Breeders' Futurity Stakes

The Breeders' Futurity Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. Currently offering a purse of $500,000, the race is open to two-year-old horses and is run at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the Dirt (As of the 2014 fall meet Keenland reverted to the dirt main course). From 1997 to 2008, the race was sponsored by Lane's End Farm. Starting in 2009, the race has been sponsored by Dixiana Farm but is now sponsored by Claiborne Farm.

The race is a Road to the Kentucky Derby Prep Season qualifying race. The winner receives 10 points toward qualifying for the Kentucky Derby.^[1]

The race is currently part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series. The winner will automatically qualify for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

It was first raced at the Kentucky Association track in Lexington in 1910 and was renewed each year thereafter through 1930. In 1931 through 1935, the race was shifted to the Latonia Race Track in Covington, Kentucky. The Futurity was revived at Keeneland in the fall of 1938 and during World War II, from 1943 through 1945 was renewed as part of the Churchill Downs fall meetings.

The race was a Grade III event from 1973-1975, a Grade II from 1976 through 2003, and became a Grade 1 stakes in 2004. Over the years, it has been raced at various distances:

• Six furlongs from 1938-1949
• Seven furlongs from 1950-1955
• Seven furlongs, 184 feet from 1956-1980
• 1 ¹⁄₁₆ miles from 1981–present

Records (since 1938)

Fastest Time: (at Current Distance 1 ¹⁄₁₆ miles)

• 1:42.20 - Polar Expedition (1993)

Most wins by an owner:

• 5 - Claiborne Farm (1956, 1963, 1968, 1983, 1987)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 5 - Don Brumfield (1969, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1979)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 6 - D. Wayne Lukas (1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2004)

Winners of the Breeders' Futurity Stakes since 1938

Earlier winners

See also

• Road to the Kentucky Derby

References