The Mint Julep Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, four years old and older over a distance of one and one sixteenth miles on the turf scheduled annually in late May or early June at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. It currently offers a purse of $250,000.

History From its inaugural running in 1977 to 1986, the event was run on the dirt course, but was moved to the turf course beginning in 1987.

The race is named for the Mint Julep, a popular drink with racing fans at Churchill Downs, particularly seen on Kentucky Derby day.

The event was split into divisions in 1987 and 1990.

Between 1983 and 2004 the conditions of the event were for fillies and mares that were four year olds and older.

In 2001 the event was upgraded to a Grade III.

From 2001 to 2014 the event was known as the Early Time Mint Julep Handicap. Beginning in 2015, the Mint Julep Handicap became the Old Forester Mint Julep Handicap for sponsorship reasons.

Distances It has been run at the following distances:

miles (1.71 km) : 1990–present miles (1.81 km) : 1988–1989 1 mile (1.61 km) : 1983–1987 7 furlongs (1.41 km) : 1977–1982

Records Speed record miles – 1:40.55 Pin Up Betty (2025)

Margins 5 lengths – Lillian Russell (1981)

Most wins 2 – Megans Bluff (2001, 2002)

Most wins by an owner 2 – Carl F. Pollard (2003, 2015) 2 – James C. Routsong (2001, 2002) 2 – Richard and Bertram Klein (2013, 2016) 2 – Madaket Stables (2020, 2021)

Most wins by a jockey 4 – Robby Albarado (1997, 2005, 2006, 2007)

Most wins by a trainer 5 – William I. Mott (1987, 1996, 2005, 2006, 2007)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref2026Sweet Treasure 4Irad Ortiz Jr.Brad H. CoxFull of Run Racing II & Frank Silva miles1:40.29$269,500III2025Pin Up Betty 4Luis SaezMichael J. Maker Three Diamonds Farm miles1:40.55$237,000III2024Delahaye 5Tyler GaffalioneChad C. Brown William H. Lawrence & Three Chimneys Farm miles1:45.46$249,668III2023Henrietta Topham5James GrahamGeoff MulcahyCambus-Kenneth Farm miles1:42.46$222,000 III2022Gam's Mission4Adam BeschizzaCherie DeVauxLazy F Ranch miles1:43.53$193,350III2021Mintd (IRE)5Ricardo Santana Jr.Brendan P. WalshBradley Thoroughbreds, Madaket Stables, Team Hanley, Tim & Anna Cambron miles1:43.92$150,000III2020Secret Message 5John VelazquezH. Graham MotionMadaket Stables, Heider Family Stables, ERJ Racing, Elayne Stables & S. Bouchey miles1:43.13$100,000III2019Mom's On Strike5Adam BeschizzaJoe SharpCarl R. Moore Management & Brad Grady miles1:47.63$125,000III20185Corey J. LanerieBernard S. FlintJames M. Miller miles1:42.36$100,000III20175Declan CannonIgnacio Correas IVIvan Gasparotto miles1:41.46$100,000III2016Cash Control4Shaun BridgmohanBrad H. CoxRichard & Bertram Klein miles1:41.12$100,000III2015Kiss Moon4Corey J. LanerieDavid R. VanceCarl F. Pollard miles1:40.94$100,000III2014Honey Hues5Bernard S. FlintL.T B. Inc/Childers miles1:41.75$110,400III2013Miz Ida4Shaun BridgmohanSteve MargolisRichard, Bertram & Elaine Klein miles1:42.37$109,100III2012Bizzy Caroline4Manoel CruzKenneth G. McPeekCatesby W. Clay miles1:43.29$111,000III2011My Baby Baby6Manoel CruzKenneth G. McPeekMagdalena Racing miles1:42.40$113,900III2010Hot Cha Cha4James GrahamPhilip A. SimsNelson McMakin miles1:43.27$110,800III2009Acoma4Corey J. LanerieDavid M. CarrollHelen Groves & Helen Alexander miles1:43.10$109,000III2008Dreaming of Anna4Garrett K. GomezWayne M. CatalanoFrank C. Calabrese miles1:42.77$169,950III2007Quite a Bride4Robby AlbaradoWilliam I. MottHaras Santa Maria de Araras miles1:40.70$164,100III2006My Typhoon (IRE)4Robby AlbaradoWilliam I. MottLive Oak Racing miles1:41.55$115,000III2005Delta Princess6Robby AlbaradoWilliam I. MottSaud bin Khaled miles1:42.43$110,100III2004Stay Forever7Eddie CastroMartin D. WolfsonSanta Cruz Ranch/Juan Rizo miles1:42.66$168,300III2003Kiss the Devil5Lonnie MecheDavid R. VanceCarl F. Pollard miles1:41.73$168,300III2002Megans Bluff5Craig PerretJohn K. HennigJames C. Routsong miles1:42.87$112,900III2001Megans Bluff4Craig PerretJohn K. HennigJames C. Routsong miles1:42.88$113,600III2000Pratella5Larry MelanconBurk Kessinger Jr.Bruce Barton/Alvin Haynes miles1:43.08$111,900 Listed 1999Mingling Glances5Larry MelanconBurk Kessinger Jr.Morven Stud Farm miles1:42.59$114,400 Listed 1998B. A. Valentine5Francisco C. TorresDale L. RomansAlberta Butner miles1:41.42$114,200Listed 1997†Valor Lady5Robby AlbaradoMark A. HennigAmerman Racing Stable miles1:41.20$114,900 Listed 1996Bail Out Becky4Craig PerretWilliam I. MottKenneth and Sarah Ramsey miles1:41.86$84,150Listed 1995Romy4Juvenal Lopez DiazMoises R. YanezWilliam L. Pacella et al. miles1:42.69$84,525Listed 1994Words of War5Carlos H. Marquez Jr.Lawrence Karp miles1:40.98$85,650Listed 1993Classic Reign4Fabio A. Arguello Jr.James E. DaySam-Son Farm miles1:42.84$57,500Listed 1992Lady Shirl5Patrick A. JohnsonP. Noel HickeyIrish Acres Farm (P. Noel Hickey) miles1:41.41$57,050Listed 1991Dance for Lucy5Larry MelanconSheldon WolfeAlexander Schmidt miles1:43.07$57,150Listed 1990Tunita5Robert J. Thibeau Jr.George R. Arnold IIJohn Peace miles1:43.80$48,425 Listed 1990 Mint Julep Handicap Division 1 Listed - Race 7: held 19 May 1990Phoenix Sunshine5Joseph DeeganDel LovelandJudy Hicks miles1:43.20$48,425 Listed 1990 Mint Julep Handicap Division 2 Listed - Race 10: held 19 May 19901989Here's Your Silver4Michael McDowellSteven C. PenrodHermitage Farm miles1:50.40$57,100 Listed 1989 Mint Julep Handicap Listed - Race 9: held 17 June 19891988How I Wish4Earlie FiresJoseph E. BroussardEstate of Joe Siggio miles1:51.00$56,400Listed 1988 Mint Julep Handicap Listed - Race 9: held 18 June 19881987Thunderdome4Steve H. BassHarry E. TrotsekEdward A. Seltzer1 mile1:37.80$40,005Listed 1987 Mint Julep Handicap Division 1 Listed - Race 8: held 9 May 1987Innsbruck (GB)4Sandy HawleyWilliam I. MottDiana Firestone1 mile1:38.00$35,280Listed 1987 Mint Julep Handicap Division 2 Listed - Race 9: held 9 May 19871986Zenobia Empress5Earlie FiresJoseph M. BolleroRussell Fortune Jr.1 mile1:35.80$44,695Listed 1986 Mint Julep Handicap Listed - Race 10: held 17 May 19861985Stave4Charles R. Woods Jr.Ted McClainHidaway Farm1 mile1:35.00$32,375Listed 1985 Mint Julep Handicap Listed - Race 10: held 11 May 19851984Lass Trump4Garth PattersonAl Samford1 mile1:37.00$40,410Listed 1984 Mint Julep Handicap Listed - Race 9: held 12 May 19841983Naskra Magic4Phil RubbiccoJames O. KeeferJim Thomas1 mile1:36.60$35,750Listed 1983 Mint Julep Handicap Listed - Race 8: held 14 May 19831982Kate's Cabin4Eddie SnellLee SnellRuth Cummings7 furlongs1:25.20$36,100Listed 1982 Mint Julep Handicap Listed - Race 8: held 8 May 19821981Lillian Russell4Ronald J. Hirdes Jr.Leslie Combs II7 furlongs1:23.20$29,950Listed 1981 Mint Julep Handicap Listed - Race 8: held 23 May 19811980Likely Exchange6David E. WhitedThomas H. Stevens Sr.G. Watts Humphrey Jr. & Pamela Firman7 furlongs1:24.20$30,225 Listed 1980 Mint Julep Handicap Listed - Race 8: held 24 May 19801979Bold Rendezvous4James E. MorganJohn Bolan, T. Wood Jr. & C. Labanz7 furlongs1:25.00$28,175Listed 1979 Mint Julep Handicap Listed - Race 8: held 26 May 19791978Time for Pleasure4Thomas BarrowPhil A. GrosserWilliam Q. Muir7 furlongs1:23.40$22,475 1978 Mint Julep Handicap - Race 8: held 27 May 19781977Satan's Cheer5Mike ManganelloPeter W. Salmen Jr.Crimson King Farm7 furlongs1:24.00$22,000 Inaugural 1977 Mint Julep Handicap - Race 8: held 28 May 1977

Legend:

Notes:

† In 1997, Romy won but was disqualified for interference in the stretch and set back to fourth.

References