The Transylvania Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of miles on the turf held annually in early April at Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky during the spring meeting. It currently offers a purse of $600,000.
History
The Transylvania Stakes is named for the heavily forested region of western Virginia known as the Transylvania Colony, which became most of Kentucky in 1792. Also Transylvania University is located in Lexington.
The event was inaugurated on 8 April 1989 and was won by Shy Tom who was trained by the Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and owned by William T. Young with strong stretch run in a time of 1:50 flat over the miles distance. The event was shortened to a mile in 1996 and returned to the original distance in 2008.
The event was upgraded to Grade III event in 2003
In 2008 and 2014 the event was moved off the turf due to inclement weather and held on the all weather track.
Records Speed record miles: 1:39.46 – Stormalory (2009) 1 mile: 1:34.65 – Dog Watch (GB) (1998)
Margins lengths – Silver Max (2012)
Most wins by a jockey 4 – Shane Sellers (1991, 1994, 1999, 2003)
Most wins by a trainer 4 – William I. Mott (1995, 2001, 2007, 2009)
Most wins by an owner 2 - Stuart S. Janney III (2011, 2021) 2 - Amerman Racing (2005, 2025)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref2026Remember MambaJosé L. OrtizCherie DeVauxC R K Stable miles1:44.49$589,500III2025Test Score Manuel FrancoH. Graham Motion Amerman Racing miles1:43.84$597,500 III2024Neat Reylu Gutierrez Robert Atras Red White and Blue Racing miles1:44.93$397,263III2023Mo StashLuis SaezVictoria H. Oliver BBN Racing miles1:43.05$396,250III2022Sy Dog Irad Ortiz Jr.H. Graham Motion Head of Plains Partners miles1:45.38$390,125III2021Scarlett Sky Joel RosarioClaude R. McGaughey III Stuart S. Janney III miles1:43.89$150,000III2020Field PassRicardo Santana Jr.Michael J. MakerThree Diamonds Farm miles1:42.56$100,000III2019Avie's FlatterJavier CastellanoJosie Carroll Ivan Dalos miles1:42.86$150,000III2018Analyze ItJosé L. OrtizChad C. Brown William H. Lawrence miles1:45.60$150,000III2017Big ScoreJavier CastellanoTim Yakteen George Krikorian miles1:43.23$150,000III2016ShakhimatRoger L. Attfield Dan Gale & Richard Hogan miles1:42.65$100,000III2015Night ProwlerJavier CastellanoChad C. Brown Paul Pompa Jr. miles1:44.03$100,000III2014Medal CountRobby AlbaradoDale L. Romans Spendthrift Farm miles1:43.35$100,000III2013Jack MiltonJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. Pletcher Gary Barber miles1:41.80$100,000III2012Silver MaxRobby AlbaradoDale L. Romans Mark Bacon & Dana Wells miles1:41.81$100,000III2011Air SupportRajiv Maragh Stuart S. Janney III miles1:41.99$100,000III2010Nordic TruceJulien R. LeparouxChristophe Clement Ammerland Stud miles1:41.31$100,000III2009StormaloryJulien R. LeparouxWilliam I. Mott Darley Stable miles1:39.46$150,000III2008Boss LafitteRobby AlbaradoThomas M. Amoss Uptown Racing miles1:44.43$150,000III2007MarcavellyEdgar S. PradoWilliam I. Mott Zayat Stables1 mile1:36.98$150,000III2006Chin HighShaun BridgmohanNeil L. Pessin Ike Thrash1 mile1:37.87$150,000III2005Jerry D. BaileyRobert J. Frankel Amerman Racingabt. 1 mile1:35.28$150,000III2004TimoEdgar S. PradoWilliam Badgett Jr. C. K. Woods Stable1 mile1:36.52$113,400III2003White CatShane SellersKenneth G. McPeek Raymond H. Cottrell Sr.1 mile1:34.98$100,000III2002Flying Dash (GER)Jerry D. BaileyNeil D. Drysdale Fusao Sekiguchi1 mile1:35.69$100,000 Listed 2001BaptizeJerry D. BaileyWilliam I. Mott Gary & Mary West Stables1 mile1:35.28$113,800 Listed 2000Field CatMike E. SmithKim Boniface James S. Karp1 mile1:35.19$113,900 Listed 1999Good NightShane SellersFrank L. Brothers Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider1 mile1:35.00$113,400Listed 1998Dog Watch (GB)Robbie DavisChristophe Clement Lord Hartington1 mile1:34.65$73,840 Listed 1997Near the BankPat DayDenis W. RobersonClarence R. Smith & Robert W. Roberts 1 mile1:36.53$71,370 Listed 1996More RoyalJulie KroneJonathan E. Sheppard Augustin Stable1 mile1:35.92$69,680Listed 1995† Crimson GuardMike E. SmithWilliam I. Mott Calumet Farm miles1:44.04$68,160 Listed 1994Star of ManilaShane SellersBurk Kessinger Jr. New Phoenix Stable miles1:42.87$54,250 Listed 1993Proud ShotHerb McCauleyFrank A. Alexander Jill Robinson miles1:44.17$55,425 Listed 1992Casino MagistrateRicardo D. LopezThomas J. KellyBlue Goose Stable miles1:46.62$54,825 Listed 1991Eastern DudeShane SellersCarl A. Nafzger Frances A Genter Stable miles1:42.94$56,175Listed 1990IzvestiaRandy RomeroRoger L. Attfield Kinghaven Farms miles1:43.80$55,450 1989Shy TomRandy RomeroD. Wayne LukasWilliam T. Young miles1:50.00$54,050
Legend:
Notes:
† Ops Smile was first past the post but was disqualified for interference in the straight and was placed eighth. Crimson Guard was declared the winner.
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
External links 2021 Keeneland Media Guide
References