The Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old or older, over a distance of six 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 1998 with an attractive purse offered of $100,000. The event was raced as the Kentucky Cup Turf Dash Stakes as part of the Kentucky Cup.
The event was not held in 2011 and the event renamed in 2016 to the Turf Sprint Stakes
In 2017 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 $700,000 offered by 2019.
Records Speed record: 6 furlongs: 1:07.41 - Bran (FR) (2022) (new track record) furlongs: 1:15.72 - Proforma (2018)
Margins: 6 lengths – Morluc (2000)
Most wins 2 – Hold the Salt (2007, 2008) 2 – Gear Jockey (2021, 2023)
Most wins by a jockey 4 – Robby Albarado (2000, 2001, 2015, 2016)
Most wins by a trainer 3 – George R. Arnold II (2019, 2021, 2023)
Most wins by an owner 2 – Cynthia Knight (2007, 2008) 2 – Calumet Farm (2021, 2023)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefTurf Sprint Stakes 2026Possiblemente6José L. OrtizJoe SharpT & E Racing 6 furlongs1:09.28$1,747,025II2025Bear River 4James GrahamJ. Keith DesormeauxCharles K. Marquis6 furlongs 1:07.71$1,870,000II2024Cogburn 5Irad Ortiz Jr.Clark O. Brewster, William L. & Corinne Heiligbrodt 6 furlongs1:07.68$1,797,200II2023Gear Jockey6Jose LezcanoGeorge R. Arnold IICalumet Farm 6 furlongs1:10.59$998,667II2022Bran (FR)4Vincent ChminaudJohn W. SadlerHronis Racing 6 furlongs1:07.41$648,640II2021Gear Jockey 4Jose LezcanoGeorge R. Arnold II Calumet Farm 6 furlongs 1:07.90$995,500 III2020 Imprimis 6Irad Ortiz Jr.Joseph OrsenoBreeze Easy 6 furlongs 1:09.93$588,000III2019 Totally Boss4Florent GerouxGeorge R. Arnold II Jim & Susan Hill 6 furlongs 1:09.21$682,800III2018Proforma4Joe BravoMichael Stidham DARRS furlongs 1:15.72$500,000III2017 Hogy 8 Florent Geroux Michael J. Maker Michael M. Hui furlongs 1:16.88$398,000III2016 Successful Native 5 Robby Albarado Aubrey A. Maragh Marco Bommarito furlongs 1:17.51$309,997Listed Turf Dash Stakes2015 Sweet Luca 6 Robby Albarado Chris M. Block Fortino furlongs 1:19.44$180,000 Listed 2014 Dimension (GB) 6 Chris Landeros Conor Murphy Riverside Bloodstock furlongs 1:17.16$136,200 2013 Longhunter (GB) 5 Alan Garcia Michael J. Maker Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey 6 furlongs 1:10.28$137,050 2012 Good Lord 5 Gabriel Saez Forrest Kaelin Thomas D. Shank & Stan Young 6 furlongs 1:18.58$59,875 2011Race not held2010 Due Date 5 Tony Farina Steve Margolis Bert, Elaine & Richard Klein 6 furlongs 1:16.41$50,000 2009 Fort Prado 8 Eduardo E. Perez Chris M. Block Team Block 6 furlongs 1:11.49$50,000 2008 Hold the Salt 6 James A. Dodgen Cynthia Knight 6 furlongs 1:09.15$100,000 Listed 2007 Hold the Salt 5 Charles R. Woods Jr. James A. Dodgen Cynthia Knight 6 furlongs 1:09.25$100,000 Listed 2006 Atticus Kristy 5 Jesus Lopez Castanon Merrill R. Scherer Centaur Farms & Daniel Lynch 6 furlongs 1:12.64$100,000 Listed 2005 4 Calvin H. Borel Helen Pitts-Blasi Stud Raca 6 furlongs 1:10.20$100,000 Listed 2004 Battle Won 4 Rafael Bejarano Charles Simon Jay Manoogian 6 furlongs 1:10.86$100,000 Listed 2003 Fredericktown 4 Rafael Bejarano Darrin Miller Silverton Hill 6 furlongs 1:12.59$100,000 Listed 2002 Red Lightning 4 Calvin H. Borel Jeffrey D. Thornbury Philip S. Maas 6 furlongs 1:14.90$100,000 Listed 2001 Amazon River 3 Robby Albarado Kenneth E. Hoffman Kenneth E. Hoffman 6 furlongs 1:11.34$100,000 Listed 2000 Morluc 4 Robby Albarado Randy L. Morse Michael P. Cloonan 6 furlongs 1:09.66$100,000Listed 1999 Run Johnny 7 Pat Day Morris G. Nicks John Oakley 6 furlongs 1:11.60$100,000 Listed 1998 G H's Pleasure 6 Victor Espinoza T. Canonie Jr., K. Hoffman, E. Roy, et al. 6 furlongs 1:09.80 $100,000 Listed
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
References