The Commonwealth Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses that are four years old or older, over a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt held annually in early April at Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky during the spring meeting. The event currently carries a purse of $350,000.

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 16 October 1987, during Keeneland's fall meeting as the Commonwealth Breeders' Cup Stakes as a six furlong dirt sprint for three year olds and older and was won by Exclusive Enough who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Mike E. Smith. Exclusive Enough equaled the track record with his winning time of 1:08 and to date is the only three year old to have won the event.

Between 1987 and 2007, the Breeders' Cup sponsored the event which reflected in the name of the event.

Two years later, in 1989 Keeneland moved the event to their spring meeting in April and increased the distance to seven furlongs and changed the conditions of the event to only allow four year olds and older.

The following year in 1990 the event was upgraded to Grade III status and in 1994 the event was upgraded once more Grade II.

Between 2007 and 2014 the event was held on the synthetic Polytrack surface.

In 2013 the event was downgraded to a Grade III event.

The event was not held 2020 during Keeneland's spring meeting which was moved to July and shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

Records Speed record 1:20.40 – Distorted Humor (1998)

Margins 6 lengths – Calestoga (1988)

Most wins 2 – Black Tie Affair (1990, 1991)

Most wins by a jockey 3 – Edgar Prado (2001, 2003, 2008) 3 – Joel Rosario (2012, 2017, 2021)

Most wins by a trainer 3 – Todd A. Pletcher (2003, 2004, 2011)

Most wins by an owner 2 – Jeff Sullivan (1990, 1991) 2 – Michael B. Tabor (2003, 2004) Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefCommonwealth Stakes2026Saudi Crown6Flavien PratBrad H. CoxFMQ Stables 7 furlongs1:22.56$340,125 III2025Extra Anejo 5Flavien PratWinchell Thoroughbreds7 furlongs1:23.63$350,000III2024Bo Cruz 4Jose L. OrtizAlbert Stall Jr.Roger Cettina, Brian Pagano, Patrick Grippo, Peter Martine & Bruno De Julio7 furlongs1:22.94 $294,500III2023 Here Mi Song5Alex AchardWilliam Stinson Jr.Nathan Hayden7 furlongs1:23.42$300,000III2022 Prevalence 4Tyler Gaffalione Brendan WalshGodolphin Racing 7 furlongs1:22.47$300,000III2021 Flagstaff 7Joel RosarioJohn W. SadlerLane's End Racing & Hronis Racing 7 furlongs1:22.80$200,000III2020Race not held2019 Bobby's Wicked One 4Miguel MenaAlbert Stall Jr.Autumn Hill Farms Racing Stables 7 furlongs1:22.80$250,000III2018Warrior's Club4Luis ContrerasD. Wayne LukasChurchill Downs Racing Club7 furlongs1:22.61$250,000III2017Awesome Slew4Joel RosarioMark E. CasseLive Oak Plantation7 furlongs1:22.31$250,000III2016Ami's Flatter4Martin GarciaJosie CarrollIvan Dalos7 furlongs1:21.66$250,000III2015Kobe's Back4Gary L. StevensPeter EurtonC R K Stable7 furlongs1:22.16$300,000III2014Occasional View6Alan GarciaKenneth G. McPeekRobert Trussell7 furlongs1:22.77$175,000III2013Handsome Mike4Mario GutierrezDoug F. O'NeillReddam Racing7 furlongs1:23.14$175,000III2012Lonesome Street5Joel RosarioMichael J. MakerKenneth & Sarah Ramsey7 furlongs1:21.17$175,000II2011Aikenite4John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherDogwood Stable7 furlongs1:22.35$175,000II2010Together Indy4Kent J. DesormeauxGeorge WeaverRaymond A. Hill Stable & Vic Fontana7 furlongs1:22.34$245,000II2009Eternal Star5Eibar CoaMichael J. Trombetta Harry C. & Tom O. Meyerhoff7 furlongs1:21.17$203,500II2008Rebellion (GB)5Edgar S. PradoH. Graham Motion Hickory Tree Stables 7 furlongs1:21.40$390,000IICommonwealth Breeders' Cup Stakes2007Silent Name (JPN)5Corey NakataniGary MandellaStronach Stables & Wertheimer et Frère7 furlongs1:21.26$400,000II2006Sun King4Corey NakataniNicholas P. ZitoTracy Farmer7 furlongs1:23.30$443,200II2005Clock Stopper5Jerry D. BaileyDallas StewartOverbrook Farm7 furlongs1:22.06$424,900II2004Lion Tamer4Mike E. SmithTodd A. PletcherMichael B. Tabor7 furlongs1:23.14$270,250II2003Smooth Jazz4Edgar S. PradoTodd A. PletcherMichael B. Tabor7 furlongs1:21.73$273,750II2002Orientate4Pat DayD. Wayne LukasBeverly J. & Robert B. Lewis7 furlongs1:21.54$272,000II2001Alannan5Edgar S. PradoCarl A. NafzgerEaglestone Farm7 furlongs1:22.39$270,750II2000Richter Scale6Richard MiglioreMary Jo LohmeierNancy & Rcichard S, Kaster & Nathan Fox7 furlongs1:21.07$207,800II1999Good and Tough4Shane SellersFrank A. AlexanderDavid P. Reynolds7 furlongs1:22.09$201,300II1998Distorted Humor5Gary L. StevensW. Elliott WaldenRussell L. Reineman & Prestonwood Farm7 furlongs1:20.40$211,000II1997Victor Cooley4Eddie Martin Jr.Mark R. FrostadWindways Farm7 furlongs1:22.40$208,600II1996Afternoon Deelites4Kent J. DesormeauxRichard E. MandellaBurt Bacharach7 furlongs1:21.00$211,400II1995Golden Gear4Craig PerretDoug MatthewsBarry Golden7 furlongs1:22.00$210,900II1994Memo (CHI)7Paul AtkinsonRichard E. MandellaStud Panter7 furlongs1:22.20$149,900II1993Alydeed4Craig PerretRoger L. AttfieldKinghaven Farms7 furlongs1:21.40$182,350III1992Pleasant Tap5Buckland Farm7 furlongs1:22.40$161,750III1991Black Tie Affair (IRE)5Juvenal Lopez DiazErnie T. PoulosJeff Sullivan7 furlongs1:21.80$182,500III19904Mark GuidryErnie T. PoulosJeff Sullivan7 furlongs1:22.00$175,500III1989Sewickley4Randy RomeroFlint S. Schulhofer Robert S. Evans 7 furlongs1:22.40$155,950 Listed1988Calestoga6Don BrumfieldNeil B. BoyceN. & M. Boyce Racing Stable6 furlongs1:09.40$156,350 1987Exclusive Enough3Mike E. SmithJack Van BergDorothy Scharbauer6 furlongs1:08.40$155,400

Legend:

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links 2021 Keeneland Media Guide

References