The Phoenix Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of six furlongs and currently offers a purse of $400,000. Raced in early October, prior to 1989 it was run during the track's spring meeting. It became a Grade III event in 2000, then was upgraded to Grade II status in 2016.
Part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, the winner of the Phoenix Stakes automatically qualifies for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.
History Founded in 1831 with the name from the local Phoenix Hotel, it is the oldest thoroughbred horse race in North America though it has not been run continuously.It’s True (We Think): The Travers Stakes Has to Be the Oldest…Something Hosted by the Kentucky Association racetrack in Lexington until 1930, the event was restarted at Keeneland Race Course in 1937. From 1943 to 1945, the race was renewed as part of the Keeneland-at-Churchill Downs meetings. Over the years it has been called the Brennan, Chiles, Phoenix, Association, Phoenix Hotel Stakes and Phoenix Handicap.
The Phoenix Stakes was raced on dirt until 2006 when Keeneland Race Course installed a synthetic Polytrack surface. In 2014, the Polytrack was replaced by a new dirt surface. As a result of these changes, Keeneland maintains separate sets of track records.
The 2016 Phoenix Stakes was won by A. P. Indian while establishing a track record for the new dirt surface.
Records Speed record: (at current distance of 6 furlongs) 1:07.60 - Anjiz (1993 on old dirt surface) 1:08.43 - A. P. Indian (2016 on new dirt surface) Most wins by a jockey:
5 – Julio C. Espinoza (1972, 1973, 1980, 1981, 1982)
Most wins by a trainer:
3 – D. Wayne Lukas (1991, 1994, 1998)
Most wins by an owner:
2 – Robert E. Lehmann (1972, 1973) 2 – Anthony L. Zuppardo (1980, 1981) 2 – Overbrook Farm (1991, 1994) 2 – Klaravich Stables (2012, 2013) 2 - Qatar Racing & Mrs. Fitriani Hay
Winners since 1972 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2026Nakatomi7Irad Ortiz Jr.Wesley A. WardQatar Racing & Mrs. Fitriani Hay1:09.932025Nakatomi6Irad Ortiz Jr.Wesley A. WardQatar Racing & Mrs. Fitriani Hay1:09.932024Federal Judge4Flavien PratBrad H. CoxSiena Farm LLC and WinStar Farm LLC1:08.20Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix S. (G2) Race 7 at Keeneland on October 4, 20242023Hoist the Gold4John R. VelazquezDallas StewartDream Team One Racing Stable 1:19.132023 Phoenix Stakes Replay Analysis | Hoist The Gold Finally Makes The Grade In Keeneland Sprint Prep2022Manny Wah6Corey J. LanerieWayne M. CatalanoSusan Moulton1:10.312021Special Reserve5Joel RosarioMichael J. MakerParadise Farms Corp and David Staudacher1:08.542020Diamond Oops5Florent GerouxPatrick BianconeDiamond 100 Racing Club et al.1:09.242019Engage4José OrtizSteven M. AsmussenWoodford Racing LLC1:10.212018Promises Fulfilled3Luis SaezDale RomansRobert J. Baron1:09.502017Whitmore 4Manuel FrancoRon Moquette Robert V. Lapenta, Southern Springs Stables, et al. 1:09.902016A. P. Indian6Joe BravoArnaud DelacourGreen Lantern Stables LLC (Richard & Sue Masson)1:08.432015Runhappy3Edgar S. PradoMaria BorellJames McIngvale1:09.962014Work All Week5Florent GerouxRoger BrueggemannMidwest Thoroughbreds, Inc. (Richard & Karen Papiese) 1:09.002013Sum of the Parts4Leandro GoncalvesThomas M. AmossKlaravich Stables & William Lawrence1:09.562012Sum of the Parts3Julien LeparouxThomas M. AmossKlaravich Stables & William Lawrence1:09.882011Hoofit4Edgar S. PradoH. Graham MotionJill Johnston1:09.272010Wise Dan3Rafael BejaranoCharles LoprestiMorton Fink1:09.202009Fatal Bullet4Eurico Rosa Da SilvaReade BakerBear Stables, Ltd. (Danny Dion)1:09.002008Sing Baby Sing 5Justin ShepherdJack BrunerTom Durant1:08.482007Off Duty4Larry MelanconLynn S. WhitingJohn Pucek et al.1:10.172006Kelly's Landing5Rafael BejaranoEddie KenneallySummerplace Farm, LLC 1:09.942005Elusive Jazz4Robby AlbaradoBobby C. BarnettStony Oak Farm, LLC 1:11.602004Champali4Rafael BejaranoGregory D. FoleyLloyd Madison Farms IV, LLC 1:08.722003Najran4Javier CastellanoNick ZitoBuckram Oak Farm1:08.322002Xtra Heat4Harry VegaJohn E. Salzman, Sr.Kenneth Taylor, et al. 1:10.132001Bet On Sunshine9Calvin BorelPaul J. McGeeDavid P. Holloway Racing1:09.652000Five Star Day4Garrett GomezC. Beau GreelyColumbine Stable LLC (Andrea S. Pollack)1:07.801999Richter Scale5Kent DesormeauxMary Jo LohmeierNancy & Rick Kaster/ Nathan Fox1:08.401998Partner's Hero4Calvin BorelD. Wayne LukasWillis Horton Stable 1:09.201997Bet On Sunshine5Francisco TorresPaul J. McGeeDavid P. Holloway racing1:08.601996Forest Wildcat 5Joe BravoBen Perkins, Sr.Fred Seitz & New Farm 1:09.401995Golden Gear4Craig PerretP. Noel HickeyBarry Golden 1:08.801994Lost Pan4Donna BartonD. Wayne LukasJim McDonald & Overbrook Farm1:09.401993Anjiz5Donald Miller Jr.Michael H. BellGainsborough Farm1:07.601992British Banker4Dean KutzPeter M. VestalDogwood Stable 1:09.201991Deposit Ticket3Pat DayD. Wayne LukasOverbrook Farm & D. Wayne Lukas1:10.201990Hadif4Dave PennaThomas J. SkiffingtonShadwell Farm1:09.401989Momsfurrari5Mike E. SmithGlenn WismerJudy & Philip S. Maas 1:10.601988Carload6Earlie FiresThomas F. ProctorGlen Hill Farm1:09.801987Diapason7Patrick JohnsonMichael H. BellHelen C. Alexander1:09.801986Lucky North5Pat DayWilliam I. MottJohn A. Franks1:11.001985Harry 'N Bill5Mary RussEmanuel TortoraBee Bee Stable (John Bush)1:09.601984Timeless Native4Don BrumfieldBud DelpHawksworth Farm (Harry Meyerhoff)1:10.801983Shot n' Missed6Leroy MoyersWilliam I. MottWilliam F. Lucas 1:09.001982Golden Derby4Julio C. EspinozaSmiley AdamsF. E. Lehmann & J. R. Gaines1:10.001981-1Turbulence5Julio C. EspinozaJohn C. OxleyM/M C.H. Colpitt 1:09.401981-2Zuppardo's Prince5Julio C. EspinozaClarence BreedloveAnthony L. Zuppardo 1:09.401980Zuppardo's Prince5Julio C. EspinozaClarence BreedloveAnthony L. Zuppardo 1:09.401979Shelter Half4Sam Boulmetis, Jr.Beverly P. HackerFourbrothers Stable 1:09.001978Amadevil4Sam MapleHoss InmanPaul & Orville Kemling1:09.401977It's Freezing 5Eddie MapleWilliam R. O'NeillBwamazon Farm 1:09.601976Gallant Bob4Don BrumfieldJoe D. MarquetteRobert P. Horton1:08.401975Delta Oil6Robert BreenForrest KaelinDorothy Dorsett Brown1:09.401974Penholder5Buck ThornburgVictor D. KarrMrs. Irene D. Karr1:09.401973Honey Jay5Julio C. EspinozaIke K. MourarRobert E. Lehmann1:11.401972Honey Jay4Julio C. EspinozaIke K. MourarRobert E. Lehmann1:09.40
Earlier winners
1971 - Great Mystery 1970 - Paderoso 1969 - Lithiot 1968 - Miracle Hill 1967 - Moccasin 1966 - Bay Phantom 1965 - Gallant Romeo 1964 - Choker 1963 - Editorialist (always race without a whip) 1962 - Editorialist 1961 - Eight Again 1960 - Court Affair 1959 - Bumpy Road 1958 - Ezgo 1957 - Bandit 1956 - Sea O' Erin 1955 - Sea O' Erin (raced for years) 1954 - Pomace 1953 - Pet Bully 1952 - Hill Gail 1951 - Mount Marcy 1950 - Mount Marcy 1949 - Miss Neal (Filly) 1948 - Coaltown 1947 - George Gains 1946 - Sirius 1945 - Best Effort 1944 - Roman Sox (Filly) 1943 - Miss Dogwood (Filly) 1942 - Devil Diver 1941 - Cherry Jam 1940 - Easy Mon 1939 - Torchy 1938 - Main Man 1937 - Preeminent 1931 to 1936 - RACE NOT RUN 1930 - Montanaro 1928 - Luxembourg 1927 - Percentage 1926 - Marconi 1925 - Almadel 1924 - Chacolet (Filly) 1923 - Minto II (Laverne Fator) 1922 - Advocate 1921 - General Haig 1920 - Buford 1919 - Opportunity 1918 - Embroidery (Filly) 1917 - Grover Hughes 1913 - Flora Fina (Filly) (Champion Handicap Female) 1912 - Mockler 1911 - Countless 1906 to 1910 - no race 1905 - Agile 1898 to 1904 - no race 1897 - Goshen 1896 - Prince Leif 1895 - Halma 1894 - Chant 1893 - Clifford 1892 - Wadsworth 1891 - Kingman 1890 - Ban Chief 1889 - Once Again (3rd: 1889 Kentucky Derby) 1888 - The Chevalier 1887 - Banburg 1886 - Grimaldi 1885 - Bersan 1884 - Admiral 1883 - Lord Raglan 1882 - Freeland 1881 - Sligo 1880 - Fonso (won the 1880 Kentucky Derby) 1879 - Falsetto 1878 - Himyar 1877 - Brademante (Filly) 1876 - Vagrant (Champion 2-Year-Old Male & Champion 3-Year-Old Male) 1875 - Ten Broeck 1874 - Aaron Pennington 1873 - Artist 1872 - (Filly) 1871 - Molly Cad (Filly) 1870 - Enquirer 1868 - Crossland 1867 - Phoenix Belle (Filly) 1866 - Norway 1865 - Gold Ring (Filly) 1860 - Solferino 1856 - Parachute (Filly) 1855 - Balloon (Filly) 1854 - Charlie Ball 1853 - Lexington 1852 - Star Davis 1841 - Zenith 1840 - Berthune 1839 - Minstrel (Filly) 1838 - Mary Brennan (Filly) 1832 - Virginia (Filly) 1831 - McDonough
Sire lines the Darley Arabian (1700c) sire line (all branched through the Eclipse (1764) line) produced 112 Stakes winners (72 colts/horses, 30 geldings, 10 fillies/mares), including all winners from 1989 to present. The main branches of this sire line are: the Mercury (1764) branch produced 1 winner, most recently Planetarium in 1872Planetarium Pedigree the King Fergus (1775) branch produced 16 winners. His sire line continued primarily through his son Hambletonian (1792) with 13 winners (exclusively through the Voltigeur (1847) line), continued primarily through his descendant Vedette (1854) with 12 winners, due primarily to his son Galopin (1872) with 9 winners (exclusively through the St. Simon (1881) line), most recently Whitmore in 2017Whitmore Pedigree the Potoooooooo (1773) branch produced 94 winners (all branched through the Waxy (1790) line). The primary branch of this sire line is through Whalebone (1807), which has produced 85 winners. In turn, the primary branch continues through Sir Hercules (1826), which has produced 64 winners, and then the Birdcatcher (1833) branch which produced 58 winners. From Birdcatcher, the branch of The Baron (1842) has produced 52 winners (exclusively through the Stockwell (1849) line). Birdcatcher's grandson Doncaster (1870) sired Bend Or (1877), whose sire line accounts for 47 winners. The main branch of the Bend Or sire line continued through his son Bona Vista (1889) with 40 winners, exclusively through the Phalaris (1913) line, which has dominated in the last several decades (including all winners from 2018 to present), primarily through his son Pharos (1920) with 27 winners (exclusively through the Nearco (1935) line), most recently Nakatomi in 2025. special notes: the Whalebone (1807) branch produced two main lines: the primary branch of Sir Hercules (1826), and the secondary branch of Camel (1822) which produced 17 winners (exclusively through the Touchstone (1831) line). The Camel branch continued primarily through two of this grandsons: the Newminster (1848) branch (8 winners, primarily through the Hyperion (1930) line with 5 winners, most recently Delta Oil in 1975), and the Orlando (1841) branch (9 winners, primarily through the Commando (1900) line with 7 winners, most recently Honey Jay in 1973). A third branch through Waverley (exclusively through the Iago (1843) line) produced 5 winners, most recently Bumpy Road in 1959.Bumpy Road Pedigree the Sir Hercules (1826) branch produced two main lines: the primary branch of Birdcatcher (1833), and the secondary branch of Faugh-a-Ballagh (1841) which produced 6 winners (exclusively through the Leamington (1853) line), most recently 1894 Phoenix Stakes winner Chant.Chant Pedigree the Birdcatcher (1833) branch produced two main lines: the primary branch of The Baron (1870), and the secondary branch of Oxford (1857) which produced 6 winners (nearly exclusively through the Swynford (1907) line with 5 winners), most recently 1961 Phoenix Stakes winner Eight Again.Eight Again Pedigree the Bend Or (1877) branch produced two main lines: the primary branch of Bona Vista (1889), and the secondary branch of Ormonde (1883) which produced 6 winners (nearly exclusively through the Teddy (1913) line with 5 winners), most recently 1992 Phoenix Stakes winner British Banker.British Banker Pedigree