Blame Stakes

Blame Stakes
Grade III race
LocationChurchill Downs
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Inaugurated2020
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
WebsiteChurchill Downs
Race information
Distance1+1⁄8 miles
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationFour-year-olds and older
Weight123 lbs with allowances
PurseUS$275,000 (since 2024)

The Blame Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four-year-olds and older over a distance of 1+1⁄8 miles on the dirt scheduled annually in late May or early June at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The event currently offers a purse of $275,000.

History

The event is named after Blame, the 2006 U.S. Champion Older Male Horse who won the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs. In February 2020, Churchill Downs announced that a race named in Blame's honor would be run beginning in May 2020 — The Blame Stakes, a prep race for the $500,000 Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) June 27 at Churchill Downs.[1]

The event was inaugurated on 23 May 2020 and run over a distance of one mile and was won by Rupp Racing's Owendale. Owendale starting as second favorite at odds of 7/2 was ridden by jockey Florent Geroux who settled last from the gate, was in the seven path into the lane, rallied down the stretch while widest and edged past three wide in the final stages to win by half a length over longshot Everfast in a time of 1:34.74.[2]

In 2021, the distance for the event was increased to 1+1⁄8 mile.[3]

In 2023 the event was upgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to a Grade III.[4]

Records

Speed record

  • 1+1⁄8 miles: 1:48.51 – Highland Falls (2024)

Margins

  • 1 length – Dynamic One (2022)

Most wins by a jockey

Most wins by a trainer

Most wins by an owner

  • No owner has won the event more than once

Winners

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
2024 Highland Falls 4 Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Godolphin 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.51 $270,000 III [5]
2023 Rattle N Roll 4 Brian Hernandez Jr. Kenneth G. McPeek Lucky Seven Stable 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.93 $225,000 III [6]
2022 Dynamic One 4 Tyler Gaffalione Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable, Phipps Stable & St. Elias Stable 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.54 $198,750 Listed [7]
2021 Mighty Heart (CAN) 4 James Graham Josie Carroll Lawrence Cordes 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.00 $150,000 [8]
2020 Owendale 4 Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Rupp Racing 1 mile 1:34.74 $100,000 [2]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Churchill Downs Names New Stakes Race After Blame - Claiborne". 28 February 2020.
  2. ^ a b "2020 Blame Stakes (Black Type) – (race 9)". Equibase. 23 May 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  3. ^ "BLAME STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  4. ^ "American Graded Stakes Committee Releases 2023 Grades; The Stephen Foster Stakes is the only new grade 1 stakes for 2023". Bloodhorse.com. Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  5. ^ "2024 Blame Stakes Grade 3 – (race 10)". Equibase. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  6. ^ "2023 Blame Stakes Grade 3 – (race 10)". Equibase. 3 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  7. ^ "2022 Blame Stakes Listed – (race 10)". Equibase. 4 June 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  8. ^ "2021 Blame Stakes (Black Type) – (race 6)". Equibase. 29 May 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2023.