| Class | Grade III |
|---|---|
| Location | Keeneland Racecourse Lexington, Kentucky United States |
| Inaugurated | 2019 (as Limestone Turf Sprint Stakes) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Sponsor | FanDuel (since 2022) |
| Website | Keeneland |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 5+1⁄2 furlongs |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-old fillies |
| Weight | 123 lbs with allowances |
| Purse | US$350,000 (2026) |
The Limestone Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of 5+1⁄2 furlongs on the turf held annually in early April at Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky during the spring meeting. The event currently offers a purse of $350,000.
The event is named after the Lexington Limestone, a prominent geologic formation that heavily influenced both the surface topography and economy of the region.
In the inaugural running of the event was as the Limestone Turf Sprint Stakes on April 12, 2019, and the winner was the Irish-bred three-year-old filly Ginger Nut who ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario and won by one and a quarters lengths in a time of 1:03.53.
In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Keeneland did not schedule the event in their updated and shortened summer meeting.
In 2024 the event was moved off the turf and held on a sloppy track. The event was won by Hot Beach by four lengths. The event lost its Listed status for the running.
In 2026 the event was upgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to a Grade III.
Speed record
Margins
Most wins by a jockey
Most wins by a trainer
Most wins by an owner
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limestone Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2026 | Slay the Day | John R. Velazquez | Brian A. Lynch | Flying Dutchmen Breeding & Racing | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:01.99 | $328,150 | III | ||
| 2025 | Shisospicy | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Jose F. D'Angelo | Morplay Racing | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:03.94 | $293,850 | Listed | ||
| 2024 | Hot Beach | José Ortiz | Brian A. Lynch | Boardshorts Stable | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:05.70 | $244,563 | Off turf | ||
| 2023 | Love Reigns (IRE) | Joel Rosario | Wesley A. Ward | Stonestreet Stables | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:02.45 | $208,188 | Listed | ||
| 2022 | Ruthin (GB) | John R. Velazquez | Wesley A. Ward | Stonestreet Stables | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:03.33 | $155,100 | Listed | ||
| Limestone Turf Sprint Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2021 | Tobys Heart | Javier Castellano | Brian A. Lynch | Gary Barber, Terry Hamilton & Brian A. Lynch | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:02.29 | $100,000 | |||
| 2020 | Race not held | |||||||||
| 2019 | Ginger Nut (IRE) | Joel Rosario | John W. Sadler | Hronis Racing | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:03.53 | $100,000 | |||
Legend:
Dirt
Turf