Ben Ali Stakes

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.

The Ben Ali Stakes is an American race for thoroughbred horses run in the Spring of each year at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. For 4-year-olds and up, it is a Grade III event set at a distance of one and three-sixteenth miles on the dirt. Currently it offers a purse of $300,000.

Ben Ali Stakes

Grade III race
Location	Lexington, Kentucky
Inaugurated	1917
Race type	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Race information
Distance	1+3⁄16 miles
Surface	Dirt
Track	left-handed
Qualification	Four-year-olds & up
Purse	US$300,000

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

The first running of the Ben Ali took place in 1917 at the Lexington Race Course where it was raced through 1932 after which the track closed. It did not run again until it was revived at Keeneland in 1937.

Decidedly, the winner of the 1962 Kentucky Derby, won this race in 1963, and Pistols and Roses in 1994.

Records

Speed record

• 1+3⁄16 miles (dirt) 1:56.48 – Rattle N Roll (2023)
• 1+1⁄8 miles (dirt) 1:46.78 – Midway Road (2004)
• 1+1⁄8 miles (polytrack): 1:46.63 – Wise Dan (2012)

Margins

• 11+1⁄4 lengths – Midway Road (2004)

Most wins by a jockey

• 4 – Robby Albarado (1998, 2003, 2004, 2005)
• 4 – Javier Castellano (2006, 2011, 2018, 2022)

Most wins by a horse trainer

• 5 – Neil J. Howard (1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2016)

Most wins by an owner

• 5 – William S. Farish III (1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2016)

Winners since 1993

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2024	Kingsbarns	4	Luis Saez	Todd A. Pletcher	Spendthrift Farm	1:57.74
2023	Rattle N Roll	4	Brian Hernandez Jr.	Kenneth G. McPeek	Lucky Seven Stable	1:56.48
2022	Scalding	4	Javier Castellano	Claude R. McGaughey III	Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable & LNJ Foxwoods	1:50.30
2021	Sliver Dust	5	Adam Beschizza	W. Bret Calhoun	Tom R. Durant	1:50.21
Race Not Run
2019	Bourbon Resolution	4	Chris Landeros	Ian R. Wilkes	Bourbon Lane Stable	1:50.82
2018	Rated R Superstar	5	Javier Castellano	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	Radar Racing LLC	1:49.31
2017	Watershed	5	Paco Lopez	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	Godolphin	1:50.92
2016	Eagle	4	Brian Hernandez Jr.	Neil J. Howard	William S. Farish III	1:48.57
2015	Protonico	4	Javier Castellano	Todd A. Pletcher	Sumaya U.S. Stable	1:48.79
2014	Frac Daddy	4	Alan Garcia	Kenneth G. McPeek	Magic City Thoroughbreds	1:49.61
2013	Successful Dan	6	Joel Rosario	Claude R. McGaughey III	Phipps Stable	1:51.14
2012	Wise Dan	5	John R. Velazquez	Charles LoPresti	Morton Fink	1:46.63
2011	Exhi	4	Javier Castellano	Todd A. Pletcher	Wertheimer et Frère	1:48.14
2010	Dubious Miss	6	Calvin Borel	Paul McGee	David P. Holloway	1:49.60
2009	Parading	6	Kent Desormeaux	Claude R. McGaughey III	Phipps Stable	1:47.82
2008	Sterwins	5	Shaun Bridgmohan	Malcolm Pierce	Melnyk Racing	1:48.53
2007	Jade's Revenge	4	Kent Desormeaux	H. Graham Motion	Bushwood Stable	1:49.93
2006	Wanderin Boy	5	Javier Castellano	Nick Zito	Arthur B. Hancock III	1:49.18
2005	Alumni Hall	6	Robby Albarado	Neil J. Howard	William S. Farish III	1:51.29
2004	Midway Road	4	Robby Albarado	Neil J. Howard	William S. Farish III	1:46.78
2003	Mineshaft	4	Robby Albarado	Neil J. Howard	William S. Farish III et al.	1:48.52
2002	Duckhorn	5	Jorge F. Chavez	Patrick B. Byrne	Michael B. Tabor	1:50.18
2001	Broken Vow	4	Edgar Prado	H. Graham Motion	Pin Oak Stable	1:48.47
2000	Midway Magistrate	6	Shane Sellers	Rick Hiles	BMH Stable	1:49.00
1999	Jazz Club	4	Pat Day	Neil J. Howard	William S. Farish III & J. Jamail	1:48.00
1998	Storm Broker	4	Robby Albarado	James E. Baker	Woodlynn Farm	1:48.20
1997	Louis Quatorze	4	Pat Day	Nick Zito	William J. Condren et al.	1:49.60
1996	Knockadoon	4	Jerry Bailey	Anthony Reinstedler	William K. Warren Jr.	1:48.80
1995	Wildly Joyous	4	Mickey Walls	James E. Baker	Woodlynn Farm	1:49.60
1994	Pistols and Roses	5	Mike E. Smith	George Gianos	Willis Family Stables, Inc.	1:51.60
1993	Sunny Sunrise	6	Rick Wilson	Bud Delp	Harry Meyerhoff	1:48.80
1992	Loach (DH)	4	Patrick Valenzuela	Richard J. Lundy	Allen E. Paulson	1:49.55
	Profit Key (DH)	5	Shane Sellers	D. Wayne Lukas	Joe Allen & L. Don Mathis
1991	Sports View	4	Craig Perret	D. Wayne Lukas	Barry Beal & D. Wayne Lukas	1:49.67

External links

• Keeneland Official site