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 $650,000, the race is open to two-year-old horses and is run at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt. From 1997 to 2008, the race was sponsored by Lane's End Farm. From 2009 to 2013 it was sponsored by Dixiana Farm. It is now sponsored by Claiborne Farm.

Structure The race is a Road to the Kentucky Derby Prep Season qualifying race. The winner receives 10 points toward qualifying for the Kentucky Derby. It is also currently part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series. The winner automatically qualifies for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

History The Breeders' Futurity was first raced at the Lexington Race Course 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 to 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 (1938–1949) Seven furlongs (1950–1955) Seven furlongs, 184 feet (1956–1980) miles (1981–present)

From 2006 to 2013, the race was run on a Polytrack artificial dirt surface. In 2014, the Polytrack was replaced by a new dirt surface.

Records (since 1938) Fastest Time: (at Current Distance 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) 6 – Todd A. Pletcher (2013, 2014, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026)

Winners of the Breeders' Futurity Stakes since 1938 Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time2026American HistoryJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherWinstar Farm, First Go Racing & CHC1:44.882025Ted NoffeyJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherSpendthrift Farm1:43.982024East AvenueTyler GaffalioneBrendan P. WalshGodolphin1:43.172023LockedJosé OrtizTodd A. PletcherEclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm1:45.062022ForteIrad Ortiz Jr.Todd A. PletcherRepole Stable & St. Elias Stable1:44.742021Rattle N RollBrian Hernandez Jr.Kenneth McPeekLucky Seven Stable1:43.782020Essential QualityLuis SaezBrad H. CoxGodolphin 1:44.372019 MaxfieldJosé OrtizBrendan WalshGodolphin1:44.212018Knicks GoAlbin JimenezBen ColebrookKRA Stud Farm 1:44.232017Free Drop BillyRobby AlbaradoDale L. RomansAlbaugh Family Stables1:45.432016Classic EmpireJulien LeparouxMark E. CasseJohn C. Oxley1:43.412015Brody's CauseCorey J. LanerieDale L. RomansAlbaugh Family Stable1:43.272014Carpe DiemJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherWinStar Farm & Stonestreet Stables1:43.382013We Miss ArtieJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherKen and Sarah Ramsey1:46.912012JohaRajiv MaraghMichael J. MakerBluegrass Equine Bloodstock1:44.522011DullahanKent DesormeauxDale L. RomansDonegal Racing (Jerry Crawford, partnership manager)1:43.122010J.B.'s ThunderShaun BridgmohanAlbert Stall Jr.Columbine Stable1:44.122009Noble's PromiseWillie MartinezKenneth G. McPeekChasing Dreams Racing1:43.122008Square EddieRafael BejaranoJohn R. BestJ. Paul Reddam1:43.042007Wicked StyleRobby AlbaradoGeorge R. Arnold IIAshbrook Farm1:45.212006Great HunterVictor EspinozaDoug O'NeillJ. Paul Reddam1:44.092005Dawn of WarJohn JacintoDale L. RomansKen and Sarah Ramsey1:48.772004ConsolidatorRafael BejaranoD. Wayne LukasR. & B. Lewis1:43.672003EurosilverJavier CastellanoNicholas P. ZitoBuckram Oak Farm1:43.422002Sky MesaEdgar PradoJohn T. Ward Jr.John C. Oxley1:46.782001SiphonicChris McCarronDavid HofmansAmerman Racing LLC1:43.792000Arabian LightShane SellersBob BaffertThe Thoroughbred Corp.1:43.001999Captain SteveGarrett K. GomezBob BaffertMichael E. Pegram1:42.401998Cat ThiefPat DayD. Wayne LukasOverbrook Farm1:44.001997Favorite TrickPat DayPatrick B. ByrneJoseph LaCombe Stable1:43.201996Boston HarborJerry D. BaileyD. Wayne LukasOverbrook Farm1:45.201995Honour and GloryPat DayD. Wayne LukasMichael Tabor1:43.201994Tejano RunJerry D. BaileyKenneth McPeekRoy K. Monroe1:44.601993Polar ExpeditionCurt BourqueHugh H. RobertsonJames B. Cody1:42.201992Mountain CatPat DayD. Wayne LukasOverbrook Farm1:42.401991Dance FloorCharles Woods Jr.D. Wayne LukasOaktown Stable1:44.201990Sir BordeauxWigberto RamosRonnie G. WarrenDonald G. Hardamon & Ray Trisler1:44.401989SlavicJosé A. SantosFlint S. SchulhoferWilliam Haggin Perry1:44.601988Fast PlayÁngel Cordero Jr.C. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps1:45.201987Forty NinerEddie MapleWoody StephensClaiborne Farm1:43.801986OronoSandy HawleyCarl NafzgerBayview Stable1:45.201985TassoLaffit Pincay Jr.Neil DrysdaleGerald Robins & Tim Sams1:46.001984Crater FireDaryl MontoyaDixie H. GriffittSamuel D. Hinkle IV & D. D. Crater1:45.801983SwaleEddie MapleWoody StephensClaiborne Farm1:44.001982Highland ParkJohn L. LivelyAnthony L. Basile Bwamazon Farm1:43.601981D'AccordDarrel McHargueLeRoy JolleyBertram R. Firestone1:44.801980Fairway PhantomJohn L. LivelyCarl NafzgerWilliam Floyd1:28.801979Gold StageDon BrumfieldWilliam Curtis Jr.Georgia E. Hofmann1:26.801978Strike Your ColorsEd DelahoussayeDel W. CarrollWilliam S. Farish III1:26.201977GonquinFrank OlivaresJerry M. FanningJames Scully1:28.001976Run Dusty RunDarrel McHargueSmiley AdamsGolden Chance Farm1:27.401975Harbor SpringsEddie MapleWoody StephensLouis Lee Haggin II1:27.001974Packer CaptainDon BrumfieldDouglas DodsonEagle Mountain Farm1:25.801973ProvanteMike ManganelloDave Zakoor Jr.Greg E. Sanders1:27.201972Annihilate 'EmDon BrumfieldDouglas M. Davis Jr.Patricia B. Blass1:27.001971WindjammerLaffit Pincay Jr.MacKenzie MillerCragwood Stables1:27.201970Man of the MomentDon BrumfieldJack LongCircle M Farm1:28.801969Hard WorkDon BrumfieldCharles R. WerstlerDixiana Stable1:25.601968DikeEarlie FiresLucien LaurinClaiborne Farm1:26.801967T.V. CommercialManuel YcazaAnthony L. BasileBwamazon Farm1:26.801966Gentleman JamesJimmy NicholsDel W. CarrollMichael Grace Phipps1:28.001965TinsleyJimmy NicholsJulius E. Tinsley Jr.Fred W. Hooper1:28.401964Umbrella FellaJohn NazarethLoyd Gentry Jr.Ford Stables1:26.401963DuelWilliam D. LucasLeRoy JolleyClaiborne Farm1:26.201962OrnamentoJimmy LynchJames P. ConwayDarby Dan Farm1:26.401961Roman LineWilliam M. CookVester R. WrightT. Allie Grissom1:26.601960He's a PistolLarney HansmanJoseph D. PuckettJ. Graham Brown1:27.001959Toby's BrotherJohn L. RotzRobert E. WingfieldG. Van Deren & O.S. Deming1:27.201958NamonJimmy CombestVester R. WrightT. Allie Grissom1:26.801957FulcrumJohn DelahoussayeJack C. HodginsMary V. Fisher1:26.401956Round TableSteve BrooksMoody JolleyClaiborne Farm1:26.801955Jovial JoveDouglas DodsonStrother GriffinBwamazon Farm1:23.601954Brother TexPete D. AndersonWoody StephensWoody Stephens1:24.401953Hasty RoadJohn H. AdamsHarry TrotsekHasty House Farm1:23.201952Straight FaceBennie GreenJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1:23.801951AlladierCarroll BiermanAnthony J. PupinoHarborvale Stable, F.L. Leatherbury & E.A. Roberts1:23.401950Big StretchTed AtkinsonJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1:23.601949Oil CapitolKenneth ChurchHarry TrotsekThomas Gray1:12.201948OlympiaWillie GarnerIvan H. ParkeFred W. Hooper1:11.601947Shy GuySteve BrooksJack C. HodginsDixiana Stable1:11.801946EducationSteve BrooksIvan H. ParkeFred W. Hooper1:11.401945PellicleSteve BrooksE. Leigh CottonHal Price Headley1:12.801944Air SailorLeon HaasLex WilsonTheodore DeLong Buhl1:12.201943DuraznaJesse HigleyJohn M. GoodeBrownell Combs1:11.601942OccupationLeon HaasBurley ParkeJohn Marsch1:14.001941Devil DiverConn McCrearyJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1:11.801940WhirlawayJohnny LongdenBen A. JonesCalumet Farm1:11.201939Roman FlagLeon HaasMax HirschW. Arnold Hanger1:10.601938JohnstownJames StoutGeorge TappenBelair Stud1:11.40

Earlier winners

1937: No race 1936: No race 1935: No race 1934: No race 1933: Mata Hari 1932: Technique 1931: The Bull 1930: Mate 1929: Gallant Knight 1928: Current 1927: Wacker Drive 1926: Wood Lore 1925: Flight of Time 1924: Candy Kid 1923: Worthmore 1922: Donges 1921: Gentility 1920: Believe Idle Hour 1919: Blazes 1918: Colonel Livingston 1917: Escoba 1916: Harry Kelly 1915: Kinney 1914: Luke 1913: Imperator 1912: Helios 1911: The Manager 1910: Housemaid

See also Road to the Kentucky Derby

References