Steve Sexton Mile Stakes

Steve Sexton Mile Stakes

Grade III race
Location	Lone Star Park Grand Prairie, Texas, United States
Inaugurated	1997
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	www.lonestarpark.com
Race information
Distance	1 mile (8 furlongs)
Surface	Dirt
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Three-years-old & up
Weight	Assigned
Purse	$200,000 (2014)

The Steve Sexton Mile Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late April at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. A Grade III event open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile (8 furlongs).

History

Inaugurated in 1997 as the Texas Mile Stakes, in 1999 it became the first graded Thoroughbred stakes race in Texas.

Beginning with the 2017 running, the race was renamed to honor Steve Sexton, a member of Lone Star Park's original management team who had died the previous year. Sexton also oversaw Churchill Downs from 2002-2009 and was the 12th president in the track's history. Sexton, an executive vice-president with Churchill Downs Inc., also served as president of Churchill Downs Entertainment Group following his time as track president.

The event

In 2001, Dixie Dot Com became the only horse to win in the same year the Texas Mile and the Lone Star Park Handicap, known as "The Texas Two Step."

Among notable horses who ran in the Texas Mile but did not win were Skip Away, who finished third in 1997, and Real Quiet who finished second in 1999.

Records

Speed record:

• 1:34.44 - Isitingood (1997) (stakes and track record)

Most wins:

• 2 - Littlebitlively (1998, 1999)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 3 - David Flores (1997, 2001, 2008)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 4 - Bob Baffert (1997, 2006, 2010, 2017)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 - Mike Pegram (1997, 2006)
• 2 - John A. Franks (1998, 1999)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2018	Bee Jersey	4	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	Steve Asmussen	Charles E. Fipke	1:36.78
2017	Mor Spirit	4	Mike E. Smith	Bob Baffert	Michael Lund Petersen	1:36.86
2016	Great Minds	5	C. J. McMahon	Albert Stall Jr.	Vince Wilfork	1:37.68
2015	Texas Air	7	Quincy Hamilton	Allen Milligan	Paul J. Rigali, Jr.	1:37.31
2014	Grand Contender	6	Richard E. Eramia	Thomas M. Amoss	Maggi Moss	1:36.68
2013	Master Rick	5	Glen Murphy	Steve Asmussen	Zayat Stables	1:36.01
2012	Endorsement	5	Robby Albarado	Eoin G. Harty	Casner Racing	1:36.69
2011	Thiskyhasnolimit	4	Justin Sheppard	Steve Asmussen	Zollars/Wagner	1:37.28
2010	Mythical Power	4	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	Peachtree Stable	1:35.71
2009	Jonesboro	7	Cliff Berry	Randy L. Morse	Michael Langford	1:36.94
2008	Monterey Jazz	4	David Flores	Craig Dollase	A and R Stables et al.	1:35.25
2007	Silent Pleasure	4	Tracy Hebert	Howard Scarberry	S & S Stables LLC	1:35.39
2006	Preachinatthebar	5	Jon Court	Bob Baffert	Mike Pegram	1:36.81
2005	High Strike Zone	5	Ricky Faul	Amos LaBorde	Donald Erickson	1:35.34
2004	Kela	6	David Nuesch	Mike R. Mitchell	Jay Manoogian	1:35.64
2003	Bluesthestandard	6	Martin Pedroza	Ted H. West	Jeffrey Sengara	1:35.68
2002	Unrullah Bull	5	Anthony Lovato	Cole Norman	Jim & Theresa Donnan	1:37.78
2001	Dixie Dot Com	6	David Flores	William Morey Jr.	D & C Chaiken/B & R Heller	1:34.72
2000	Sir Bear	7	Eibar Coa	Ralph Ziadie	Barbara Smollin	1:35.98
1999	Littlebitlively	5	Carlos Gonzalez	Bobby C. Barnett	John A. Franks	1:35.65
1998	Littlebitlively	4	Carlos Gonzalez	Bobby C. Barnett	John A. Franks	1:37.07
1997	Isitingood	6	David Flores	Bob Baffert	Mike Pegram/Terry Henn	1:34.44

References

• The 2009 Texas Mile Stakes at the NTRA