# Ben Ali Stakes

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This article is about the horse race at Keeneland known as the Ben Ali Stakes. For another race at Lexington Race Course with a similar name, see [Ben Ali Handicap](/source/Ben_Ali_Handicap).

Horse race

Ben Ali Stakes Class Grade III Location Lexington, Kentucky Inaugurated 1937 Race type Thoroughbred – Flat racing Race information Distance 1+3⁄16 miles Surface Dirt Track left-handed Qualification Four-year-olds & up Purse US$350,000

The **Ben Ali Stakes** is an American race for [Thoroughbred](/source/Thoroughbred) [horses](/source/Race_horse) run annually since 1937 at [Keeneland Race Course](/source/Keeneland) in [Lexington, Kentucky](/source/Lexington%2C_Kentucky). Open to 4-year-olds and up, it is currently a [Grade 3](/source/Graded_stakes_race) event set at a distance of a mile and one eighth on the dirt course. As of 2025 it offers a purse of $350,000.

According to the official history at Keeneland racetrack, the Ben Ali (pronounced *Ah-Lie*) is named for [James Ben Ali Haggin](/source/James_Ben_Ali_Haggin) (1822–1914), a lawyer who made a fortune during the [California Gold Rush](/source/California_Gold_Rush) and who used much of that money to create the biggest horse breeding farm in the world: the [Rancho Del Paso](/source/Rancho_Del_Paso) near [Sacramento, California](/source/Sacramento%2C_California). He also owned [Elmendorf Farm](/source/Elmendorf_Farm) in [Lexington, Kentucky](/source/Lexington%2C_Kentucky) with its thousands of acres of prime [Kentucky](/source/Kentucky) bluegrass. Haggin became a noteworthy breeder of great racehorses and a fervent supporter of the sport. Haggin owned the Hall of Famers, [Salvator](/source/Salvator_(horse)) and the filly, [Firenzi](/source/Firenzi).

The first running of the Ben Ali Handicap took place in 1917 at the [Lexington Race Course](/source/Lexington_Race_Course) where it was raced through 1932 after which the track closed.[1] It was not run again until the race name was revived at Keeneland in 1937.

[Decidedly](/source/Decidedly), the winner of the 1962 [Kentucky Derby](/source/Kentucky_Derby), won this race in 1963.

## Records

**Speed records:** (Keeneland)

- 1:25.40 - Fulcrum (1960) at 7.0278 furlongs (0.878475 miles)

- 1:41.40 - [Decidedly](/source/Decidedly) (1963) at 11+1⁄16 mi (9 furlongs; 1,710 m)

- 1:46.63 - [Wise Dan](/source/Wise_Dan) (2012) at 1+1⁄8 mi (9 furlongs; 1,811 m)

- 1:56.48 - Rattle N Roll (2023) at 1+3⁄16 mi (10 furlongs; 1,911 m)

**Most wins:**

- 3 - Knight Counter (1972, 1973, 1974)

**Most wins by a [jockey](/source/Jockey):**

- 5 - [Don Brumfield](/source/Don_Brumfield) (1964, 1972, 1973, 1984, 1988)

- 5 - [Javier Castellano](/source/Javier_Castellano) (2006, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2022)

**Most wins by a [trainer](/source/Horse_trainer):**

- 5 - [Neil J. Howard](/source/Neil_J._Howard) (1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2016)

**Most wins by an owner:**

- 5 - [Calumet Farm](/source/Calumet_Farm) (1937, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1951)

- 5 - [William S. Farish III](/source/William_S._Farish_III) (1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2016)

## Winners

Year[2] Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time Gr. 1937 Count Morse 4 Irving Anderson Frank J. Kearns Calumet Farm 11⁄16 M 1:46.20 1938 Main Man 4 Willis F. Ward Howard C. Hoffman Jerome B. Respess 11⁄16 M 1:45.00 1939 Burning Star 5 Warren Yarberry John J. Greely Jr. Shandon Farm Stable (Patrick A. & Richard J. Nash) 11⁄16 M 1:47.00 1940 Arabs Arrow 6 Carrol Bierman Gilbert Hardy Louise J. Hickman 11⁄16 M 1:48.80 1941 Red Dock 4 Albert Bodiou E. Leigh Cotton Greentree Stable 11⁄16 M 1:46.00 1942 Steel Heels 6 James George Frank P. Letellier Junius W. Bell 11⁄16 M 1:46.40 1943 Aletern 4 Johnny Adams John H. Skirvin Alwin C. Ernst 11⁄16 M 1:46.20 1944 Alquest 4 Johnny Adams John H. Skirvin Alwin C. Ernst 11⁄16 M 1:45.60 1945 Pot O’ Luck 3 Douglas Dodson Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 11⁄16 M 1:46.60 1946 Bull Play 4 Robert Campbell Lee Niles Walter W. Jones 11⁄16 M 1:44.40 1947 Pot O’ Luck 5 Douglas Dodson Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 11⁄16 M 1:44.00 1948 Fervent 4 Leroy Pierson Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 11⁄16 M 1:43.80 1949 Shy Guy 4 Conn McCreary Jack C. Hodgins Dixiana Farm 11⁄16 M 1:45.00 1950 Mount Marcy 5 Kenneth Church Sylvester E. Veitch Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney 11⁄16 M 1:43.80 1951 Wistful 5 Douglas Dodson Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 11⁄16 M 1:45.00 1952 Seaward 7 Steve Brooks Harry Trotsek Hasty House Farm 11⁄16 M 1:45.00 1953 Oil Capitol 6 Conn McCreary Harry Trotsek Hasty House Farm & Cora Trotsek 11⁄16 M 1:44.00 1954 Mister Black 5 Johnny Adams Harry Trotsek Hasty House Farm 7.0278 F 1:27.00 1955 Sea O Erin 4 Steve Brooks Harry Trotsek Hasty House Farm 7.0278 F 1:27.80 1956 Timely Tip 5 John L. Rotz Reid Armstrong Dr. Alfred Lewis Birch 7.0278 F 1:27.80 1957 Star Rover 5 John Heckmann Eddie Anspach Mrs. Irving Gushen 7.0278 F 1:25.60 1958 Safe Message 4 Douglas Dodson Jack C. Hodgins Dixiana Farm 7.0278 F 1:26.40 1959 Greek Chief 4 Bill Hartack Thomas J. Kelly Michael G. Phipps 7.0278 F 1:26.60 1960 Fulcrum 5 Steve Brooks Jack C. Hodgins Mary V. Fisher 7.0278 F 1:25.40 1961 Cactus Tom 4 Lawrence Hansman Thomas H. Stevens Sr. Natjolee Stable 7.0278 F 1:26.80 1962 Run for Nurse 5 Steve Brooks Lee Niles J. Graham Brown 7.0278 F 1:25.60 1963 Decidedly 4 James D. Nichols Horatio Luro El Peco Ranch 11⁄16 M 1:41.40 1964 Copy Chief 4 Don Brumfield S. Bryant Ott Fourth Estate Stable 11⁄16 M 1:42.80 1965 Gallant Romeo 4 Kenny Knapp Willard L. Proctor J. Graham Brown 11⁄16 M 1:42.80 1966 Swift Ruler 4 Larry Spraker Gin L. Collins Earl Allen 11⁄16 M 1:42.80 1967 Francis U. 4 Robert Gallimore Dewey P. Smith T. Alie & J. E. Grissom 11⁄16 M 1:42.60 1968 Miracle Hill 4 Robert Gallimore Dewey P. Smith T. Alie & J. E. Grissom 11⁄16 M 1:42.60 1969 Court Recess 4 Eric Guerin George T. Poole C. V. Whitney 11⁄16 M 1:44.60 1970 Gallant Moment 6 Dave Kassen Jack Long Circle M Farm (Edward S. Moore) 11⁄16 M 1:42.60 1971 Great Mystery 4 Phil I. Grimm Lyle Whiting B. A. Dario 11⁄16 M 1:41.80 1972 Knight Counter 4 Don Brumfield Victor A. Doleski Robert Huffman 11⁄16 M 1:43.40 1973 Knight Counter 5 Don Brumfield Victor A. Doleski Robert Huffman 11⁄16 M 1:43.00 G3 1974 Knight Counter 6 Earlie Fires Victor A. Doleski Robert Huffman 11⁄16 M 1:41.80 G3 1975 Navajo 5 James D. Nichols James O. Keefer Joe Stevenson & Ray Stump 11⁄16 M 1:43.80 G3 1976 My Friend Gus 4 Darrel McHargue Douglas M. Davis Jr. Patricia Blass 11⁄16 M 1:42.60 G3 1977 Honest Pleasure 4 Craig Perret LeRoy Jolley Bertram R. Firestone 11⁄16 M 1:42.40 G3 1978 Prince Majestic 4 Eddie Delahoussaye Dewey P. Smith Dorothy Dorsett Brown 11⁄16 M 1:41.80 G3 1979 Kodiak 5 Gerland Gallitano Harvey L. Vanier Louis F. Aitken 11⁄8 M 1:49.60 G3 1980 Architect 4 Carl Lauer Harvey L. Vanier Stanley Spencer 11⁄8 M 1:48.80 G3 1981 Withholding 4 Bernon Sayler Ronnie G. Warren Russell Michael Jr. 11⁄8 M 1:50.20 G3 1982 Withholding 5 Larry Melancon Ronnie G. Warren Russell Michael Jr. 11⁄8 M 1:49.60 G3 1983 Aspro 5 Vincent Bracciale Jr. Grover G. Delp Mr. & Mrs. James A. Bayard 11⁄8 M 1:49.60 G3 1984 Aspro 6 Don Brumfield Grover G. Delp Mrs. & Estate of James A. Bayard 11⁄8 M 1:50.80 G3 1985 Bello 4 Gerland Gallitano Joseph M. Bollero Lois Bollero 11⁄8 M 1:48.80 G3 1986 Czar Nijinsky 4 Herb McCauley Jack Hofher Jacquelin & Miguel Torrealba 11⁄8 M 1:50.20 G3 1987 Intrusion 5 Sandy Hawley Lee J. Rossi Carl J. Maggio 11⁄8 M 1:49.60 G3 1988 Homebuilder 4 Don Brumfield Woody Stephens Ryehill Farm (James & Eleanor Ryan) 11⁄8 M 1:51.40 G3 1989 Classic Account 4 Pat Day Terry L. Mason Laura Leigh Stables (Leslie E. Lunsford Jr.) 11⁄8 M 1:50.60 G3 1990 Master Speaker 5 Jerry D. Bailey Virgil W. Raines Anderson Fowler 11⁄8 M 1:49.00 G3 1991 Sports View 4 Craig Perret D. Wayne Lukas Barry Beal & D. Wayne Lukas 11⁄8 M 1:49.67 G3 1992 Profit Key (DH) 5 Shane Sellers D. Wayne Lukas Joe Allen & L. Don Mathis 11⁄8 M 1:49.55 G3 1992 Loach (DH) 4 Patrick Valenzuela Richard J. Lundy Allen E. Paulson 11⁄8 M 1:49.55 G3 1993 Sunny Sunrise 6 Rick Wilson Bud Delp Harry Meyerhoff 11⁄8 M 1:48.80 G3 1994 Pistols and Roses 5 Mike E. Smith George Gianos Willis Family Stables Inc. 11⁄8 M 1:51.60 G3 1995 Wildly Joyous 4 Mickey Walls James E. Baker Woodlynn Farm 11⁄8 M 1:49.60 G3 1996 Knockadoon 4 Jerry D. Bailey Anthony Reinstedler William K. Warren Jr. 11⁄8 M 1:48.80 G3 1997 Louis Quatorze 4 Pat Day Nick Zito William J. Condren et al. 11⁄8 M 1:49.60 G3 1998 Storm Broker 4 Robby Albarado James E. Baker Woodlynn Farm 11⁄8 M 1:48.20 G3 1999 Jazz Club 4 Pat Day Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III/J. Jamail 11⁄8 M 1:48.00 G3 2000 Midway Magistrate 6 Shane Sellers Rick Hiles BMH Stable 11⁄8 M 1:49.00 G3 2001 Broken Vow 4 Edgar Prado H. Graham Motion Pin Oak Stable 11⁄8 M 1:48.47 G3 2002 Duckhorn 5 Jorge F. Chavez Patrick B. Byrne Michael B. Tabor 11⁄8 M 1:50.18 G3 2003 Mineshaft 4 Robby Albarado Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III et al. 11⁄8 M 1:48.52 G3 2004 Midway Road 4 Robby Albarado Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III 11⁄8 M 1:46.78 G3 2005 Alumni Hall 6 Robby Albarado Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III 11⁄8 M 1:51.29 G3 2006 Wanderin Boy 5 Javier Castellano Nick Zito Arthur B. Hancock III 11⁄8 M 1:49.18 G3 2007 Jade's Revenge 4 Kent Desormeaux H. Graham Motion Bushwood Stable 11⁄8 M 1:49.93 G3 2008 Sterwins 5 Shaun Bridgmohan Malcolm Pierce Melnyk Racing 11⁄8 M 1:48.53 G3 2009 Parading 6 Kent Desormeaux C. R. McGaughey III Phipps Stable 11⁄8 M 1:47.82 G3 2010 Dubious Miss 6 Calvin Borel Paul McGee David P. Holloway 11⁄8 M 1:49.60 G3 2011 Exhi 4 Javier Castellano Todd Pletcher Wertheimer et Frere 11⁄8 M 1:48.14 G3 2012 Wise Dan 5 John Velazquez Charles Lopresti Morton Fink 11⁄8 M 1:46.63 G3 2013 Successful Dan 6 Joel Rosario Claude R. McGaughey III Phipps Stable 11⁄8 M 1:51.14 G3 2014 Frac Daddy 4 Alan Garcia Kenneth G. McPeek Magic City Thoroughbreds 11⁄8 M 1:49.61 G3 2015 Protonico 4 Javier Castellano Todd Pletcher Sumaya U.S. Stable 11⁄8 M 1:48.79 G3 2016 Eagle 4 Brian Hernandez Jr. Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III 11⁄8 M 1:48.57 G3 2017 Watershed 5 Paco Lopez Kiaran P. McLaughlin Godolphin Racing, LLC 11⁄8 M 1:50.92 G3 2018 Rated R Superstar 5 Javier Castellano Kiaran P. McLaughlin Radar Racing LLC 11⁄8 M 1:49.31 G3 2019 Bourbon Resolution 4 Chris Landeros Ian R. Wilkes Bourbon Lane Stable 11⁄8 M 1:50.82 G3 2020 Race not held 2021 Sliver Dust 5 Adam Beschizza W. Bret Calhoun Tom R. Durant 11⁄8 M 1:50.21 G3 2022 Scalding 4 Javier Castellano Claude R. McGaughey III Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable & LNJ Foxwoods 11⁄8 M 1:50.30 G3 2023 Rattle N Roll 4 Brian Hernandez Jr. Kenneth G. McPeek Lucky Seven Stable (Ginny & Leo Mackin) 13⁄16 M 1:56.48 G3 2024 Kingsbarns 4 Luis Saez Todd A. Pletcher Spendthrift Farm 13⁄16 M 1:57.74 G3 2025 Tennessee Lamb 4 José Ortiz George R. Arnold II Calumet Farm 13⁄16 M 1:59.00 G3 2026 Stars and Stripes 4 Luis Saez William I. Mott Frassetto Stables LLC 1+3⁄16 M 1:58.34 G3

## External links

- [Keeneland Official site](http://www.keeneland.com)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Tim Talbott, "Keeneland", ExploreKYHistory"](https://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/330). Kentucky Historical Society. 2019-12-18. Retrieved 2019-12-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Keeneland Media Guide"](https://www.keeneland.com/media/media-guide). *Keeneland.com*. Retrieved 9 June 2025.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ben Ali Stakes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Ali_Stakes) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Ali_Stakes?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.