Commonwealth Breeders' Cup Stakes
Encyclopedia
The Commonwealth Stakes is a race
for Thoroughbred
horses run at Keeneland
in Lexington, Kentucky
each year. The race is open to horses age three and up willing to race seven furlong
s on the polytrack
.
A Grade II
event, it offers a purse of $250,000. $150,000 is provided by Keeneland and $100,000 comes from the Breeders' Cup
. The Commonwealth is one of three races at Keeneland that derives a portion of its purse from the Breeders' Cup.
In its 21st running in 2007, horses nominated to the Breeders' Cup compete for the full purse in this race. Horses not nominated compete only for the purse provided by Keeneland.
The fastest time at current distance: 1:20 2/5, run in 1998 by Distorted Humor
.
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
for Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horses run at Keeneland
Keeneland
Keeneland is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and sales complex in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Operated by the Keeneland Association, Inc., it is also known for its reference library on the sport, which contains more than 10,000 volumes, an extensive videocassette collection, and a substantial...
in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
each year. The race is open to horses age three and up willing to race seven furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
s on the polytrack
Polytrack
A synthetic racetrack surface is any kind of surface substance that replaces grass, dirt or sand as the racing surface on a horse racing track. Synthetic surfaces may be desirable over traditional surfaces for several reasons, most prominently the reduction of injuries and possible deaths to horses...
.
A Grade II
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
event, it offers a purse of $250,000. $150,000 is provided by Keeneland and $100,000 comes from the Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
. The Commonwealth is one of three races at Keeneland that derives a portion of its purse from the Breeders' Cup.
In its 21st running in 2007, horses nominated to the Breeders' Cup compete for the full purse in this race. Horses not nominated compete only for the purse provided by Keeneland.
The fastest time at current distance: 1:20 2/5, run in 1998 by Distorted Humor
Distorted Humor
Distorted Humor is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and a successful sire.-Bloodline:Distorted Humor's sire is Forty Niner, 1987's Eclipse Award winning Outstanding Two-Year-Old Male Horse by the champion sire, Mr. Prospector. Distorted Humor's dam was Danzig's Beauty by Danzig. Distorted...
.
Past winners
- 2011 - Ailenite (John Velazquez) (Cool Bullet placed, Le Gran Cru third.)
- 2010 - Together Indy (Kent DesormeauxKent DesormeauxKent Jason Desormeaux is an American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who holds the U.S. record for most races won in a single year, 1989.-Brief biography:...
(Congressional Page placed, Imperial Council third.) - 2009 - Eternal Star (Eibar CoaEibar CoaEibar Coa Monteverde is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. A five-time judo champion in his teens, he attended jockey school from 1989 to 1991 then began his professional riding career in 1992...
) - 2008 - Rebellion (Edgar Prado) (Elite Squadron placed)
- 2007 - Silent Name (Corey NakataniCorey NakataniCorey S. Nakatani is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He got his big break in 1990 when he rode Itsallgreektome to win big stakes races.Nakatani currently resides at Belmont Park...
) (Lewis Michael placed, Steel Light third) - 2006 - Sun King (Corey Nakatani) (Kazoo, placed, Spanish Chestnut third)
- 2005 - Clock Stopper (Jerry BaileyJerry BaileyJerry D. Bailey is a retired American Hall of Fame jockey. He began his racing career in November 1974. His first mount was on a horse named Pegged Rate, who ran off the board. He notched his first career win the next day on his second career mount, Fetch, at New Mexico's Sunland Park, and has...
) (Gators N Bears placed, Silver Wagon third.) - 2004 - Lion Tamer* (Mike E. Smith) (Private Horde placed, Marino Marini third.)
- 2003 - Smooth Jazz (Edgar Prado) (Crafty C.T. placed, Multiple Choice third.)
- 2002 - OrientateOrientateOrientate is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2002 Breeder's Cup Sprint and was voted the U.S. Champion Sprint Horse of 2002....
(Pat DayPat DayPatrick Alan "Pat" Day is an American jockey. He is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991...
) (Aldebaran placed, Twilight Road third.) - 2001 - Alannan (Edgar Prado) (Valiant Halory placed, Liberty Gold third.)
- 2000 - Richter Scale (Richard MiglioreRichard Migliore (jockey)Richard Migliore is a retired American jockey whose mounts have ranged from Fourstardave to Wando to Funny Cide to Kip Deville to Hidden Lake to Desert Code....
) (Son's Corona placed, Deep Gold third.) - 1999 - Good and Tough* (Shane SellersShane SellersShane Jude Sellers is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. At age eleven, he began working around horses and in 1983 rode his first winner at Evangeline Downs....
) (Purple Passion placed, Crucible third.) - 1998 - Distorted HumorDistorted HumorDistorted Humor is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and a successful sire.-Bloodline:Distorted Humor's sire is Forty Niner, 1987's Eclipse Award winning Outstanding Two-Year-Old Male Horse by the champion sire, Mr. Prospector. Distorted Humor's dam was Danzig's Beauty by Danzig. Distorted...
(Gary Stevens) (El Amante placed, Partner's Hero third.) - 1997 - Victor Cooley (Eddie Martin, Jr.) (Western Winter placed, Appealing Skier third.)
- 1996 - Afternoon Deelites (Kent DesormeauxKent DesormeauxKent Jason Desormeaux is an American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who holds the U.S. record for most races won in a single year, 1989.-Brief biography:...
) (Western Winter placed, Our Emblem third. - 1995 - Golden Gear (Craig PerretCraig PerretCraig Perret is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began riding horses at age five and by seven was riding quarter horses in match races...
) (Turkomatic placed, Lit de Justice third.) - 1994 - Memo* (CHI) (Paul Atkinson) (American Chance placed, British Banker third.)
- 1993 - AlydeedAlydeedAlydeed is a Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by Anderson Farms of St. Thomas, Ontario, he was out of the unraced mare Bialy, a daughter of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Alydar...
(Craig Perret) (Binalong placed, Senor Speedy third.) - 1992 - Pleasant TapPleasant TapPleasant Tap was an American thoroughbred stallion racehorse. He was sired by 1981 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Pleasant Colony, out of the mare, Never Knock...
* (Eddie DelahoussayeEddie DelahoussayeEdward J. Delahoussaye is a retired American Thoroughbred jockey from New Iberia, Louisiana.He began his career in 1968 and ten years later became the top American jockey with 384 wins...
) (To Freedom placed, Run On the Bank third.) - 1991 - Black Tie AffairBlack Tie AffairBlack Tie Affair was a thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by American businessman Stephen D. Peskoff, he was out of the mare Hat Tab Girl and sired by Miswaki, who also sired Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Urban Sea and who was a two-time Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland.Black Tie...
(Ire) (Juvenal Diaz) (HousebusterHousebusterHousebuster was an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He was sired by graded stakes race winner Mt. Livermore out of the Great Above mare, Big Dreams....
placed, Exemplary Leader third.) - 1990 - Black Tie Affair (Ire) (Mark GuidryMark GuidryMark Guidry is a retired American jockey.He began his riding career in Thoroughbred horse racing in his native Louisiana in 1974 where he remained until 1986 when he went to race in Illinois. He was the leading jockey at Hawthorne Race Course seven times, Sportsman's Park nine times, and two...
) (Shaker Knit placed, Momsfurrari third.) - 1989 - Sewickley (Randy RomeroRandy RomeroRandy Paul Romero is a Hall of Fame jockey in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing, Born into a family involved with horses, his father Lloyd J...
) (Irish Open placed, Dancing Spree third.) - 1988 - Calestoga (Don BrumfieldDon BrumfieldDonald Alan Brumfield is a retired American jockey from Kentucky.During his thirty-five year career, Brumfield won 4,573 races in 33,222 rides. He retired from racing in 1989. Brumfield was the "track all-time leading rider in terms of races won " at Churchill Downs, where he won 16 riding titles...
) (You're No Bargain placed, Carload third.) - 1987 - Exclusive Enough (Mike E. Smith) (f-Lazer Show placed, High Brite third.)