Steve Sexton Mile Stakes

The Steve Sexton Mile Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older over the distance of one mile (8 furlongs on the dirt scheduled annually in late May at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Steve Sexton Mile Stakes
Grade III race
LocationLone Star Park
Grand Prairie, Texas, United States
Inaugurated1997 (as Texas Mile Stakes)
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
Websitewww.lonestarpark.com
Race information
Distance1 mile (8 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-years-old and older
WeightBase weights with allowances:
4-year-olds and up: 124 lbs.
3-year-olds: 121 lbs.
Purse$400,000 (2021)

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 20 April in 1997 as the Texas Mile Stakes and was won by Isitingood who was trained by the US Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and owned by Michael E. Pegram & Terry Henn in a time of 1:34.44.[1] The winning time continues to this day to be the stakes record.[2]

After being classified as a Listed event in 1999 it became the first graded Thoroughbred stakes race in Texas.[3]

In 2001, Dixie Dot Com became the only horse to win in the same year the Texas Mile and the Lone Star Park Handicap, known as "The Texas Two Step."

Among notable horses who ran in the Texas Mile but did not win were Skip Away, who finished third in 1997, and Real Quiet who finished second in 1999.

Beginning with the 2017 running, the race was renamed to honor Steve Sexton, a member of Lone Star Park's original management team who had died the previous year. Sexton also oversaw Churchill Downs from 2002-2009 and was the 12th president in the track's history. Sexton, an executive vice-president with Churchill Downs Inc., also served as president of Churchill Downs Entertainment Group following his time as track president.[4]

In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Lone Star Park did not schedule the event in their updated and shortened spring-summer meeting.[5]

Records

Speed record:

  • 1:34.44 - Isitingood (1997) (stakes and track record)

Margins:

  • 8 lengths - Monterey Jazz (2008)

Most wins:

  • 2 - Littlebitlively (1998, 1999)

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
Steve Sexton Mile Stakes
2023 Frosted Grace 7 Cristian Torres Robertino Diodoro Flying P Stable 1 mile 1:37.99 $400,000 III [6]
2022 Silver Prospector 5 Stewart Elliott Steven M. Asmussen Ed & Susie Orr 1 mile 1:37.20 $400,000 III [7]
2021 Mo Mosa 4 Ramon Vazquez Michael J. Maker Perry & Denise Martin 1 mile 1:37.15 $400,000 III [8]
2020 Race not held
2019 Mocito Rojo 5 Filemon T. Rodriguez Shane Wilson Wayne T. Davis 1 mile 1:37.06 $300,000 III [9]
2018 Bee Jersey 4 Ricardo Santana Jr. Steven M. Asmussen Charles E. Fipke 1 mile 1:36.78 $200,000 III [10]
2017 Mor Spirit 4 Mike E. Smith Bob Baffert Michael Lund Petersen 1 mile 1:36.86 $200,000 III [11]
Texas Mile Stakes
2016 Great Minds 5 Charles J. McMahon Albert Stall Jr. Vince Wilfork 1 mile 1:37.68 $200,000 III [12]
2015 Texas Air 7 Quincy Hamilton Allen Milligan Paul J. Rigali Jr. 1 mile 1:37.31 $200,000 III [13]
2014 Grand Contender 6 Richard E. Eramia Thomas M. Amoss Maggi Moss 1 mile 1:36.68 $200,000 III [14]
2013 Master Rick 5 Ricardo Santana Jr. Steven M. Asmussen Zayat Stables 1 mile 1:36.01 $200,000 III [15]
2012 Endorsement 5 Robby Albarado Eoin G. Harty Casner Racing 1 mile 1:36.69 $200,000 III [16]
2011 Thiskyhasnolimit 4 Justin Shepherd Steven M. Asmussen Cathy & Bob Zollars & Mark Wagner 1 mile 1:37.28 $200,000 III [17]
2010 Mythical Power 4 Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Peachtree Stable 1 mile 1:35.71 $200,000 III [18]
2009 Jonesboro 7 M. Clifton Berry Randy L. Morse Michael Langford 1 mile 1:36.94 $300,000 III [19]
2008 Monterey Jazz 4 David R. Flores Craig Dollase A and R Stables & Class Racing Stable 1 mile 1:35.25 $300,000 III [20]
2007 Silent Pleasure 4 Tracy J. Hebert Howard Scarberry S & S Stables 1 mile 1:35.39 $300,000 III [21]
2006 Preachinatthebar 5 Jon Court Bob Baffert Michael E. Pegram 1 mile 1:36.81 $300,000 III [22]
2005 High Strike Zone 5 Ricky J. Faul Amos Laborde Donald W. Erickson 1 mile 1:35.34 $300,000 III [23]
2004 Kela 6 David C. Nuesch Mike R. Mitchell Jay Manoogian 1 mile 1:35.64 $300,000 III [24]
2003 Bluesthestandard 6 Martin A. Pedroza Ted H. West Jeffrey Sengara 1 mile 1:35.68 $300,000 III [25]
2002 Unrullah Bull 5 Anthony J. Lovato Cole Norman James C. & Theresa L. Donnan 1 mile 1:37.78 $300,000 III [26]
2001 Dixie Dot Com 6 David R. Flores William J. Morey Jr. Carole & Don Chaiken, Mr. & Mrs. Barton D. Heller 1 mile 1:34.72 $300,000 III [27]
2000 Sir Bear 7 Eibar Coa Ralph Ziadie Barbara Smollin 1 mile 1:35.98 $300,000 III [28]
1999 Littlebitlively 5 Carlos Gonzalez Bobby C. Barnett John A. Franks 1 mile 1:35.65 $250,000 III [29]
1998 Littlebitlively 4 Carlos Gonzalez Bobby C. Barnett John A. Franks 1 mile 1:37.07 $250,000 Listed [30]
1997 Isitingood 6 David Flores Bob Baffert Michael E. Pegram & Terry Henn 1 Mile 1:34.44 $250,000 Listed [1]

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

References
  1. "1997 Texas Mile Stakes Listed - (race 7)". Equibase. 20 April 1997. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  2. "Steve Sexton Mile Stakes (Gr. 3)". www.equibase.com. 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  3. "STEVE SEXTON MILE STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Database. 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  4. "Mor Spirit Goes Wire-To-Wire To Take G3 Sexton Mile". www.paulickreport.com. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
  5. BloodHorse Staff (4 June 2020). "Lone Star to Run 18 Stakes, Minus Steve Sexton Mile". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  6. "2022 Steve Sexton Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 12)". Equibase. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  7. "2022 Steve Sexton Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 12)". Equibase. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  8. "2021 Steve Sexton Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 31 May 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  9. "2019 Steve Sexton Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  10. "2018 Steve Sexton Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  11. "2017 Steve Sexton Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 7 May 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  12. "2016 Texas Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 5)". Equibase. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  13. "2015 Texas Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  14. "2014 Texas Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 26 April 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  15. "2013 Texas Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  16. "2012 Texas Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  17. "2011 Texas Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 23 April 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  18. "2010 Texas Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 24 April 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  19. "2009 Texas Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 25 April 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  20. "2008 Texas Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 26 April 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  21. "2007 Texas Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 28 April 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  22. "2006 Texas Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 29 April 2006. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  23. "2005 Texas Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 30 April 2005. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  24. "2004 Texas Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 24 April 2004. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  25. "2003 Texas Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 26 April 2003. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  26. "2002 Texas Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 27 April 2002. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  27. "2001 Texas Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 28 April 2001. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  28. "2000 Texas Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 22 April 2000. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  29. "1999 Texas Mile Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 18 April 1999. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  30. "1998 Texas Mile Stakes Listed - (race 6)". Equibase. 19 April 1998. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
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