The Bourbon Stakes is a Grade II American thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds over a distance of miles on the turf held annually in early October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky during the fall meeting.

History The event was inaugurated on 23 October 1991 as the Hopemont Stakes and was won by the short priced 1-2 favorite Stress Buster who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day in a time of 1:44.84. The name of the event was in honor of the Hunt–Morgan House, historically known as Hopemont located in Lexington.

The event was run in two divisions in 1998.

In 2003 the event was renamed to the Bourbon County Stakes – Bourbon County is near Lexington and is home to many famous Throroughbred farms.

From 2005 to 2008, the event was run as the Bourbon Stakes, with sponsorship from Woodford Reserve which reflected in the name of the race. From 2014 until 2019 the race was sponsored by Dixiana Farm.

In 2006, 2013 and 2017, the race was switched from turf to the main track due to weather conditions.

In 2008 the event was classified as Grade III and in 2020 was upgraded to Grade II. The race is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series. The winner of the Bourbon Stakes receives a "Win and You're In" berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Records Speed record: 1:41.27 – Andthewinneris (2022)

Margins lengths – Stage Call (IRE) (2001)

Most wins by an owner 3 – John C. Oxley (2000, 2015, 2017)

Most wins by a jockey 4 – Julien Leparoux (2010, 2012, 2015, 2017)

Most wins by a trainer 6 – Todd A. Pletcher (2006, 2008, 2009, 2018, 2020, 2025)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefBourbon Stakes2026AgateTyler GaffalioneKelsey DannerDede McGehee miles1:42.64$400,000II2025Final ScoreIrad Ortiz Jr.Todd A. PletcherRepole Stable miles1:42.51$400,000II2024Minaret Station Cristian Torres William WaldenOXO Equine miles1:42.28$347,719 II2023Can Group Francisco ArrietaMark E. CasseD. J. Stable & Cash is King miles 1:43.73$350,000II2022AndthewinnerisFlavien PratWayne M. CatalanoSusan Moulton miles1:41.27$348,125II2021Tiz the Bomb Brian Hernandez Jr. Kenneth G. McPeek Phoenix Thoroughbred III miles 1:43.69 $200,000 II2020Mutasaabeq Luis Saez Todd A. Pletcher Shadwell Stable miles 1:43.13 $200,000 II2019Peace AchievedMiguel MenaMark E. CasseJSM Equine miles1:43.06$250,000III2018CurrentJose L. OrtizTodd A. PletcherEclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Robert V. LaPenta miles1:45.10$250,000III2017FlameawayJulien R. LeparouxMark E. CasseJohn C. Oxley miles1:45.77$250,000III2016Keep Quiet (FR)Florent GerouxMark E. CasseGary Barber miles1:44.92$250,000III2015AiroforceJulien R. LeparouxMark E. CasseJohn C. Oxley miles1:44.12$250,000III2014Lawn RangerChris LanderosKenneth G. McPeekTurf Stable Racing miles1:44.41$250,000III2013Poker PlayerChanning HillWayne M. CatalanoGary and Mary West miles1:43.46$150,000III2012Julien R. LeparouxChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables & William H. Lawrence miles1:45.15$150,000III2011Animal SpiritsRobby AlbaradoAlbert Stall Jr.Klaravich Stables & William H. Lawrence miles1:44.24$150,000III2010Rogue RomanceJulien R. LeparouxKenneth G. McPeekCatesby W. Clay miles1:43.76$100,000III2009InteractifKent J. DesormeauxTodd A. PletcherWertheimer et Frère miles1:45.24$125,000III2008Bittel RoadRajiv MaraghTodd A. PletcherJames T. Scatuorchio & John Iracane miles1:44.29$200,000III2007Gio PontiCastleton Lyons miles1:45.92$150,000 Listed 2006Twilight MeteorJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherPeachtree Stable miles1:43.25$125,000 Listed 2005Yankee MasterRafael BejaranoLinda L. RiceTeam Power Play Racing miles1:43.85$125,000 Listed Bourbon County Stakes2004Rey de CafeCraig PerretGeorge R. Arnold IIG. Watts Humphrey Jr. miles1:42.90$112,200 Listed 2003CommendationCornelio VelasquezH. Graham MotionCourtlandt Farm miles1:43.99$112,800 Listed Hopemont Stakes2002Rapid ProofCalvin H. BorelHal R. WigginsDolphus C. Morrison miles1:46.45$115,000 Listed 2001Stage Call (IRE)Mark GuidryW. Elliott WaldenWinStar Farm, Richard Nip & Gloria Gaines Callum miles1:45.85$111,800 Listed 2000OverviewMike E. SmithJohn T. Ward Jr.John C. Oxley miles1:43.02$81,775Listed 1999Gateman (GB)Pat DayW. Elliott WaldenKennet Valley Thoroughbreds miles1:42.42$70,175Listed 1998PineaffPat DayKenneth G. McPeekJoyce & Roy K. Monroe miles1:44.63$70,100 Listed Bold CalebRobby AlbaradoHal R. WigginsAnn & Charles Patterson 1:44.73$70,8501997Reformer RallyCraig PerretPeter M. VestalThomas M. Carey miles1:46.91$67,750 Listed 1996ThesaurusCraig PerretPeter M. VestalCharles J. Cella miles1:44.49$55,000 Listed 1995Red ShadowWillie MartinezPatrick B. ByrnePrestonwood Farm miles1:46.71$54,960 Listed 1994ClaudiusJohn R. VelazquezWilliam I. MottDarley Racing miles1:45.50$53,000 1993Star of ManilaShane SellersBurk Kessinger Jr.New Phoenix Stable miles1:43.34$49,000 1992The Real VaslavShane SellersD. Wayne LukasGonzalo B. Torrealba miles1:46.01$45,500 1991Stress BusterPat DayG. Watts Humphrey Jr. & Sheila Pierce miles1:44.84$44,100

Legend:

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References