Ben Ali Stakes

Last updated
Ben Ali Stakes
ClassGrade III
Location Lexington, Kentucky
Inaugurated1937
Race type ThoroughbredFlat racing
Race information
Distance1+316 miles
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationFour-year-olds & up
PurseUS$350,000

The Ben Ali Stakes is an American race for Thoroughbred horses run annually since 1937 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. Open to 4-year-olds and up, it is currently a Grade 3 event set at a distance of a mile and one eighth on the dirt course. As of 2025 it offers a purse of $350,000.

Contents

According to the official history at Keeneland racetrack, the Ben Ali (pronounced Ah-Lie) is named for James Ben Ali Haggin (1822–1914), a lawyer who made a fortune during the California Gold Rush and who used much of that money to create the biggest horse breeding farm in the world: the Rancho Del Paso near Sacramento, California. He also owned Elmendorf Farm in Lexington, Kentucky with its thousands of acres of prime Kentucky bluegrass. Haggin became a noteworthy breeder of great racehorses and a fervent supporter of the sport. Haggin owned the Hall of Famers, Salvator and the filly, Firenzi.

The first running of the Ben Ali Handicap took place in 1917 at the Lexington Race Course where it was raced through 1932 after which the track closed. [1] It was not run again until the race name was revived at Keeneland in 1937.

Decidedly, the winner of the 1962 Kentucky Derby, won this race in 1963.

Records

Speed records: (Keeneland)

Most wins:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

Year [2] WinnerAgeJockeyTrainerOwner
Dist.
(Miles)
Time Gr.
1937Count Morse4 Irving Anderson Frank J. KearnsCalumet Farm1116 M1:46.20
1938Main Man4Willis F. WardHoward C. HoffmanJerome B. Respess1116 M1:45.00
1939Burning Star5Warren YarberryJohn J. Greely Jr.Shandon Farm Stable (Patrick A. & Richard J. Nash)1116 M1:47.00
1940Arabs Arrow6 Carrol Bierman Gilbert HardyLouise J. Hickman1116 M1:48.80
1941Red Dock4 Albert Bodiou E. Leigh Cotton Greentree Stable 1116 M1:46.00
1942Steel Heels6James GeorgeFrank P. LetellierJunius W. Bell1116 M1:46.40
1943Aletern4Johnny AdamsJohn H. SkirvinAlwin C. Ernst1116 M1:46.20
1944Alquest4Johnny AdamsJohn H. SkirvinAlwin C. Ernst1116 M1:45.60
1945Pot O’ Luck3Douglas DodsonBen A. JonesCalumet Farm1116 M1:46.60
1946Bull Play4Robert CampbellLee NilesWalter W. Jones1116 M1:44.40
1947Pot O’ Luck5Douglas DodsonBen A. JonesCalumet Farm1116 M1:44.00
1948 Fervent 4 Leroy Pierson Ben A. JonesCalumet Farm1116 M1:43.80
1949Shy Guy4Conn McCrearyJack C. Hodgins Dixiana Farm 1116 M1:45.00
1950Mount Marcy5 Kenneth Church Sylvester E. Veitch Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney 1116 M1:43.80
1951 Wistful 5Douglas Dodson Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1116 M1:45.00
1952Seaward7Steve BrooksHarry TrotsekHasty House Farm1116 M1:45.00
1953 Oil Capitol 6 Conn McCreary Harry TrotsekHasty House Farm & Cora Trotsek 1116 M1:44.00
1954Mister Black5 Johnny Adams Harry TrotsekHasty House Farm7.0278 F1:27.00
1955Sea O Erin4Steve Brooks Harry Trotsek Hasty House Farm 7.0278 F1:27.80
1956Timely Tip5 John L. Rotz Reid ArmstrongDr. Alfred Lewis Birch7.0278 F1:27.80
1957Star Rover5John HeckmannEddie AnspachMrs. Irving Gushen7.0278 F1:25.60
1958Safe Message4 Douglas Dodson Jack C. Hodgins Dixiana Farm 7.0278 F1:26.40
1959Greek Chief4 Bill Hartack Thomas J. Kelly Michael G. Phipps 7.0278 F1:26.60
1960Fulcrum5Steve BrooksJack C. Hodgins Mary V. Fisher 7.0278 F1:25.40
1961Cactus Tom4Lawrence HansmanThomas H. Stevens Sr.Natjolee Stable7.0278 F1:26.80
1962Run for Nurse5 Steve Brooks Lee NilesJ. Graham Brown7.0278 F 1:25.60
1963 Decidedly 4James D. Nichols Horatio Luro El Peco Ranch 1116 M1:41.40
1964Copy Chief4Don BrumfieldS. Bryant OttFourth Estate Stable1116 M1:42.80
1965Gallant Romeo4Kenny Knapp Willard L. Proctor J. Graham Brown1116 M1:42.80
1966Swift Ruler4Larry SprakerGin L. CollinsEarl Allen1116 M1:42.80
1967Francis U.4Robert GallimoreDewey P. SmithT. Alie & J. E. Grissom1116 M1:42.60
1968Miracle Hill4Robert GallimoreDewey P. SmithT. Alie & J. E. Grissom1116 M1:42.60
1969Court Recess4 Eric Guerin George T. Poole C. V. Whitney 1116 M1:44.60
1970Gallant Moment6Dave KassenJack Long Circle M Farm (Edward S. Moore)1116 M1:42.60
1971Great Mystery4Phil I. GrimmLyle Whiting B. A. Dario 1116 M1:41.80
1972Knight Counter4Don BrumfieldVictor A. DoleskiRobert Huffman1116 M1:43.40
1973Knight Counter5Don BrumfieldVictor A. DoleskiRobert Huffman1116 M1:43.00G3
1974Knight Counter6 Earlie Fires Victor A. DoleskiRobert Huffman1116 M1:41.80G3
1975Navajo5 James D. Nichols James O. KeeferJoe Stevenson & Ray Stump1116 M1:43.80G3
1976My Friend Gus4 Darrel McHargue Douglas M. Davis Jr.Patricia Blass1116 M1:42.60G3
1977 Honest Pleasure 4Craig Perret LeRoy Jolley Bertram R. Firestone 1116 M1:42.40G3
1978Prince Majestic4 Eddie Delahoussaye Dewey P. Smith Dorothy Dorsett Brown 1116 M1:41.80G3
1979Kodiak5Gerland GallitanoHarvey L. VanierLouis F. Aitken118 M1:49.60G3
1980Architect4Carl Lauer Harvey L. Vanier Stanley Spencer118 M1:48.80G3
1981Withholding4Bernon SaylerRonnie G. WarrenRussell Michael Jr.118 M1:50.20G3
1982Withholding5 Larry Melancon Ronnie G. WarrenRussell Michael Jr.118 M1:49.60G3
1983Aspro5 Vincent Bracciale Jr. Grover G. DelpMr. & Mrs. James A. Bayard118 M1:49.60G3
1984Aspro6Don Brumfield Grover G. Delp Mrs. & Estate of James A. Bayard118 M1:50.80G3
1985Bello4Gerland Gallitano Joseph M. Bollero Lois Bollero118 M1:48.80G3
1986Czar Nijinsky4 Herb McCauley Jack HofherJacquelin & Miguel Torrealba118 M1:50.20G3
1987Intrusion5 Sandy Hawley Lee J. RossiCarl J. Maggio118 M1:49.60G3
1988Homebuilder4 Don Brumfield Woody Stephens Ryehill Farm (James & Eleanor Ryan)118 M1:51.40G3
1989Classic Account4Pat DayTerry L. MasonLaura Leigh Stables (Leslie E. Lunsford Jr.)118 M1:50.60G3
1990Master Speaker5Jerry D. Bailey Virgil W. Raines Anderson Fowler118 M1:49.00G3
1991Sports View4 Craig Perret D. Wayne LukasBarry Beal & D. Wayne Lukas118 M1:49.67G3
1992Profit Key (DH)5 Shane Sellers D. Wayne Lukas Joe Allen & L. Don Mathis118 M1:49.55G3
1992Loach (DH)4 Patrick Valenzuela Richard J. Lundy Allen E. Paulson 118 M1:49.55G3
1993Sunny Sunrise6 Rick Wilson Bud Delp Harry Meyerhoff 118 M1:48.80G3
1994Pistols and Roses5 Mike E. Smith George Gianos Willis Family Stables Inc.118 M1:51.60G3
1995Wildly Joyous4 Mickey Walls James E. Baker Woodlynn Farm118 M1:49.60G3
1996Knockadoon4 Jerry D. Bailey Anthony Reinstedler William K. Warren Jr.118 M1:48.80G3
1997 Louis Quatorze 4Pat Day Nick Zito William J. Condren et al.118 M1:49.60G3
1998Storm Broker4 Robby Albarado James E. Baker Woodlynn Farm118 M1:48.20G3
1999Jazz Club4 Pat Day Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III/J. Jamail118 M1:48.00G3
2000Midway Magistrate6 Shane Sellers Rick Hiles BMH Stable118 M1:49.00G3
2001Broken Vow4 Edgar Prado H. Graham Motion Pin Oak Stable 118 M1:48.47G3
2002Duckhorn5 Jorge F. Chavez Patrick B. Byrne Michael B. Tabor 118 M1:50.18G3
2003 Mineshaft 4 Robby Albarado Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III et al.118 M1:48.52G3
2004 Midway Road 4 Robby Albarado Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III 118 M1:46.78G3
2005Alumni Hall6 Robby Albarado Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III 118 M1:51.29G3
2006Wanderin Boy5 Javier Castellano Nick Zito Arthur B. Hancock III 118 M1:49.18G3
2007Jade's Revenge4 Kent Desormeaux H. Graham Motion Bushwood Stable118 M1:49.93G3
2008Sterwins5 Shaun Bridgmohan Malcolm Pierce Melnyk Racing 118 M1:48.53G3
2009 Parading 6 Kent Desormeaux C. R. McGaughey III Phipps Stable 118 M1:47.82G3
2010Dubious Miss6 Calvin Borel Paul McGeeDavid P. Holloway118 M1:49.60G3
2011 Exhi 4 Javier Castellano Todd Pletcher Wertheimer et Frere 118 M1:48.14G3
2012 Wise Dan 5 John Velazquez Charles Lopresti Morton Fink 118 M1:46.63G3
2013Successful Dan6 Joel Rosario Claude R. McGaughey III Phipps Stable 118 M1:51.14G3
2014Frac Daddy4 Alan Garcia Kenneth G. McPeek Magic City Thoroughbreds118 M1:49.61G3
2015Protonico4 Javier Castellano Todd Pletcher Sumaya U.S. Stable118 M1:48.79G3
2016Eagle4 Brian Hernandez Jr. Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III 118 M1:48.57G3
2017Watershed5 Paco Lopez Kiaran P. McLaughlin Godolphin Racing, LLC 118 M1:50.92G3
2018Rated R Superstar5 Javier Castellano Kiaran P. McLaughlin Radar Racing LLC118 M1:49.31G3
2019Bourbon Resolution4 Chris Landeros Ian R. Wilkes Bourbon Lane Stable118 M1:50.82G3
2020Race not held
2021Sliver Dust5Adam Beschizza W. Bret Calhoun Tom R. Durant118 M1:50.21G3
2022Scalding4 Javier Castellano Claude R. McGaughey III Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable & LNJ Foxwoods118 M1:50.30G3
2023Rattle N Roll4 Brian Hernandez Jr. Kenneth G. McPeek Lucky Seven Stable (Ginny & Leo Mackin)1316 M1:56.48G3
2024Kingsbarns4 Luis Saez Todd A. Pletcher Spendthrift Farm 1316 M1:57.74G3
2025Tennessee Lamb4 José Ortiz George R. Arnold II Calumet Farm 1316 M1:59.00G3

References

  1. "Tim Talbott, "Keeneland", ExploreKYHistory". Kentucky Historical Society. 2019-12-18. Retrieved 2019-12-18.
  2. "Keeneland Media Guide". Keeneland.com. Retrieved 9 June 2025.