The Ashland Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early April at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. It and the Ashland Oaks, the Kentucky Association racetrack's predecessor race, were named for Ashland, the homestead and breeding farm of statesman Henry Clay in Lexington, Kentucky. Restricted to three-year-olds fillies the race is currently run at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles. The race is a Grade I event with a current purse of $500,000 and has been a prep race to the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, including the Kentucky Oaks, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and Mother Goose Stakes.

Part of the 1936 inaugural events for the new Keeneland Race Course, the first two editions of the Ashland Stakes were open to fillies and mares, 3-years of age and older. Not run again until 1940, it was then made a race exclusively for 3-year-old fillies. During World War II, from 1943 through 1945 the race was hosted by Churchill Downs in Louisville.

The Ashland Stakes was run in two heats in 1952, 1965, 1974 and 1980. Don Brumfield is the only jockey to ever have won both heats. In the 1974 edition, Brumfield rode to victory on Winged Wishes, a horse owned by his mother, Viola, then took the second running aboard Darby Dan Farm's, Maud Muller.

Since its inception, the Ashland Stakes has been raced at various distances: 1936–1937, 1981 to present : miles 1940–1973 : 6 furlongs 1974–1980 : 7 furlongs, 184 feet

In 2014, the Ashland finished in a Dead heat between Rosalind and Room Service.

Records Speed record at current distance 1:41.26 – miles set by Speech in 2020.

Most wins by an owner 3 – Calumet Farm (1948, 1952, 1980) 3 – Cain Hoy Stable (1957, 1959, 1963)

Most wins by a jockey 3 – Bill Shoemaker (1964, 1981, 1982) 3 - Corey Lanerie (2009, 2016, 2017) 3 – Don Brumfield (1974 (2), 1984) 3 - Mike E. Smith (1994, 1997, 2013) 3 – Randy Romero (1980, 1985, 1990) 3 – Shane Sellers (1991, 1993, 2000)

Most wins by a trainer 4 – Woody Stephens (1949, 1957, 1959, 1963)

Winners of the Ashland Stakes since 1969 Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time2026Percy's BarLuan MachadoBen ColebrookHat Creek Racing (Gatewood Bell, Managng Partner)1:45.722025La CaraDylan DavisMark E. CasseTracy Farmer1:45.102024Leslie's RoseIrad Ortiz Jr.Todd A. PletcherWhisper Hill Farm1:43.852023Defining PurposeBrian Hernandez Jr.Kenneth G. McPeekMagdalena Racing, Colette Marie Vanmatre & James Ball1:43.312022NestIrad Ortiz, Jr.Todd A. PletcherRepole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Michael House 1:44.162021 MalathaatJoel RosarioTodd A. PletcherShadwell Stable 1:42.942020SpeechJavier CastellanoMichael W. McCarthyEclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Madaket Stables LLC1:41.262019Out For A SpinPaco LopezDallas StewartCommonwealth Stable1:44.952018Monomoy GirlFlorent GerouxBrad H. CoxMichael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group & Bethlehem Stables1:43.742017Sailor's ValentineCorey LanerieEdward J. KenneallySemaphore Racing1:45.542016Weep No MoreCorey LanerieRusty ArnoldAshbrook Farm1:43.572015Lovely MariaKerwin D. ClarkJ. Larry JonesBrereton C. Jones1:43.662014 Rosalind (DH)Joel RosarioKenneth G. McPeekLandaluce Educe Stable1:43.38Room Service (DH)Shaun BridgmohanWayne CatalanoMary & Gary West2013EmollientMike E. SmithWilliam I. MottJuddmonte Farms1:43.492012Karlovy VaryJames GrahamRusty ArnoldAlex G. Campbell Jr.1:44.822011Lilacs and LaceJavier CastellanoJohn P. Terranova IICovello, Hicks & Nikkel1:42.732010Evening JewelKent Desormeaux James M. CassidyBraly Family Trust 1:43.802009Hooh WhyCorey Lanerie Donna L. DupuyDerby Daze Farm & M. Hoffman1:43.542008Little BelleRajiv MaraghKiaran McLaughlinDarley Stable1:43.692007Christmas KidRené R. DouglasJames A. JerkensEdward P. Evans1:42.902006 BushfireCornelio VelásquezEddie KenneallyHomewrecker Stable1:45.162005 Sis CityEdgar S. Prado Richard E. Dutrow Jr.Stonerside Stable, Sanford Goldfarb, Joe Torre, Michael Dubb & Ira Davis1:46.352004Madcap EscapadeRené R. Douglas Frank L. BrothersW. Bruce Lunsford1:44.552003 Elloluv Robby AlbaradoCraig DollaseReddam Racing1:43.582002Take Charge LadyTony D'Amico Kenneth G. McPeekSelect Stable1:43.292001Fleet Renee John R. VelazquezMichael W. DickinsonV.H.W. Stable Inc1:43.772000Rings a Chime Shane Sellers Lonnie ArterburnTurf Side Stables1:44.401999SilverbulletdayJerry D. Bailey Bob BaffertMichael E. Pegram1:41.601998 Well Chosen Charles R. Woods Jr. D. Wayne LukasSue Magnier & Michael Tabor1:43.001997Glitter WomanMike E. Smith Claude R. McGaughey IIIH. Joseph Allen1:43.801996 My FlagJerry D. Bailey Claude R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps1:42.601995 UrbaneEddie DelahoussayeBrian MayberrySamantha Siegel1:43.401994Inside InformationMike E. SmithClaude R. McGaughey IIIOgden Mills Phipps1:46.801993Lunar SpookShane Sellers J. Bert SonnierSandbar Farms1:43.401992Prospectors DeliteCraig PerretNeil J. HowardWilliam S. Farish III1:42.601991 Do It With StyleShane Sellers Gary C. ContessaDJ Stable1:43.601990Go for WandRandy Romero William Badgett Jr.Christiana Stable1:43.601989GorgeousEddie DelahoussayeNeil DrysdaleRobert N. Clay1:43.201988Willa On the MoveChris McCarronLeon J. BlusiewiczLorraine Quinichett1:45.801987Chic ShirineSandy HawleyD. Wayne LukasEmory Alexander1:44.60 1986Classy CathyEarlie FiresJoseph M. BolleroEdward A. Cox Jr.1:44.001985Koluctoo's JillRandy RomeroBruce N. LevineBrandy Hills Farm1:44.401984EnumeratingDon BrumfieldDennis W. EbertHardesty/Walden/Ebert1:49.201983Princess RooneyJacinto VásquezFrank GomezPaula J. Tucker1:45.401982Blush With PrideBill ShoemakerD. Wayne LukasStonereath Farm1:45.001981Truly BoundBill ShoemakerGrover G. DelpWindfields Farm1:44.001980-1Flos FlorumRandy Romero William S. BordersStrapro Stable1:26.401980-2Sugar and SpiceJeffrey FellJohn M. VeitchCalumet Farm1:27.201979Candy EclairAnthony BlackMary EdensAdele W. Paxson1:27.001978MucchinaJose AmyAlan B. MarcusDonald Newman1:27.201977Sound of SummerFernando ToroThomas A. PrattT. Busching/C. Bernstein1:26.801976Optimistic GalBraulio BaezaLeRoy JolleyDiana M. Firestone1:26.801975Sun and SnowGarth PattersonGeorge T. PooleCornelius V. Whitney1:26.601974-1Winged WishesDon BrumfieldDavid KassenViola Brumfield1:28.801974-2Maud MullerDon BrumfieldLou RondinelloDarby Dan Farm1:27.001973Raging WhirlWeston SoirezGlenn HildGlenn Hild1:10.801972Barely EvenJohn L. Rotz Lou M. GoldfineMrs. S. L. Gilmartin1:11.001971You AllKenny KnappGeorge T. PooleCornelius V. Whitney1:11.001970Gay MissileRay BroussardDel W. CarrollMichael Grace Phipps1:10.001969Double DeltaCarlos H. Marquez Sr.Stanley M. RieserDrymon & Greenslit1:10.00 *1972 – Hempens Song Disqualified from first and placed eighth.

Earlier winners

1968 – Miss Swapsco 1967 – Dun-Cee 1966 – Justakiss 1965 – Terentia 1965 – Bright Bauble 1964 – Blue Norther 1963 – Sally Ship 1962 – Windy Miss 1961 – Goldflower 1960 – Tingle 1959 – Hidden Talent 1958 – Ramadel 1957 – Jota Jota 1956 – Doubledogdare 1955 – Insouciant 1954 – Jenjay 1953 – Cerise Reine 1952 – Free For Me 1952 – Real Delight 1951 – Sickle's Image 1950 – Wondring 1949 – Tall Weeds 1948 – Bewitch 1947 – Cosmic Missile 1946 – Sweet Caprice 1945 – Come And Go 1944 – Harriet Sue 1943 – Valdina Marl 1942 – The Swallow 1941 – Valdina Myth 1940 – June Bee 1939 – No race 1938 – No race 1937 – Drowsy 1936 – Myrtlewood

See also Road to the Kentucky Oaks

References