliam I. MottJEOG Racing 6 furlongs 1:10.56 $106,800 III2012Rothko 4Corey NakataniSteven M. Asmussen Padua Stables 6 furlongs 1:09.40 $109,400 III2011Noble's Promise 4Alan GarciaKenneth G. McPeekChasing Dreams Racing 6 furlongs 1:08.74 $110,300 III2010 Riley Tucker 5 Shaun Bridgmohan Steven M. Asmussen Zayat Stables 6 furlongs 1:08.34 $107,900 III2009 Bold Start 5 Robby Albarado Kenneth G. McPeek Lawrence Carroll 6 furlongs 1:09.04 $112,600 III2008 Indian Chant 5Jamie TheriotTom Amoss Maggi Moss 6 furlongs 1:08.40 $119,125 III2007 Fabulous Strike 4 Ramon Dominguez Todd Beattie Tea Party Stable 6 furlongs 1:07.64 $159,600 IIIAristides Breeders' Cup Handicap2006Lost in the Fog 4 Russell Baze Greg Gilchrist Harry J. Aleo 6 furlongs 1:08.52 $131,450 III2005 Kelly's Landing 4 Gary Stevens Eddie Kenneally Summerplace Farm 6 furlongs 1:07.59 $162,450 III2004 Champali 4 Rafael Bejarano Gregory Foley Lloyd Madison Farms 6 furlongs 1:09.04 $162,150 IIIAristides Handicap2003 Mountain General 5Corey J. LanerieSteven M. Asmussen Keith I. Asmussen furlongs 1:16.01 $109,000 III2002Orientate 4Robby AlbaradoD. Wayne LukasBob & Beverly Lewis furlongs 1:14.41 $107,500 III2001 Bet On Sunshine 9 Calvin Borel Paul J. McGee David P. Halloway Racing furlongs 1:14.79 $108,400 III2000 Bet On Sunshine 8 Francisco Torres Paul J. McGee David P. Halloway Racing furlongs 1:15.11 $109,700 III1999Run Johnny 7 Pat DayMorris G. NicksJohn Oakley furlongs 1:16.27 $110,600 III1998Thisnearlywasmine 4 Shane J. SellersRandy K. BradshawSamantha Siegal, Jan Siegal, & Mace Siegal furlongs 1:15.72 $108,900 Listed1997High Stakes Player 5 Shane J. SellersBob BaffertMichael E. Pegram furlongs 1:15.85 $109,000 Listed1996Lord Carson 4Donna M. BartonD. Wayne LukasDavid P. Reynolds furlongs 1:15.94 $108,500 ListedAristides Breeders' Cup Handicap1995Boones Mill 3Donna M. BartonD. Wayne LukasOverbrook Farm furlongs 1:15.90 $103,825 Listed1994Never Wavering 5Shane J. SellersW. Elliott WaldenJohn Sullivan & V.I. Fisher furlongs 1:16.55 $91,025 Listed1993Gold Spring (ARG) 5Fabio A. Arguello Jr.Jesse N. Wigginton Ross Harris furlongs 1:16.43 $63,701 Listed1992Tricky Fun 4Pat DayWilliam H. FiresPatricia B. Blass furlongs 1:16.35 $68,800 1991Bio 5Brent E. BartmanSteven C. PenrodWaddell W. Hancock furlongs 1:16.62 $63,520 1990Beau Genius (CAN) 5Ricardo D. LopezGerald S. BennettDr Brian Davidson furlongs 1:16.51 $67,100 1989Bet The Pot 4Charles R. Woods Jr.Paul J. McGeeMcMichael's Racing Stables furlongs 1:15.44 $49,350

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References