The American Turf Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run over a distance of miles on turf held annually in early May on the Kentucky Derby day meeting at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky during the spring meeting.

History

The event was inaugurated on 2 May 1992 as the fourth race on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby day meeting. The event was won by Senor Tomas who run as a Peter Vestal trained entry with Correntino in a time of 1:43.10.

The event was sponsored by Crown Royal from 1995 to 1998 and more recently by Ram Trucks from 2011 to 2019.

The event was classified as Grade III in 1998. In 2010, the American Graded Stakes Committee upgraded the race to Grade II status. In 2025, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association upgraded the classification further to its current status as a Grade I race.

The most notable winner of the event is the 2004 winner Kitten's Joy who as a three-year-old went on to finish second in the Breeders' Cup Turf to Better Talk Now and was voted as the U.S. Champion Male Turf Horse. His offspring have won this event three times: Banned (2011), Divisidero (2015) and Camelot Kitten (2016).

From 2024, the winner of the race will receive a wildcard entry for the Epsom Derby.

Records Speed record: miles: 1:40.31 - Stark Contrast (2026)

Margins lengths - Banned (2011)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 - Flavien Prat (2021, 2022, 2025, 2026)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 - Chad C. Brown (2013, 2016, 2019, 2025)

Most wins by an owner: 2 - Thomas Carey (1992, 1994) 2 - Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey (2008, 2011) 2 - Glen Hill Farm (2011, 2014) 2 - Amerman Racing (2024, 2026)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref2026Stark ContrastFlavien PratMichael W. McCarthyAmerman Racing miles1:40.31$999,750 I2025Zulu Kingdom (IRE)Flavien PratChad C. BrownMadaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss & Michael J. Caruso miles1:41.64$924,780 I 2024Trikari Umberto RispoliH. Graham MotionAmerman Racing miles1:43.59$596,560II2023Webslinger Javier CastellanoMark E. CasseD. J. Stable miles1:41.54$500,000II2022Stolen BaseFlavien PratMichael J. MakerThree Diamonds Farm & Deuce Greathouse miles1:44.57$500,000II2021Du JourFlavien PratBob BaffertDebbie Lanni & Natalie J. Baffert miles1:42.49$500,000II2020Fancy LiquorFlorent GerouxMichael J. MakerSkyChai Racing & Sand Dollar Stable miles1:42.83$500,000II2019Digital Age (IRE)Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownKlaravich Stables miles1:44.63$400,000II2018MaraudJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherTreadway Racing Stable miles1:47.52$300,000II2017ArklowMike E. SmithBrad H. CoxDonegal Racing miles1:44.45$300,000II2016Camelot KittenIrad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownKenneth and Sarah Ramsey miles1:41.13$300,000II2015DivisideroRafael Manuel HernandezWilliam B. BradleyGunpowder Farms miles1:41.59$250,000II2014Global ViewGary L. StevensGlen Hill Farm miles1:41.65$294,500II2013Noble TuneJavier CastellanoChad C. BrownMartin S. Schwartz & Dell Ridge Farm miles1:41.63$234,200II2012Silver MaxRafael BejaranoDale L. RomansMark Bacon & Dana Wells miles1:41.10$238,200II2011BannedGarrett K. GomezThomas F. ProctorGlen Hill Farm miles1:42.05$237,400II2010Doubles PartnerGarrett K. GomezTodd A. PletcherWinStar Farm miles1:41.05$200,550II2009OrthodoxJon CourtJohn GlenneyKim and John Glenney miles1:44.37$170,400III2008TizdejavuGarrett K. GomezGregory FoxMichael L Cooper & Pamela C. Ziebarth miles1:46.14$181,950III2007DuveenMark GuidryDale L. RomansAndrew Farm miles1:44.03$188,700III2006Stream CatJulien R. LeparouxPatrick L. BianconeFab Oak Stable, Robert M. Hurley & John F. Goldthorp miles1:42.27$114,300III2005Rey de CafeJavier CastellanoG. Watts Humphrey Jr. miles1:42.00$114,700III2004Kitten's JoyJerry D. BaileyDale L. RomansKenneth and Sarah Ramsey miles1:43.21$113,800III2003Senor SwingerPat DayBob BaffertRobert B. & Beverly Lewis miles1:41.38$121,400III2002LegislatorEdgar S. PradoH. James BondJudy E. Turetsky miles1:44.43$116,300III2001Strategic PartnerJohn R. VelazquezMark A. HennigLee Lewis miles1:42.89$117,900III2000King CugatJerry D. BaileyWilliam I. MottCentennial Farms miles1:41.25$118,100III1999Air RocketJerry D. BaileyRobert E. HolthusFrank Fletcher & Dan Jones miles1:42.65$115,400 III1998Dernier Croise (FR)Gary L. StevensThomas M. AmossRichard Colton Jr. miles1:44.28$126,000III1997Royal Strand (IRE)Pat DayW. Elliott WaldenJames H. Stone miles1:40.93$115,800Listed 1996Broadway BeauChris McCarronW. Elliott WaldenGeorge De Benedicty & Dr. Brian Davidson miles1:41.87$117,500 Listed 1995Gary L. StevensThomas M. AmossRobert Sabinske miles1:42.07$118,000Listed 1994Jaggery JohnMike E. SmithPeter M. VestalThomas M. Carey miles1:45.05$86,850 Listed 1993† Desert WavesShane SellersJames E. DaySam Son Farm miles1:42.64$56,350 Listed 1992§ Senor TomasMike E. SmithPeter M. VestalThomas M. Carey miles1:43.10$57,600 Listed

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

† In the 1993 running Compadre was first past the post but hung in the straight causing interference to the second-place finisher Desert Waves and was disqualified and placed second.

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links 2023 Churchill Downs Media Guide - $500,000 American Turf presented by BMW (Grade II)

References