The Fleur de Lis Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age three and older over a distance of miles on the dirt run annually in late-June or early-July at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

History

The event was inaugurated on 31 May 1975 as the Fleur de Lis Handicap and was won by the favorite Bundler defeating four other runners on a sloppy track in the time of 1:39 over the mile distance. The event was held over the same distance for one more year before being extended to miles.

The event is named after the English translation for the French "fleur-de-lis", a flower of the lily. The lily is the symbol of the Louisville flag, the location where the event is held. The lily has traditionally been used to represent French royalty and Louisville, named for the French king Louis XVI.

In 1983 the distance for the event was increased to miles.

The event's condition from 1983–85 and 1987–89 was for four-year-olds & older.

The event was upgraded to Grade III in 1988 and again to Grade II in 2002.

Since 2015 the event has been a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You’re In" for the Distaff Division.

The event has gained status over the recent years and has attracted some fine horses including the 2009 US Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra who easily won the race as a short favorite by the near stakes record of lengths.

In 2023 the event was moved to Ellis Park after Churchill Downs closed their spring meeting earlier due to a spate of injuries.

Records Speed record: miles: 1:48.26 – Heritage of Gold (2000)

Margins 11 lengths – Lt. Lao (1988)

Most wins 2 – Likely Exchange (1978, 1980)

Most wins by a jockey 3 – Shane Sellers (1995, 1998, 2000) 3 – Calvin H. Borel (1997, 2009, 2010) 3 – José Ortiz (2018, 2019, 2021) 3 – Joel Rosario (2013, 2017, 2023)

Most wins by a trainer 5 – William I. Mott (1984, 1998, 2012, 2019, 2024)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Churchill Downs – Fleur de Lis Stakes2026Immersive4Irad Ortiz Jr.Brad H. CoxGodolphin miles1:50.51$500,000II2025Thorpedo Anna4Brian Hernandez Jr.Kenneth G. McPeekNader Alaali, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks & Magdalena Racing miles1:48.52$498,500II2024Scylla 4Javier CastellanoWilliam I. MottJuddmonte Farms miles1:49.45$499,000IIAt Ellis Park 2023Pauline's Pearl 5Joel RosarioSteven M. AsmussenStonestreet Stables miles1:49.59$367,000IIAt Churchill Downs2022Shedaresthedevil5Florent GerouxBrad H. CoxWhisper Hill Farm, Qatar Racing & Flurry Racing Stables miles1:49.17$345,000II2021Letruska 5Jose L. OrtizFausto GutierrezSt George Stables miles1:48.57$300,000II2020Midnight Bisou5Mike E. SmithSteven M. AsmussenBloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables & Allen Racing miles1:48.99$200,000IIFleur de Lis Handicap2019Elate5José L. OrtizWilliam I. MottClaiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider miles1:50:33$250,000II2018Blue Prize (ARG)5José L. OrtizIgnacio Correas IVMerriebelle Stable miles1:50:02$200,000II2017Forever Unbridled5Joel RosarioDallas StewartCharles E. Fipke miles1:49.94$200,000II20164Albert Stall Jr.Klaravitch Stables miles1:48.44$200,000II2015Frivolous5Jon CourtVictoria H. OliverG. Watts Humphrey Jr. miles1:49.22$200,000II2014Molly Morgan5Corey J. LanerieDale L. RomansWilliam D. Cubbedge miles1:50.11$216,200II2013Funny Proposition4Joel RosarioMark E. CasseJohn C. Oxley miles1:50.22$186,375II2012Royal Delta4Mike E. SmithWilliam I. MottBesilu Stables miles1:49.49$161,700II2011Race not held2010Rachel Alexandra4Calvin H. BorelSteven M. AsmussenJess Jackson miles1:48.87$214,000II2009Miss Isella4Calvin H. BorelIan R. WilkesDomino Stud miles1:49.59$221,600II2008Hystericalady5Garrett K. GomezJerry HollendorferRancho San Miguel, Tom Clark, George Todaro & Jerry Hollendorfer miles1:50.88$321,900II2007Indian Vale5John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherMelnyk Racing miles1:49.12$327,600II2006Happy Ticket5Julien R. LeparouxAndrew Leggio Jr.Stewart Madison miles1:49.23$321,900II2005Two Trail Sioux4Pat DayWallace Dollase Don Winton & John D. Gunther miles1:48.53$330,000II2004Adoration5Victor EspinozaDavid E. HofmansAmerman Racing miles1:52.15$439,200II2003You4Jerry D. BaileyRobert J. FrankelEdmund A. Gann miles1:49.12$327,900II2002Spain5Jorge F. ChavezD. Wayne LukasThe Thoroughbred Corp. miles1:49.64$329,400II2001Saudi Poetry4Victor EspinozaBob BaffertThe Thoroughbred Corp. miles1:49.27$333,000III2000Heritage of Gold5Shane SellersThomas M. AmossJack Garey miles1:48.26$324,600III1999Banshee Breeze4Robby AlbaradoCarl A. NafzgerJayeff B. Stable & James B. Tafel miles1:50.02$309,333III1998Escena5Shane SellersWilliam I. MottAllen E. Paulson miles1:50.19$321,000III1997Gold n Delicious4Calvin H. BorelBobby C. BarnettJohn A. Franks miles1:52.87$168,900III1996Serena's Song4Gary L. StevensD. Wayne LukasRobert & Beverly Lewis miles1:50.30$168,450III1995Fit to Lead5Shane SellersRichard E. MandellaJim Colbert, Randall D. Hubbard, Connie Sczesney miles1:51.59$164,700III1994Trishyde5Chris McCarronJules VogelB. Wayne Hughes miles1:51.34$165,100III1993Quilma (CHI)6Randy RomeroTri-Honors Stable miles1:50.80$109,600III1992Bungalow5Francisco C. TorresHarvey L. VanierNancy A. Vanier miles1:50.87$115,100III1991Maskra's Lady4Joe M. JohnsonGary G. HartlageMax Wilson, Freireich & Greene miles1:50.46$113,100III19905Aaron GryderSteven L. MorguelanDavid Levitch miles1:51.20$109,200III1990 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 10: held 9 June 1990 1989Stoneleigh's Hope4Joseph DeeganMichael H. BellLockhart Spears miles1:52.60$109,900III1989 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 9: held 3 June 1989 1988Lt. Lao4Don BrumfieldJames M. EakinsRobert Keller miles1:49.60$115,150III 1987Infinidad (CHI)5Mickey SolomoneDewey SmithArthur Hancock III miles1:50.60$103,100 1987 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 9: held 14 June 1987 1986Queen Alexandra4Don BrumfieldGeorge M. BakerMrs. Morton Rosenthal miles1:49.20$101,250 1986 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 9: held 21 June 1986 1985Straight Edition5Michael B. BallDonamire Farm (Don & Mira Ball) miles1:50.80$55,550 1985 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 9: held 8 June 1985 1984Heatherten5Sam MapleWilliam I. MottJohn A. Franks miles1:51.40$54,205 1983Try Something New4Pat DayClaude R. McGaughey IIIJohn A. Bell III miles1:51.60$54,350 1983 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 9: held 2 July 19831982Classic Ambition4William GavidiaClaude R. McGaughey IIILatour Farms miles1:44.80$57,950 1982 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 8: held 26 June 19821981Forever Cordial4Darrell HaireJohn T. Ward Jr.John C. Oxley miles1:45.40$35,700 1981 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 8: held 13 June 19811980Likely Exchange6Mark S. SellersThomas H. Stevens Sr.G. Watts Humphrey Jr. & Pamela Firman miles1:45.00$35,425 1980 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 8: held 14 June 19801979Table the Rumor5David E. WhitedFrank L. BrothersAlbert M. Stall Sr. miles1:45.20 $35,175 1979 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 8: held 16 June 19791978Likely Exchange4James McKnightThomas H. Stevens Sr.Mrs. George Humphrey miles1:45.40$21,375 1978 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 8: held 17 June 19781977Go On Dreaming5Paul NicoloJames E. MorganG. A. Zimmerman & E. J. Zweisler miles1:43.80$22,125 1977 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 8: held 18 June 19771976Pago Hop4Eddie ArroyoJohn OxleyRaymond Salmen 1 mile1:38.40$21,625 1976 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 8: held 29 May 19771975Bundler 4Jimmy NicholsAnthony L. BasileBwamazon Farm 1 mile1:39.40$22,325 Inaugural 1975 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 8: held 31 May 1975

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races External links 2022 Media guide information from Churchill Downs $350,000 Fleur de Lis (Grade II)

References