The Limestone Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of furlongs on the turf held annually in early April at Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky during the spring meeting. The event currently offers a purse of $350,000.
History
The event is named after the Lexington Limestone, a prominent geologic formation that heavily influenced both the surface topography and economy of the region.
In the inaugural running of the event was as the Limestone Turf Sprint Stakes on April 12, 2019, and the winner was the Irish-bred three-year-old filly Ginger Nut who ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario and won by one and a quarters lengths in a time of 1:03.53.
In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Keeneland did not schedule the event in their updated and shortened summer meeting.
In 2024 the event was moved off the turf and held on a sloppy track. The event was won by Hot Beach by four lengths. The event lost its Listed status for the running.
In 2026 the event was upgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to a Grade III.
Records Speed record furlongs: 1:01:99 – Slay the Day (2026)
Margins 4 lengths – Hot Beach (2024)
Most wins by a jockey 2 – Joel Rosario (2019, 2023) 2 – John R. Velazquez (2022, 2026)
Most wins by a trainer 3 – Brian A. Lynch (2021, 2024, 2026)
Most wins by an owner 2 – Stonestreet Stables (2022, 2023)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefLimestone Stakes2026Slay the Day Brian A. Lynch Flying Dutchmen Breeding & Racing furlongs1:01.99$328,150III2025Shisospicy Irad Ortiz Jr.Morplay Racing furlongs1:03.94$293,850Listed2024Hot Beach José OrtizBrian A. Lynch Boardshorts Stable furlongs1:05.70$244,563 2023Joel RosarioWesley A. WardStonestreet Stables furlongs1:02.45$208,188Listed2022Ruthin (GB) John R. VelazquezWesley A. WardStonestreet Stables furlongs1:03.33$155,100 ListedLimestone Turf Sprint Stakes2021Tobys HeartJavier CastellanoBrian A. Lynch Gary Barber, Terry Hamilton & Brian A. Lynch furlongs1:02.29$100,000 2020Race not held2019Ginger Nut (IRE) Joel RosarioJohn W. Sadler Hronis Racing furlongs1:03.53$100,000
Legend:
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races External sites 2026 Keeneland Media Guide (page 113)
References