Derby City Distaff Stakes

Derby City Distaff Stakes
Grade I race
LocationChurchill Downs
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Inaugurated1987 (as Brown and Williamson Handicap)
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
SponsorKendall-Jackson Winery (2021)
WebsiteChurchill Downs
Race information
Distance7 furlongs
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationFillies & Mares, four-years-old and older
Weight123 lbs with allowances
PurseUS$1,000,000 (2024)

The Derby City Distaff Stakes is a Grade I American thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares aged three and older over a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt held annually in early May on the Kentucky Derby day meeting at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky during the spring meeting. The current purse is US$1,000,000.

History

The event was inaugurated on May 2, 1987, as the fifth race on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby day meeting as the Brown & Williamson Handicap sponsored by the tobacco company Brown & Williamson, which at the time had their headquarters in Louisville.[1]

The event was a Listed race until 1990 when it was upgraded to Grade III status. It was subsequently upgraded to a Grade II event in 1999 then to its present Grade I status in 2002.[2]

The event's name was changed in 1995 to the Humana Distaff Handicap, sponsored by Humana, an American health insurance company also based in Louisville, Kentucky.[3] In 2007, the event was changed to the Humana Distaff Stakes, and is now run under allowance weight conditions.[4] Humana last year of sponsorship was 2019, with Churchill Downs finding new sponsorship in 2020 with Derby City Gaming.[5]

The first five runnings of the event the winners were ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day. Pat Day won another two more runnings of this event before retiring in 2005. In 2015, Churchill Downs renamed the Derby Trial in his honor as the Pat Day Mile which is held on the same day as this event.[6]

Of the more notable winners of this race include 2012 winner Groupie Doll who set a new track record at Churchill Downs for the 7 furlong distance in a time of 1:20.44 and would later that year win the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and be crowned the US Champion Female Sprint Horse.

Records

Speed record
Margins
  • 7+1⁄4 lengths – Groupie Doll (2012)
Most wins
  • No horse has won this race more than once.
Most wins by a jockey
  • 7 – Pat Day (1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2001, 2004)
Most wins by a trainer

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
Derby City Distaff Stakes
2024 Vahva 4 Irad Ortiz Jr. Cherie DeVaux Belladonna Racing, Edward J. Hudson Jr., West Point Thoroughbreds, LBD Stable, Nice Guys Stables, Manganaro Bloodstock, Runnels Racing, Steve Hornstock & Twin Brook Stables 7 furlongs 1:21.75 $1,000,000 I [7]
2023 Matareya 4 Flavien Prat Brad H. Cox Godolphin 7 furlongs 1:21.87 $750,000 I [8]
2022 Obligatory 4 José L. Ortiz William I. Mott Juddmonte Farm 7 furlongs 1:22.17 $500,000 I [9]
2021 Gamine 4 John R. Velazquez Bob Baffert Michael Lund Petersen 7 furlongs 1:21.50 $500,000 I [10]
2020 Bell's The One 4 Corey Lanerie Neil L Pessin Lothenbach Stables 7 furlongs 1:21.07 $500,000 I [11]
Humana Distaff Stakes
2019 Mia Mischief 5 Ricardo Santana Jr. Steven M. Asmussen Bill & Corine Heiligbrodt, Heider Family Stables, Madaket Stables 7 furlongs 1:22.33 $500,000 I [12]
2018 American Gal 5 José L. Ortiz Simon Callaghan Kaleem Shah 7 furlongs 1:22.33 $300,000 I [13]
2017 Paulassilverlining 5 José L. Ortiz Chad C. Brown Juddmonte Farms 7 furlongs 1:23.68 $300,000 I [14]
2016 Taris 5 Flavien Prat Simon Callaghan Susan Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith 7 furlongs 1:21.03 $300,000 I [15]
2015 Dame Dorothy 4 Javier Castellano Todd A. Pletcher Bobby Flay 7 furlongs 1:22.67 $300,000 I [16]
2014 Midnight Lucky 4 Rosie Napravnik Bob Baffert Karl Watson, Mike Pegram & Paul Weitman 7 furlongs 1:22.23 $330,600 I [17]
2013 Aubby K 4 Edgar S. Prado Ralph E. Nicks James C. Spence 7 furlongs 1:22.93 $345,600 I [18]
2012 Groupie Doll 4 Rajiv Maragh William B. Bradley Fred F. & William B. Bradley, Carl Hurst & Brent Burns 7 furlongs 1:20.44 $334,500 I [19]
2011 Sassy Image 4 Robby Albarado Dale L. Romans Jerry Romans 7 furlongs 1:21.01 $345,600 I [20]
2010 Mona de Momma 4 Joel Rosario John W. Sadler Michael Talla 7 furlongs 1:22.73 $336,900 I [21]
2009 Informed Decision 4 Julien R. Leparoux Jonathan E. Sheppard Augustin Stable 7 furlongs 1:23.69 $335,400 I [22]
2008 Intangaroo 4 Alonso Quinonez Gary Sherlock Tom Grether Farms 7 furlongs 1:22.03 $334,800 I [23]
2007 Hystericalady 4 Rafael Bejarano Jerry Hollendorfer Rancho San Miguel, Tom Clark, George Todaro & Jerry Hollendorfer 7 furlongs 1:21.87 $340,800 I [24]
Humana Distaff Handicap
2006 Pussycat Doll 4 Garrett K. Gomez Bob Baffert Michael E. Pegram 7 furlongs 1:21.62 $291,000 I [25]
2005 My Trusty Cat 5 Javier Castellano David R. Vance Carl E. Pollard 7 furlongs 1:21.18 $281,750 I [26]
2004 Mayo On the Side 5 Pat Day Carl A. Nafzger Lothenbach Stable 7 furlongs 1:22.78 $272,813 I [27]
2003 Sightseek 4 Jerry D. Bailey Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 7 furlongs 1:22.12 $222,400 I [28]
2002 † Celtic Melody 4 Mark Guidry James A. Jerkens Vinery Stables 7 furlongs 1:22.98 $228,000 I [29]
2001 Dream Supreme 4 Pat Day William I. Mott Kinsman Stable 7 furlongs 1:20.70 $165,000 II [30]
2000 Ruby Surprise 5 Joseph C. Judice Robert E. Holthus James T. Hines Jr. 7 furlongs 1:21.25 $166,050 II [31]
1999 Zuppardo Ardo 5 Shane Sellers Bobby C. Barnett John A. Franks 7 furlongs 1:23.40 $169,650 II [32]
1998 Colonial Minstrel 4 John R. Velazquez Mark A. Hennig Edward P. Evans 7 furlongs 1:22.12 $115,000 III [33]
1997 Capote Belle 4 John R. Velazquez Daniel C. Peitz Lawana & Robert Low 7 furlongs 1:22.38 $113,000 III [34]
1996 In Conference 4 Mike E. Smith Claude R. McGaughey III Ogden Mills Phipps 7 furlongs 1:23.30 $112,200 III [35]
1995 Laura's Pistolette 4 Corey Nakatani Murray W. Johnson Jack Smith 7 furlongs 1:22.24 $114,500 III [36]
Brown and Williamson Handicap
1994 Roamin Rachel 4 Mike E. Smith Claude R. McGaughey III Tri Honors Stables 7 furlongs 1:23.83 $111,300 III [37]
1993 Court Hostess 5 Chris McCarron Neil J. Howard William S. Kilroy 7 furlongs 1:23.18 $87,000 III [38]
1992 Ifyoucouldseemenow 4 Craig Perret Brian A. Mayberry Jan, Mace & Samantha Siegel 7 furlongs 1:22.22 $87,075 III [39]
1991 Illeria 4 Pat Day Michael J. Doyle Eaton Hall Farm 7 furlongs 1:23.20 $57,850 III [40]
1990 Medicine Woman 5 Pat Day George R. Arnold II Alex Campbell Jr. & Glencrest Farm 7 furlongs 1:23.40 $56,450 III [41]
1989 Sunshine Always 5 Pat Day Ernest P. Retamoza Sr. Jane Martin 7 furlongs 1:24.40 $54,500 Listed [42]
1988 Le l'Argent 6 Pat Day Philip M. Hauswald Fares Farm 7 furlongs 1:22.80 $55,800 Listed [43]
1987 Lazer Show 4 Pat Day Donald R. Winfree James Devaney 7 furlongs 1:22.80 $40,305 Listed [1]

Notes:
† In the 2002 running, Gold Mover won the race but was disqualified and placed second after stewards ruled she had bumped and interfered with Celtic Melody near the eighth pole.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Lazer Show, Sovereign's Ace ... (1987 Brown and Williamson Handicap – race 5: held 2 May 1987)". The Courier-Journal. May 3, 1987. pp. 14, 19. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  2. ^ "HUMANA DISTAFF STAKES – MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  3. ^ Churchill Downs (2019). "$500,000 Humana Distaff (Grade I)" (PDF). KentuckyDerby.com. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  4. ^ "Humana Distaff Stakes Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  5. ^ "The 34th Running of THE DERBY CITY DISTAFF presented by Derby City Gaming $500,000 Grade I". Churchill Downs. equibase. 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  6. ^ "Churchill Moves Derby Trial, Now Pat Day Mile". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  7. ^ "2024 Derby City Distaff S. presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery Grade 1 – (race 6)". Equibase. May 4, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  8. ^ "2023 Derby City Distaff S. presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery Grade 1 – (race 4)". Equibase. May 6, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  9. ^ "2022 Derby City Distaff S. presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. May 7, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  10. ^ "2021 Derby City Distaff S. presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery Grade 1 – (race 7)". Equibase. May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  11. ^ "2020 Derby City Distaff S. presented by Derby City Gaming Grade 1 – (race 12)". Equibase. September 5, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  12. ^ "2019 Humana Distaff Stakes Grade 1 – (race 6)". Equibase. May 4, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  13. ^ "2018 Humana Distaff Stakes Grade 1 – (race 6)". Equibase. May 5, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  14. ^ "2017 Humana Distaff Stakes Grade 1 – (race 6)". Equibase. May 6, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  15. ^ "2016 Humana Distaff Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. May 7, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  16. ^ "2015 Humana Distaff Stakes Grade 1 – (race 7)". Equibase. May 2, 2015. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  17. ^ "2014 Humana Distaff Stakes Grade 1 – (race 7)". Equibase. May 3, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  18. ^ "2013 Humana Distaff Stakes Grade 1 – (race 7)". Equibase. May 4, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  19. ^ "2012 Humana Distaff Stakes Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. May 5, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  20. ^ "2011 Humana Distaff Stakes Grade 1 – (race 7)". Equibase. May 7, 2011. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  21. ^ "2010 Humana Distaff Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. May 1, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  22. ^ "2009 Humana Distaff Stakes Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. May 2, 2009. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  23. ^ "2008 Humana Distaff Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. May 3, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  24. ^ "2007 Humana Distaff Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. May 5, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  25. ^ "2006 Humana Distaff Handicap Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. May 6, 2006. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  26. ^ "2005 Humana Distaff Handicap Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. May 7, 2005. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  27. ^ "2004 Humana Distaff Handicap Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. May 1, 2004. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  28. ^ "2003 Humana Distaff Handicap Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. May 3, 2003. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  29. ^ "2002 Humana Distaff Handicap Grade 1 – (race 7)". Equibase. May 4, 2002. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  30. ^ "2001 Humana Distaff Handicap Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. May 5, 2001. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  31. ^ "2000 Humana Distaff Handicap Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. May 6, 2000. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  32. ^ "1999 Humana Distaff Handicap Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. May 1, 1999. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  33. ^ "1998 Humana Distaff Handicap Grade 3 – (race 6)". Equibase. May 2, 1998. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  34. ^ "1997 Humana Distaff Handicap Grade 3 – (race 6)". Equibase. May 3, 1997. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  35. ^ "1996 Humana Distaff Handicap Grade 3 – (race 6)". Equibase. May 4, 1996. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  36. ^ "1995 Humana Distaff Handicap Grade 3 – (race 6)". Equibase. May 6, 1995. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  37. ^ "1994 Brown & Williamson Handicap Grade 3 – (race 5)". Equibase. May 7, 1994. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  38. ^ "1993 Brown & Williamson Handicap Grade 3 – (race 5)". Equibase. May 1, 1993. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  39. ^ "1992 Brown & Williamson Handicap Grade 3 – (race 6)". Equibase. May 2, 1992. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  40. ^ "1991 Brown and Williamson Handicap Grade 3 – (race 5)". Equibase. May 4, 1991. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  41. ^ Terbune, Jim (May 6, 1990). "Medicine Woman catches Lost Lode (1990 Brown and Williamson Handicap Grade 3 – race 6: held 5 May 1990)". The Courier-Journal. p. 13. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  42. ^ Fowler, Scott (May 7, 1989). "Sunshine Always pauses, pounces (1989 Brown and Williamson Handicap – race 5: held 6 May 1989)". The Courier-Journal. p. 19. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  43. ^ "Churchill Downs Results (1988 Brown and Williamson Handicap – race 5: held 7 May 1988)". The Courier-Journal. May 8, 1988. pp. 21, 47. Retrieved August 29, 2020.