The Chilukki Stakes is a Grade III American thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age three and older over a distance of one mile on the dirt held annually in November at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, during the fall meeting. It currently offers a purse of $300,000.

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 1 November 1986 as the Churchill Downs Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap at a distance of seven furlongs and was won by James J. Devaney's three-year-old filly Lazer Show who started as the 4/5 odds-on favorite winning by lengths ono a fast track in a time of 1:22. The event was sponsored by Budweiser and the Breeders' Cup with lucrative stakes.

The following year the event was increased to one mile.

In 1988 the American Graded Stakes Committeeclassified the event with Grade III status.

With continued quality competitors the event attracted the race was upgraded to Grade II in 1992.

In 1995 sponsorship from Budweiser and the Breeders' Cup ceased and the event was renamed to the Churchill Downs Distaff Handicap.

In 2000 the event as an undercard race on the Breeders' Cup program was won by the US Champion Two-Year-Old Filly from the previous year, Chilukki who set a new track record of 1:33.57 for the mile distance. Chilukki was no stranger to Churchill Downs having also set the track record for the short furlongs distance as a two-year-old and winning the Grade III Debutante Stakes. In 2005 the event was renamed in her honor as the Chilukki Stakes.

In 2019 the event was downgraded to Grade III.

Records Speed record: 1 mile: 1:33.57 – Chilukki (2000)

Margins: 8 lengths – Hot and Sultry (2023)

Most wins: No horse has yet to win more than once.

Most wins by a jockey: 4 – Pat Day (1989, 1993, 1994, 2001) 4 – Robby Albarado (1997, 2000, 2005, 2010)

Most wins by a trainer: 3 – Dale L. Romans (2004, 2014, 2019) 3 – George R. Arnold II (1988, 1998, 1999)

Most wins by an owner: 2 – G. Watts Humphrey Jr. (1998, 1999)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefChilukki Stakes2025Shred the Gnar3Luis SaezBryan LynchFlying Dutchman Breeding and Racing1 mile1:34.84$300,000III2024Two Sharp3Junior AlvaradoPhilip BrauerRigney Racing1 mile1:34.40$297,500III2023Hot and Sultry4Ricardo Santana Jr.Norm W. CasseAlex & JoAnn Lieblong1 mile1:35.93$295,000III2022She Can't Sing5Brian Hernandez Jr.Chris M. BlockLothenbach Stables1 mile1:35.38$298,500III2021Obligatory 3Joel RosarioWilliam I. MottJuddmonte Farms1 mile1:34.80$300,000III2020Finite3Ricardo Santana Jr.Steven M. AsmussenWinchell Thoroughbreds, Thomas J. Reiman, William Dickson & Deborah A. Easter1 mile1:35.53$100,000III2019Sally's Curlin3Corey J. LanerieDale L. RomansCJ Thoroughbreds, Left Turn Racing & Casner Racing1 mile1:35.60$200,000III2018Divine Miss Grey4Manuel FrancoDanny GarganCorms Racing Stable & R. A. Hill Stable1 mile1:36.64$200,000II2017Farrell3Channing HillWayne M. CatalanoCoffee Pot Stables 1 mile1:35.90$200,000II2016Kiss to Remember5Joseph Rocco Jr.Martin D. WolfsonMiller Racing1 mile1:35.80$200,000II2015Spelling Again4Shaun BridgmohanBrad H. CoxSea Jay Racing1 mile1:35.75$200,000II2014Molly Morgan5Corey J. LanerieDale L. RomansWilliam D. Cubbedge1 mile1:36.97$237,510II2013Don't Tell Sophia5Joseph Rocco Jr.Philip A. SimsPhilip A. Sims & Jerry Namy1 mile1:35.14$150,000II2012Brushed by a Star4Corey J. LanerieGrant T. ForsterTeam Forster1 mile1:37.16$168,900II2011Buckleupbuttercup4Javier CastellanoEddie KenneallyAvalon Farms 1 mile1:37.03$167,400II2010Distinctive Dixie5Robby AlbaradoWallace DollaseRobert B. & Beverly J. Lewis Trust1 mile1:36.67$171,900II2009Malibu Prayer3Christopher P. DeCarloTodd A. PletcherEdward P. Evans1 mile1:36.24$167,550II2008Leah's Secret5Rene R. DouglasTodd A. PletcherWinStar Farm1 mile1:35.68$170,400II2007Rolling Sea4Robby AlbaradoSteven M. Asmussen Millennium Farms 1 mile1:36.02$221,000II2006Sangrita3Edgar S. PradoMichael R. MatzDorothy A. Matz1 mile1:36.65$170,250II2005Bending Strings4Robby AlbaradoWallace DollaseJohn Gunther 1 mile1:35.19$169,350IIChurchill Downs Distaff Handicap2004Halory Leigh4Craig PerretDale L. RomansJerry Crawford, Matt Gannon & Charlie Grask1 mile1:35.05$230,400II2003Lead Story4Calvin H. BorelCarl A. NafzgerA. Stevens Miles Jr.1 mile1:36.55$225,400II2002Softly4Jon CourtCarl A. NafzgerJames B. Tafel1 mile1:35.07$223,600II2001Nasty Storm3Pat DayDallas StewartDenny Crum, Daryl Elser, Riley McDonald, Joseph Riccelli & Dallas Stewart1 mile1:35.30$222,200II2000Chilukki3Gary L. StevensBob BaffertStonerside Stable1 mile1:33.57$248,400II1999Let4Calvin H. BorelGeorge R. Arnold IIG. Watts Humphrey Jr.1 mile1:34.41$224,000II1998Dream Scheme5Calvin H. BorelGeorge R. Arnold IIG. Watts Humphrey Jr.1 mile1:34.41$225,200II1997Feasibility Study5Robby AlbaradoWilliam I. MottChar-Mari Stable 1 mile1:37.61$235,800II1996Fast Catch4Willie MartinezFrank L. BrothersLazy Lane Farms 1 mile1:36.55$225,200IIChurchill Downs Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap1995Lakeway 4Kent J. DesormeauxGary F. JonesMichael G. Rutherford1 mile1:35.94$201,200II1994Educated Risk4Pat DayOgden Mills Phipps1 mile1:35.74$212,500II1993Miss Indy Anna3Pat DayEdward T. AllardCharles Matses1 mile1:37.72$218,400II1992Wilderness Song4Craig PerretJames E. DaySam-Son Farm1 mile1:36.22$157,600II1991Fit for a Queen5Ricardo D. LopezSteven C. PenrodHermitage Farm 1 mile1:38.60$154,700III19903Emanuel TortoraBee Bee Stable1 mile1:36.80$158,450III1989Classic Value3Pat DayWilliam J. CesareFred W. Hooper1 mile1:35.40$158,400III1988Darien Miss3Patrick A. JohnsonGeorge R. Arnold IITaylor Asbury1 mile1:36.80$158,350III1987Bound3Eddie MapleWoodford C. StephensClaiborne Farm1 mile1:37.00$158,850 1986Lazer Show3Charles R. Woods Jr.Donald R. WinfreeJames J. Devaney7 furlongs1:22.60$157,650

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References