The Sycamore Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds or older, over a distance of 1+1⁄2 miles on the turf held annually in October at Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky during the autumn meeting. The event currently carries a purse of $300,000.
| Grade III race | |
| Location | Keeneland Lexington, Kentucky, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1995 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | www.keeneland.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄2 miles (12 furlongs) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds and older |
| Weight | Base weight with allowances 4-year-olds and up: 125 lbs. 3-year-olds: 122 lbs. |
| Purse | US$300,000 (since 2022) |
History
The inaugural running of the event was on 12 October 1995 over a distance of 1+5⁄8 miles and was won by Frank Mansell's five-year-old Lindon Lime who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Craig Perret.[1] Lindon Lime started as the even money favorite and won finishingf strongly by 4+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 2:42.11 setting a new track record for the distance.[2]
In 2001 the distance was reduced one furlong to 1+1⁄2 miles.[1] The event was won by Rochester who in his career win the event two more times (2002, 2005) and placing third as well in 2004.[3]
In 2015 the event was upgraded to a Grade III.[1]
Due to extremely wet conditions, the Sycamore was run "off the turf" on the polytrack in 2011.[4] The event was also run at 1+5⁄8 miles, originally scheduled for 1+1⁄2 miles. The American Graded Stakes Committee determined that the race lose its grade for the 2013 running which was also run on the polytrack.[5]
Between 2001 and 2006 the Breeders' Cup sponsored the event which reflected in the name of the event.[1]
Records
Speed record
- 1+1⁄2 miles: 2:28.08 Bold Act (IRE) (2023)
- 1+5⁄8 miles (turf): 2:38.68 Royal Strand (IRE) (1999)
- 1+5⁄8 miles (polytrack): 2:39.40 Sanagas (GER) (2011)
Margins
- 5+1⁄2 lengths: Royal Strand (IRE) (1999)
Most wins:
- 3 – Rochester (2001, 2002, 2005)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 4 – Pat Day (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 5 – Jonathan E. Sheppard (2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2009)
Most wins by an owner:
- 6 – Augustin Stable (2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2014, 2015)
Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Bold Act (IRE) | 3 | Jamie Spencer | Charlie Appleby | Godolphin | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:28.08 | $269,213 | III | [6] |
| 2022 | Highland Chief (IRE) | 5 | John R. Velazquez | H. Graham Motion | Mrs. Fitriani Hay | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:28.87 | $266,813 | III | [7] |
| 2021 | Spooky Channel | 6 | Julien R. Leparoux | Jason Barkley | NBS Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:29.71 | $150,000 | III | [8] |
| 2020 | Red Knight | 6 | James Graham | William I. Mott | Trinity Farm | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:28.81 | $150,000 | III | [9] |
| 2019 | Marzo | 4 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Michael J. Maker | Three Diamond Farms | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:32.72 | $150,000 | III | [10] |
| 2018 | Zulu Alpha | 5 | Channing Hill | John Alexander Ortiz | Michael M. Hui | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:34.21 | $100,000 | III | [11] |
| 2017 | Big Bend | 3 | Drayden Van Dyke | Thomas F. Proctor | Union Rags Racing | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:33.24 | $100,000 | III | [12] |
| 2016 | Renown (GB) | 5 | Angel Cruz | Elizabeth Voss | Merriebelle Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:35.37 | $100,000 | III | [13] |
| 2015 | Holiday Star | 5 | Edgar S. Prado | H. Graham Motion | Augustin Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:33.06 | $100,000 | III | [14] |
| 2014 | Holiday Star | 4 | Rosie Napravnik | H. Graham Motion | Augustin Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:33.83 | $100,000 | III | [15] |
| 2013 | Najjaar | 4 | James Graham | Daniel C. Peitz | Shadwell Farm | 1+5⁄8 miles | 2:41:49 | $100,000 | Listed | [16] |
| 2012 | Kindergarten Kid | 5 | Julien R. Leparoux | Michael J. Maker | Ken & Sarah Ramsey | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:31.80 | $100,000 | III | [17] |
| 2011 | Sanagas (GER) | 5 | Rajiv Maragh | H. Graham Motion | Andreas Jacobs | 1+5⁄8 miles | 2:39.40 | $100,000 | III | [4] |
| 2010 | Brass Hat | 9 | Calvin H. Borel | William B. Bradley | Fred Bradley | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:30.73 | $100,000 | III | [18] |
| 2009 | Cloudy's Knight | 9 | Rosemary Homeister Jr. | Jonathan E. Sheppard | S J Stables | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:30.87 | $125,000 | III | [19] |
| 2008 | Always First (GB) | 7 | Rene R. Douglas | Thomas H. Voss | Merriefield Farm | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:30.98 | $150,000 | III | [20] |
| 2007 | Transduction Gold | 4 | James Graham | John Glenney | Kim & John Glenney | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:31.96 | $137,500 | III | [21] |
| 2006 | Revved Up | 8 | Garrett K. Gomez | Christophe Clement | Live Oak Plantation Racing | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:29.83 | $163,800 | III | [22] |
| 2005 | Rochester | 9 | Gary L. Stevens | Jonathan E. Sheppard | Augustin Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:34.30 | $161,100 | III | [23] |
| 2004 | Mustanfar | 3 | Jose A. Santos | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | Shadwell Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:30.88 | $162,300 | III | [24] |
| 2003 | Sharbayan (IRE) | 5 | Pat Day | Wallace Dollase | Iron County Farms & Miller Trust | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:29.55 | $138,200 | III | [25] |
| 2002 | Rochester | 6 | Pat Day | Jonathan E. Sheppard | Augustin Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:30.48 | $154,400 | Listed | [26] |
| 2001 | Rochester | 5 | Pat Day | Jonathan E. Sheppard | Augustin Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:31.29 | $166,200 | Listed | [27] |
| 2000 | Crowd Pleaser | 5 | Calvin H. Borel | Jonathan E. Sheppard | Augustin Stable | 1+5⁄8 miles | 2:44.00 | $74,675 | Listed | [28] |
| 1999 | Royal Strand (IRE) | 5 | Pat Day | W. Elliott Walden | James H. Stone | 1+5⁄8 miles | 2:38.68 | $69,375 | Listed | [29] |
| 1998 | Royal Strand (IRE) | 4 | Shane Sellers | W. Elliott Walden | James H. Stone | 1+5⁄8 miles | 2:41.93 | $55,500 | Listed | [30] |
| 1997 | Gleaming Key | 5 | Shane Sellers | Hilary A. Pridham | Barry Golden | 1+5⁄8 miles | 2:45.86 | $54,000 | Listed | [31] |
| 1996 | Gleaming Key | 4 | Robby Albarado | P. Noel Hickey | George B. Peterson Jr. | 1+5⁄8 miles | 2:44.49 | $52,910 | Listed | [32] |
| 1995 | Lindon Lime | 5 | Craig Perret | W. Elliott Walden | Frank Mansell | 1+5⁄8 miles | 2:42.11 | $60,760 | Listed | [2] |
Legend:
All Weather Track Turf