Fleur de Lis Stakes

The Fleur de Lis Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age three and older over a distance of 1+1⁄8 miles on the dirt run annually in mid-June at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

Fleur de Lis Stakes
Grade II race
LocationChurchill Downs
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Inaugurated1975 (as Fleur de Lis Handicap)
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
Race information
Distance1+1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationFillies & Mares, three-years-old and older
Weight124 lbs with allowances
PurseUS$400,000 (2023)
BonusesWinner automatic entry into Breeders' Cup Distaff

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 1:392⁄5 over the mile distance.[1] The event was held over the same distance for one more year before being extended to 1+1⁄16 miles.[2]

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.[3]

In 1983 the distance for the event was increased to 1+1⁄8 miles.[2]

The event's condition from 1983–85 and 1987–89 was for four-year-olds & older.[3]

The event was upgraded to Grade III in 1988 and again to Grade II in 2002.[4]

Since 2015 the event has been a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You’re In" for the Distaff Division.[3]

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 10+1⁄2 lengths.[5]

In 2023 the event was moved to Ellis Park after Churchill Downs closed their spring meeting earlier due to a spate of injuries. [6]

Records

Speed record:

  • 1+1⁄8 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
Most wins by a trainer

Winners
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
At Ellis Park – Fleur de Lis Stakes
2023 Pauline's Pearl 5 Joel Rosario Steven M. Asmussen Stonestreet Stables 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.59 $367,000 II [7]
At Churchill Downs
2022 Shedaresthedevil 5 Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Whisper Hill Farm, Qatar Racing & Flurry Racing Stables 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.17 $345,000 II [8]
2021 Letruska 5 Jose L. Ortiz Fausto Gutierrez St George Stables 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.57 $300,000 II [9]
2020 Midnight Bisou 5 Mike E. Smith Steven M. Asmussen Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables & Allen Racing 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.99 $200,000 II [10]
Fleur de Lis Handicap
2019 Elate 5 José L. Ortiz William I. Mott Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50:33 $250,000 II [11]
2018 Blue Prize (ARG) 5 José L. Ortiz Ignacio Correas IV Merriebelle Stable 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50:02 $200,000 II [12]
2017 Forever Unbridled 5 Joel Rosario Dallas Stewart Charles E. Fipke 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.94 $200,000 II [13]
2016 Paid Up Subscriber 4 Ricardo Santana Jr. Albert Stall Jr. Klaravitch Stables 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.44 $200,000 II [14]
2015 Frivolous 5 Jon Court Victoria H. Oliver G. Watts Humphrey Jr. 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.22 $200,000 II [15]
2014 Molly Morgan 5 Corey J. Lanerie Dale L. Romans William D. Cubbedge 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.11 $216,200 II [16]
2013 Funny Proposition 4 Joel Rosario Mark E. Casse John C. Oxley 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.22 $186,375 II [17]
2012 Royal Delta 4 Mike E. Smith William I. Mott Besilu Stables 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.49 $161,700 II [18]
2011 Race not held
2010 Rachel Alexandra 4 Calvin H. Borel Steven M. Asmussen Jess Jackson 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.87 $214,000 II [5]
2009 Miss Isella 4 Calvin H. Borel Ian R. Wilkes Domino Stud 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.59 $221,600 II [19]
2008 Hystericalady 5 Garrett K. Gomez Jerry Hollendorfer Rancho San Miguel, Tom Clark, George Todaro & Jerry Hollendorfer 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.88 $321,900 II [20]
2007 Indian Vale 5 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Melnyk Racing 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.12 $327,600 II [21]
2006 Happy Ticket 5 Julien R. Leparoux Andrew Leggio Jr. Stewart Madison 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.23 $321,900 II [22]
2005 Two Trail Sioux 4 Pat Day Wallace Dollase Don Winton & John D. Gunther 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.53 $330,000 II [23]
2004 Adoration 5 Victor Espinoza David E. Hofmans Amerman Racing 1+1⁄8 miles 1:52.15 $439,200 II [24]
2003 You 4 Jerry D. Bailey Robert J. Frankel Edmund A. Gann 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.12 $327,900 II [25]
2002 Spain 5 Jorge F. Chavez D. Wayne Lukas The Thoroughbred Corp. 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.64 $329,400 II [26]
2001 Saudi Poetry 4 Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert The Thoroughbred Corp. 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.27 $333,000 III [27]
2000 Heritage of Gold 5 Shane Sellers Thomas M. Amoss Jack Garey 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.26 $324,600 III [28]
1999 Banshee Breeze 4 Robby Albarado Carl A. Nafzger Jayeff B. Stable & James B. Tafel 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.02 $309,333 III [29]
1998 Escena 5 Shane Sellers William I. Mott Allen E. Paulson 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.19 $321,000 III [30]
1997 Gold n Delicious 4 Calvin H. Borel Bobby C. Barnett John A. Franks 1+1⁄8 miles 1:52.87 $168,900 III [31]
1996 Serena's Song 4 Gary L. Stevens D. Wayne Lukas Robert & Beverly Lewis 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.30 $168,450 III [32]
1995 Fit to Lead 5 Shane Sellers Richard E. Mandella Jim Colbert, Randall D. Hubbard, Connie Sczesney 1+1⁄8 miles 1:51.59 $164,700 III [33]
1994 Trishyde 5 Chris McCarron Jules Vogel B. Wayne Hughes 1+1⁄8 miles 1:51.34 $165,100 III [34]
1993 Quilma (CHI) 6 Randy Romero Claude R. McGaughey III Tri-Honors Stable 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.80 $109,600 III [35]
1992 Bungalow 5 Francisco C. Torres Harvey L. Vanier Nancy A. Vanier 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.87 $115,100 III [36]
1991 Maskra's Lady 4 Joe M. Johnson Gary G. Hartlage Max Wilson, Freireich & Greene 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.46 $113,100 III [37]
1990 A Penny Is a Penny 5 Aaron Gryder Steven L. Morguelan David Levitch 1+1⁄8 miles 1:51.20 $109,200 III [38][3]
1989 Stoneleigh's Hope 4 Joseph Deegan Michael H. Bell Lockhart Spears 1+1⁄8 miles 1:52.60 $109,900 III [39][3]
1988 Lt. Lao 4 Don Brumfield James M. Eakins Robert Keller 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.60 $115,150 III [40]
1987 Infinidad (CHI) 5 Mickey Solomone Dewey Smith Arthur Hancock III 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.60 $103,100 [41][3]
1986 Queen Alexandra 4 Don Brumfield George M. Baker Mrs. Morton Rosenthal 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.20 $101,250 [42][3]
1985 Straight Edition 5 Charles R. Woods Jr. Michael B. Ball Donamire Farm (Don & Mira Ball) 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.80 $55,550 [43][3]
1984 Heatherten 5 Sam Maple William I. Mott John A. Franks 1+1⁄8 miles 1:51.40 $54,205 [44]
1983 Try Something New 4 Pat Day Claude R. McGaughey III John A. Bell III 1+1⁄8 miles 1:51.60 $54,350 [45][3]
1982 Classic Ambition 4 William Gavidia Claude R. McGaughey III Latour Farms 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.80 $57,950 [46][3]
1981 Forever Cordial 4 Darrell Haire John T. Ward Jr. John C. Oxley 1+1⁄16 miles 1:45.40 $35,700 [47][3]
1980 Likely Exchange 6 Mark S. Sellers Thomas H. Stevens Sr. G. Watts Humphrey Jr. & Pamela Firman 1+1⁄16 miles 1:45.00 $35,425 [48][3]
1979 Table the Rumor 5 David E. Whited Frank L. Brothers Albert M. Stall Sr. 1+1⁄16 miles 1:45.20 $35,175 [49][3]
1978 Likely Exchange 4 James McKnight Thomas H. Stevens Sr. Mrs. George Humphrey 1+1⁄16 miles 1:45.40 $21,375 [50][3]
1977 Go On Dreaming 5 Paul Nicolo James E. Morgan G. A. Zimmerman & E. J. Zweisler 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.80 $22,125 [51][3]
1976 Pago Hop 4 Eddie Arroyo John Oxley Raymond Salmen 1 mile 1:38.40 $21,625 [52][3]
1975 Bundler 4 Jimmy Nichols Anthony L. Basile Bwamazon Farm 1 mile 1:39.40 $22,325 [1]

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

References
  1. Inaugural 1975 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 8: held 31 May 1975
    Gay Jr., Marvin N. (1 June 1975). "Bundler Takes Down Feature". Danville Advocate-Messenger. Associated Press. p. 11. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  2. "FLEUR DE LIS HANDICAP - CHURCHILL DOWNS, KY". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  3. Churchill Downs (2019). "$250,000 Fleur de Lis Presented by Budweiser (Grade II)" (PDF). KentuckyDerby.com. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  4. Equibase.com (2020). "Fleur de Lis Stakes (Gr. 2)". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  5. "2010 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 12 June 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  6. King, Byron (2 June 2023). "Churchill Downs Suspends Meet; Dates to Shift to Ellis The ongoing meet at Churchill Downs had been scheduled to run through July 3". Bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  7. "Fleur de Lis Stakes Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  8. "2022 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  9. "2021 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 2 – (race 5)". Equibase. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  10. "2020 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  11. "2019 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 15 June 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  12. "2018 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 16 June 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  13. "2017 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  14. "2016 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 18 June 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  15. "2015 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 13 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  16. "2014 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 14 June 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  17. "2013 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  18. "2012 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  19. "2009 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 13 June 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  20. "2008 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 14 June 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  21. "2007 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 16 June 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  22. "2006 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 17 June 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  23. "2005 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 18 June 2005. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  24. "2004 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 12 June 2004. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  25. "2003 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 14 June 2003. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  26. "2002 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 15 June 2002. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  27. "2001 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 16 June 2001. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  28. "2000 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 3 June 2000. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  29. "1999 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 3 – (race 10)". Equibase. 5 June 1999. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  30. "1998 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 3 – (race 10)". Equibase. 6 June 1998. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  31. "1997 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 7 June 1997. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  32. "1996 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 3 – (race 10)". Equibase. 1 June 1996. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  33. "1995 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 3 June 1995. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  34. "1994 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 4 June 1994. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  35. "1993 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 5 June 1993. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  36. "1992 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 3 – (race 11)". Equibase. 6 June 1992. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  37. "1991 Fleur de Lis Handicap Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 8 June 1991. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  38. 1990 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 10: held 9 June 1990
  39. 1989 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 9: held 3 June 1989
  40. Rees, Jennie (5 June 1988). "Lt. Lao shows only her tail to rivals in winning Fleur de Lis 'Cap by 11 (1988 Fleur de Lis Handicap – race 10: held 4 June 1988)". The Courier-Journal. p. 46. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  41. 1987 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 9: held 14 June 1987
  42. 1986 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 9: held 21 June 1986
  43. 1985 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 9: held 8 June 1985
  44. Rees, Jennie (1 July 1984). "Heatherten makes Fleur de Lis Race forever (1984 Fleur de Lis Handicap – race 8: held 30 June 1984)". The Courier-Journal. p. 12. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  45. 1983 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 9: held 2 July 1983
  46. 1982 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 8: held 26 June 1982
  47. 1981 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 8: held 13 June 1981
  48. 1980 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 8: held 14 June 1980
  49. 1979 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 8: held 16 June 1979
  50. 1978 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 8: held 17 June 1978
  51. 1977 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 8: held 18 June 1977
  52. 1976 Fleur de Lis Handicap – Race 8: held 29 May 1977
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