Steve Sexton Mile Stakes

The Steve Sexton Mile Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older over the distance of one mile (8 furlongs on the dirt scheduled annually in late May at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

History The inaugural running of the event was on 20 April in 1997 as the Texas Mile Stakes and was won by Isitingood who was trained by the US Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and owned by Michael E. Pegram & Terry Henn in a time of 1:34.44. The winning time continues to this day to be the stakes record.

After being classified as a Listed event in 1999 it became the first graded Thoroughbred stakes race in Texas.

In 2001, Dixie Dot Com became the only horse to win in the same year the Texas Mile and the Lone Star Park Handicap, known as "The Texas Two Step."

Among notable horses who ran in the Texas Mile but did not win were Skip Away, who finished third in 1997, and Real Quiet who finished second in 1999.

Beginning with the 2017 running, the race was renamed to honor Steve Sexton, a member of Lone Star Park's original management team who had died the previous year. Sexton also oversaw Churchill Downs from 2002-2009 and was the 12th president in the track's history. Sexton, an executive vice-president with Churchill Downs Inc., also served as president of Churchill Downs Entertainment Group following his time as track president.

In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Lone Star Park did not schedule the event in their updated and shortened spring-summer meeting.

Records Speed record: 1:34.44 - Isitingood (1997) (stakes and track record)

Margins: 8 lengths - Monterey Jazz (2008)

Most wins: 2 - Littlebitlively (1998, 1999) 2 - Heroic Move (2024, 2026)

Most wins by a jockey: 3 - David Flores (1997, 2001, 2008)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 - Steven M. Asmussen (2011, 2013, 2018, 2022) 4 - Bob Baffert (1997, 2006, 2010, 2017) 4 - Robertino Diodoro (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)

Most wins by an owner: 2 - Mike Pegram (1997, 2006) 2 - John A. Franks (1998, 1999) 2 - Perry Martin (2021, 2025) 2 - Arnold Bennewith, Randy Howg, Lana Wiest, Norman Tremblay & R 6 Stable (2024, 2026)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref Steve Sexton Mile Stakes2026Heroic Move6Geovanni FrancoRobertino DiodoroArnold Bennewith, Rick Wiest, Clayton Wiest, Lana Wiest, Randy Howg, Norman Tremblay and R 6 Stable1 mile1:36.92$400,000III20255Ramon Vazquez Robertino DiodoroPerry Martin1 mile1:38.29$400,000III2024Heroic Move 4Harry Hernandez Robertino DiodoroArnold Bennewith, Randy Howg, Lana Wiest, R6 Stables, Gary Kropp & Norman Tremblay1 mile1:37.69$400,000III2023Frosted Grace 7Cristian Torres Robertino DiodoroFlying P Stable1 mile1:37.99$400,000III2022Silver Prospector 5Stewart ElliottSteven M. Asmussen Ed & Susie Orr1 mile1:37.20$400,000III2021Mo Mosa 4Ramon VazquezMichael J. Maker Perry & Denise Martin1 mile1:37.15$400,000III2020Race not held2019Mocito Rojo5Shane WilsonWayne T. Davis1 mile1:37.06$300,000III2018Bee Jersey4Ricardo Santana Jr.Steven M. AsmussenCharles E. Fipke1 mile1:36.78$200,000III2017Mor Spirit4Mike E. SmithBob Baffert Michael Lund Petersen 1 mile1:36.86$200,000IIITexas Mile Stakes2016Great Minds5Charles J. McMahonAlbert Stall Jr.Vince Wilfork1 mile1:37.68$200,000III2015Texas Air7Quincy HamiltonAllen MilliganPaul J. Rigali Jr.1 mile1:37.31$200,000III2014Grand Contender6Richard E. EramiaThomas M. Amoss Maggi Moss 1 mile1:36.68$200,000III2013Master Rick5Steven M. AsmussenZayat Stables1 mile1:36.01$200,000III2012Endorsement5Robby AlbaradoEoin G. HartyCasner Racing1 mile1:36.69$200,000III2011Thiskyhasnolimit4Justin ShepherdCathy & Bob Zollars & Mark Wagner 1 mile1:37.28$200,000III2010Mythical Power4Martin GarciaBob Baffert Peachtree Stable 1 mile1:35.71$200,000III2009Jonesboro7M. Clifton BerryRandy L. MorseMichael Langford1 mile1:36.94$300,000III2008Monterey Jazz4David R. FloresCraig DollaseA and R Stables & Class Racing Stable1 mile1:35.25$300,000III2007Silent Pleasure4Tracy J. HebertHoward ScarberryS & S Stables 1 mile1:35.39$300,000III2006Preachinatthebar5Jon CourtBob BaffertMichael E. Pegram1 mile1:36.81$300,000III2005High Strike Zone5Ricky J. FaulAmos LabordeDonald W. Erickson1 mile1:35.34$300,000III2004Kela6David C. NueschMike R. MitchellJay Manoogian1 mile1:35.64$300,000III2003Bluesthestandard6Martin A. PedrozaTed H. WestJeffrey Sengara1 mile1:35.68$300,000III2002Unrullah Bull5Anthony J. LovatoCole NormanJames C. & Theresa L. Donnan 1 mile1:37.78$300,000III2001Dixie Dot Com6David R. FloresWilliam J. Morey Jr.Carole & Don Chaiken, Mr. & Mrs. Barton D. Heller1 mile1:34.72$300,000III2000Sir Bear7Eibar CoaRalph ZiadieBarbara Smollin1 mile1:35.98$300,000III1999Littlebitlively5Carlos GonzalezBobby C. BarnettJohn A. Franks1 mile1:35.65$250,000III1998Littlebitlively4Carlos GonzalezBobby C. BarnettJohn A. Franks1 mile1:37.07$250,000 Listed 1997Isitingood6David FloresBob BaffertMichael E. Pegram & Terry Henn1 Mile1:34.44$250,000 Listed

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References