The Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint Stakes, raced as the Never Say Die Ladies Sprint Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are three years old or older, over a distance of furlongs on the turf held annually in September at Kentucky Downs racetrack in Franklin, Kentucky during their short turf meeting. The event currently carries a purse of $1,750,000 which includes $875,000 from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.
History The race was inaugurated in 2013 with an attractive purse offered of $150,000.
In 2018 the event was upgraded to a Grade III.
With the influx of gaming revenue at Kentucky Downs the purse for the event has risen dramatically to nearly $500,000 offered by 2019.
In 2023 the American Graded Stakes Committee upgraded the event to Grade II status. The committee then upgraded the event again to Grade I status for 2026.
Records Speed record: furlongs: 1:14.19 - Ag Bullet (2024) (New Track Record)
Margins: lengths: Ag Bullet (2024)
Most wins by a jockey 3 – Florent Geroux (2016, 2018, 2023)
Most wins by a trainer 3 – Mark E. Casse (2015, 2016, 2020) 3 – Wesley A. Ward (2013, 2014, 2022)
Most wins by an owner: 2 – Calvin Nguyen & Joey C. Tran (2024, 2025)
Winners
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref2026In Our Time5Micah HusbandsSaffie Joseph, Jr.Resolute Racing and Miller Racing LLC furlongs1:16.01 $1,676,500I2025Ag Bullet5Luis SaezRichard BaltasCalvin Nyguyen & Joey C. Tran furlongs1:14.38$1,994,300II2024Ag Bullet 4Umberto Rispoli Richard Baltas Calvin Nguyen & Joey C. Tran furlongs1:14.19 $1,378,260II 2023Bay Storm 4Florent GerouxJonathan ThomasBridlewood Farm furlongs1:17.06$900,000 II 2022Campanelle (IRE)4Irad Ortiz Jr.Wesley A. WardStonestreet Stables furlongs1:14.57$736,030III2021 In Good Spirits 4 John R. Velazquez Albert Stall, Jr. Bal Mar Equine furlongs 1:15.35$563,100III2020 Got Stormy 5 Tyler Gaffalione Mark E. Casse Gary Barber furlongs 1:15.41$498,000III2019 Morticia 5 Tyler Gaffalione George R. Arnold II G. Watts Humphrey Jr. furlongs 1:15.85$471,820III2018 Ruby Notion 5 Florent Geroux Darrin Miller Silverton Hill Farm furlongs 1:15.80$329,720III2017 Lull 3 Brian Hernandez Jr. Christophe ClementClaiborne Farm & Adele Dilschneider furlongs 1:17.22$348,000 Listed 2016 Mississippi Delta 4 Florent Geroux Mark E. Casse Jackpot Ranch &. M.G. Rutherford furlongs 1:18.79$278,220Listed 2015 Sky Treasure 5 Julien R. Leparoux Mark E. Casse John C. Oxley furlongs 1:19.83$298,400 2014 Richies Party Girl 3 Rafael Manuel Hernandez Wesley A. Ward Richard Ravin & Wesley A. Ward furlongs 1:16.51$199,600 2013 To My Valentine (FR) 3 David R. Flores Wesley A. Ward Ice Wine Stable furlongs 1:17.15$125,151
References