Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint Stakes

The Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint Stakes, raced as the Ainsworth Turf Sprint Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old or older, over a distance of six furlongs on the turf held annually in September at Kentucky Downs racetrack in Franklin, Kentucky during their short turf meeting. The event currently carries a purse of $2,000,000 which includes $1,000,000 from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.

History

The race was inaugurated in 1998 with an attractive purse offered of $100,000. The event was raced as the Kentucky Cup Turf Dash Stakes as part of the Kentucky Cup.

The event was not held in 2011 and the event renamed in 2016 to the Turf Sprint Stakes

In 2017 the event was upgraded to a Grade III.

With the influx of gaming revenue at Kentucky Downs the purse for the event has risen dramatically to nearly $700,000 offered by 2019.

Records

Speed record:

• 6 furlongs: 1:07.41 - Bran (FR) (2022) (new track record)
• furlongs: 1:15.72 - Proforma (2018)

Margins:

• 6 lengths – Morluc (2000)

Most wins

• 2 – Hold the Salt (2007, 2008)
• 2 – Gear Jockey (2021, 2023)

Most wins by a jockey

• 4 – Robby Albarado (2000, 2001, 2015, 2016)

Most wins by a trainer

• 3 – George R. Arnold II (2019, 2021, 2023)

Most wins by an owner

• 2 – Cynthia Knight (2007, 2008)
• 2 – Calumet Farm (2021, 2023)

Winners

See also

• List of American and Canadian Graded races

References