The Dogwood Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies run over a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt track annually in September at Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky.

History

The event was inaugurated on 8 June 1975 and was won by the favorite My Juliet who would later the following year win Eclipse Award for Outstanding Sprint Horse.

The event is named after a hardy, blooming tree known as the Dogwood, that adds so much beauty to the spring landscape in Kentucky.

The Dogwood Stakes was run in two divisions in 1981.

The event was upgraded to Grade III in 1998. However, the event lost this classification for the 2016 running and was a Listed event. The event regained its Grade III status in 2020. The 2019 winner Covfefe, would later win the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and become champion female sprinter and champion 3-year-old filly.

Distances Since its inauguration in 1975, the race has been contested at a variety of distances:

7 furlongs : 1975–1981, 2013 to present miles : 1982, 1986–2005 1 mile : 2006–2012 miles : 1983–1985

Records Speed records 7 furlongs: 1:22.27 – My Mane Squeeze (2024) 1 mile: 1:34.56 – Acoma (2008) miles: 1:42.73 – Take Charge Lady (2002)

Margins: 8 lengths – Covfefe (2019)

Most wins by a jockey 4 – Larry Melancon (1982, 1984, 1994, 1996) 4 – Pat Day (1983, 1989, 1997, 1998)

Most wins by a trainer 5 – D. Wayne Lukas (1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2004)

Most wins by an owner 2 – Claiborne Farm (1983, 1992) 2 – Overbrook Farm (1989, 1990) 2 – John C. Oxley (1995, 2005) 2 – LNJ Foxwoods (2015, 2019) 2 – Winchell Thoroughbreds (2009, 2022)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref 2026ConceitMario GutierrezBrad H. CoxJuddmonte7 furlongs1:22.60$300,000III2025Ragtime Junior AlvaradoWilliam I. MottGodolphin Racing 7 furlongs1:22.35$300,000III2024My Mane Squeeze Luis SaezMichael J. MakerWilliam J. Butler & WinStar Farm 7 furlongs1:22.27$269,335III2023Lady Radler Jesus CastanonMichael CampbellMellon Patch7 furlongs1:22.71$299,750III2022Echo ZuluRicardo Santana Jr.Steven M. AsmussenL and N Racing & Winchell Thoroughbreds7 furlongs1:22.43$274,000III2021 Caper Colby Hernandez Albert Stall Jr. Columbine Stable 7 furlongs1:22.57$275,000 III2020Four Graces Ian R. Wilkes Whitham Thoroughbreds7 furlongs1:22.28$100,000 III2019CovfefeBrad H. CoxLNJ Foxwoods 7 furlongs1:25.04$125,000 Listed 2018Divine QueenCalvin H. BorelWilliam B. BradleyWilliam B. Bradley & Carl Hurst 7 furlongs1:23.27$100,000Listed 2017Pinch HitJon CourtBrad H. CoxKlein Racing 7 furlongs1:23.29$100,000Listed 2016Mines and MagicRobby AlbaradoVictoria H. OliverG. Watts Humphrey Jr.7 furlongs1:23.02$100,000Listed 2015Super MajestyAlex O. SolisJerry HollendorferLNJ Foxwoods 7 furlongs1:23.19$100,000III2014Thank You MarylouMiguel MenaMichael J. MakerKen and Sarah Ramsey 7 furlongs1:23.73$112,000III2013Sky GirlCorey J. LanerieWilliam I. MottAlpha Delta Stables 7 furlongs1:35.39$110,000III2012Race not held2011Salty StrikeManoel R. CruzKenneth G. McPeekCraig B. Singer1 mile1:35.89$109,300III2010AilaleaCalvin H. BorelTodd A. PletcherStarlight Partners 1 mile1:35.78$110,200III2009HightapShaun BridgmohanSteven M. AsmussenWinchell Thoroughbreds & Gainesway Farm1 mile1:34.56$111,500III2008AcomaRobby AlbaradoDavid M. Carroll Helen C. Alexander & Helen K. Groves1 mile1:35.35$109,000III2007Lady JoanneCalvin H. BorelCarl A. NafzgerBentley L. Smith Trust 1 mile1:35.49$167,550III2006Joint EffortRené R. DouglasDale L. RomansDonald R. Dizney 1 mile1:43.49$167,850III2005Miss MatchedShaun BridgmohanJohn T. Ward Jr.John C. Oxley miles1:43.14$162,900III2004Stellar JayneRobby AlbaradoD. Wayne LukasSpendthrift Farm, Chuck Kidder, Nancy Cole & Nick Strong miles1:45.96$161,400III2003Golden MarlinShane SellersGregory D. FoleyJoe Famularo & William Glass miles1:42.73$109,000III2002Take Charge LadyAnthony J. D'AmicoKenneth G. McPeekSelect Stable miles1:43.41$109,500III2001Nasty StormLonnie MecheDallas StewartD. Crum, D. Elser, R. McDonald, J. Riccelli & D. Stewart miles1:46.80$109,700III2000Welcome SurpriseFrancisco C. TorresNeil J. HowardWilliam S. Farish III & Mrs. William S. Kilroy miles1:46.80 $109,700III1999Golden TemperShane SellersW. Elliott WaldenMark Stanley miles1:43.73$111,400III1998Really PolishPat DayJoseph PetalinoTeam Valor International miles1:44.78$109,100III1997Pat DayHal R. WigginsPurse Strings Farm miles1:44.95$111,300Listed 1996Ginny LynnLarry MelanconNiall M. O'CallaghanNew Top Racing Stable miles1:43.22$82,425 Listed 1995Gal in a RuckusHerb McCauleyJohn T. Ward Jr.John C. Oxley miles1:43.88$82,350Listed 1994Briar RoadLarry MelanconRichard B. KohnhorstSo True Stable miles1:44.78$81,825Listed 1993With a WinkD. Wayne LukasMelvin Hatley miles1:44.21$55,400Listed 1992HitchBrent E. BartramSteven C. PenrodClaiborne Farm miles1:47.68$55,500Listed 1991Be CoolAaron GryderD. Wayne LukasSugar Maple Farm & D. Wayne Lukas miles1:46.46$56,250Listed 1990PatchesK. Keith AllenD. Wayne LukasOverbrook Farm & D. Wayne Lukas miles1:46.60$53,650Listed 1990 Dogwood Stakes – Race 10: held 12 May 19901989Luthier's LaunchPat DayD. Wayne LukasOverbrook Farm miles1:45.20$56,100 Listed 1989 Dogwood Stakes – Race 9: held 11 June 19891988Darien MissDon BrumfieldGeorge R. Arnold IITaylor Asbury miles1:43.80$55,150 Listed 1988 Dogwood Stakes – Race 9: held 19 June 19881987Lady GretchenMichael McDowellGene AlfreyJogo Inc. & Gene Alfrey miles1:44.00$70,650Listed 1987 Dogwood Stakes – Race 9: held 15 June 19871986Hail a CabPatrick A. JohnsonPhilip M. HauswaldJohn A. Bell III miles1:46.60$71,600Listed 1986 Dogwood Stakes – Race 9: held 26 May 19861985Foxy DeenDaryl MontoyaRonnie G. WarrenElmer Miller miles1:50.00$64,300Listed 1985 Dogwood Stakes – Race 9: held 15 June 19851984Mrs. RevereLarry MelanconWilliam I. MottHiram Polk & David Richardson miles1:51.20 $75,650Listed 1984 Dogwood Stakes – Race 8: held 4 August 19841983Bon GoutPat DaySteven C. PenrodClaiborne Farm miles1.53.00$55,950 Listed 1983 Dogwood Stakes – Race 9: held 6 August 19831982Amazing LoveLarry MelanconA. J. Foyt IIIA. J. Foyt Jr. miles1:46.60$36,225 1982 Dogwood Stakes – Race 8: held 5 June 19821981Savage LovePaul NicoloTimothy J. WalkerCarl Swan 7 furlongs1:24.80$29,187 1981 Dogwood Stakes Division 1 – Race 7: held 20 June 1981Fancy NaskraJohn LivelyJerry D. CalvinJim Thomas 7 furlongs1:25.20$28,112 1981 Dogwood Stakes Division 2 – Race 8: held 20 June 19811980Quality CornerMark SellersMrs. William H. May 7 furlongs1:24.00$29,725 1980 Dogwood Stakes – Race 8: held 21 June 19801979Split the TabDarrell HaireArnold DickersonDinnaken Farm 7 furlongs1:24.00$30,250 1979 Dogwood Stakes – Race 8: held 23 June 19791978Bold RendezvousAllen RiniJames E. MorganJohn Dolan, T. Wood Jr., & C. N. Lebanz7 furlongs1:23.40$22,225 1978 Dogwood Stakes – Race 8: held 24 June 19781977UnrealityMartin FrominRobert L. IrwinKaril Vangeloff 7 furlongs1:25.40$23,125 1977 Dogwood Stakes – Race 8: held 25 June 19771976T. V. VixenMike ManganelloPeter W. Salmen Jr.Crimson King Farm 7 furlongs1:23.40$21,775 1976 Dogwood Stakes – Race 8: held 5 June 19761975My JulietAllen Hill Steve A. Long George Weasel 7 furlongs1:24.00$23,075 Inaugural 1975 Dogwood Stakes – Race 8: held 7 June 1975

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References