| Class | Grade III |
|---|---|
| Location | Keeneland Race Course Lexington, Kentucky, United States |
| Inaugurated | 1999 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 7 furlongs |
| Surface | dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | three-years-olds |
| Weight | 123 lbs with allowances |
| Purse | US$300,000 (since 2024) |
The Perryville Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three years olds, over a distance of a seven furlongs on the dirt held annually in October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. The event currently carries a purse of $300,000.
The event is named after the city of Perryville located along the Chaplin River in western Boyle County, Kentucky.
The inaugural running of the event was on October 21, 1999 on the Beard course over the seven furlong and 184 feet distance event with National Saint the 9/5 second favorite, trained by US Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert ridden by Robby Albarado defeating Moon Over Prospect winning by a five lengths in a time of 1:22.61. [1]
After six runnings, the event was upgraded in status in 2005 to Grade III. The winner Vicarage streaked away to a ten-length victory which to date is the stakes record. [2]
From 2006 until 2009 the event was held on the new Polytrack surface. [3]
The event was not held from 2010–2014 and it lost its graded status. [4]
In 2015 the event was resumed as a Black Type and was held on the under card of the Breeders' Cup Saturday program over a distance of six furlongs. [4]
From 2016 through 2019 the event once again was not held. In 2020 the event was held on the under card of the Breeders' Cup Saturday program as the first race. The winner of the race, Nashville set a new track record for the six furlong distance. [5]
In 2021 the event was held over a distance of seven furlongs. [6]
In 2024 the event was upgraded to Grade III by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. [7]
Several fine horses have won this event include American Champion Sprint Horse Midnight Lute who won the Breeders' Cup Sprint twice.
Multiple Grade I winner Gunite also won this event confirming the fine young sprinters winning this event progress in their career.
Fastest Time: twice.
Margins:
Most wins by a Jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by an owner:
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 furlongs | $350,000 | III | |||||||
| 2024 | Brunacini | Luan Machado | Matthew Sims | Emilie G. Fojan | 7 furlongs | 1:22.80 | $259,000 | III | [8] | |
| 2023 | Raise Cain | Luis Saez | Ben Colebrook | Andrew N. Warren & Rania Warren | 7 furlongs | 1:23.58 | $235,188 | Listed | [9] | |
| 2022 | Gunite | Tyler Gaffalione | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 7 furlongs | 1:23.21 | $250,000 | Listed | [10] | |
| 2021 | He'smyhoneybadger | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Steve Landers Racing | 7 furlongs | 1:23.75 | $150,000 | [6] | ||
| 2020 | Nashville | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steven M. Asmussen | WinStar Farm & China Horse Club | 6 furlongs | 1:07.89 | $125,000 | [5] | ||
| 2016–2019 | Race not held | |||||||||
| 2015 | Hebbronville | Joe Bravo | Lynn S. Whiting | Choctaw Racing Stable, Winning Horse Stable & Scott Galloway | 6 furlongs | 1:09.78 | $100,000 | [11] | ||
| 2010–2014 | Race not held | |||||||||
| 2009 | El Brujo | Edgar S. Prado | Malcolm Pierce | Windways Farm | 7 furlongs 184 feet | 1:25.95 | $150,000 | III | [12] | |
| 2008 | Hatta Fort (GB) | Julien Leparoux | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin | 7 furlongs 184 feet | 1:25.97 | $200,000 | III | [13] | |
| 2007 | Steve's Double | Jamie Theriot | Ronny W. Werner | Oxbow Racing | 7 furlongs 184 feet | 1:25.36 | $200,000 | III | [14] | |
| 2006 | Midnight Lute | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram & Watson and Weitman Performance | 7 furlongs 184 feet | 1:24.38 | $200,000 | III | [15] | |
| 2005 | Vicarage | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Dogwood Stable | 7 furlongs 184 feet | 1:26.06 | $200,000 | III | [2] | |
| 2004 | Commentator | Rafael Bejarano | Nick Zito | Tracy Farmer | 7 furlongs 184 feet | 1:25.19 | $112,600 | Listed | [16] | |
| 2003 | Clock Stopper | Robby Albarado | Dallas Stewart | Overbrook Farm | 7 furlongs 184 feet | 1:25.33 | $108,300 | Listed | [17] | |
| 2002 | Najran | Pat Day | Nick Zito | Buckram Oak Farm | 7 furlongs 184 feet | 1:26.00 | $84,075 | Listed | [18] | |
| 2001 | Dream Run | Pat Day | Paul J. McGee | John D. Murphy, Sr. | 7 furlongs 184 feet | 1:27.25 | $81,225 | Listed | [19] | |
| 2000 | Smokin Pete | Shane Sellers | James P. Divito | C P C Racing | 7 furlongs 184 feet | 1:25.38 | $72,000 | Listed | [20] | |
| 1999 | National Saint | Robby Albarado | Bob Baffert | Charles F. Heider Jr. | 7 furlongs 184 feet | 1:25.21 | $62,563 | Listed | [1] | |
Legend:
All Weather Track Dirt