Lexington Stakes (NYRA)

Last updated
Lexington Stakes
Discontinued stakes race
Location Aqueduct Racetrack,
Queens, New York (1961–1976)
Belmont Park,
Elmont, New York (1977–2007)
Inaugurated1961
Race type ThoroughbredFlat racing
Race information
Distance1⅛ miles (9 furlongs)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree years old & up
PurseUS$100,000

The Lexington Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run between 1961 and 2007. A race on turf, the event was run at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York from inception through 1976 after which it was moved permanently to Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.

Contents

Contested at various middle distances, it was run as the Lexington Handicap from inception in 1961 through 1981.

Named for one of America's greatest race horses as well as foundation sires, Lexington (The Blind Hero of Woodburn), the former Graded stakes race finished classified as a Listed event and offered a purse of $100,000.

Historical notes

The inaugural running of the Lexington Handicap took place on November 10, 1961 and was won by Milton Ritzenberg's Wise Ship. The race run at what would be the longest distance in its history at one and five-eighths miles. [1]

In his first start in a stakes race, Mongo won the second edition of the Lexington in 1962 for the Montpelier stable of Marion duPont Scott from the prominent du Pont family. [2] Mongo's win marked the beginning of a very successful career in which he won a number of top turf races including the prestigious Washington, D.C. International Stakes which led to being voted the 1963 American Champion Male Turf Horse. [3]

The popularity of the Lexington with owners and trainers was such that it had to be run in two divisions in 1970, then four consecutive years from 1974 thru 1977. [4] [5] [6] In 1982 it was again split into two divisions for what would prove to be the last time. The first division was won by Majesty's Prince while in the second part Royal Roberto was declared the winner after Dew Line was disqualified and set back to fifth. [7]

The 1977 U.S. Triple Crown champion jockey Jean Cruguet was aboard Mac Diarmida when he won the 1978 running of the Lexington defeating the now legendary Hall of Fame gelding John Henry. [8]

Jockey Ángel Cordero Jr. won this race in 1977, 1988, and 1991. In1994 the U. S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey was retired from riding and got his fourth win overall with his first as a trainer when Holy Mountain won the Lexington Stakes. [9]

On July 8, 2007 future Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez rode Distorted Reality to victory in the final edition of the Lexington. [10]

Records

Speed record:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Dist.
(Miles)
Time
Win$
Gr.
2007Distorted Reality3 John Velazquez Todd Pletcher Centaur Farms, Inc. (Vernon Heath)1181:48.45$64,800L
2006After Market3 Cornelio Velásquez William I. Mott Pam & Martin Wygod 1181:48.80$65,640G3
2005Woodlander3 Edgar Prado Thomas Albertrani Darley Stable 1142:01.92$65,820G3
2004Mustanfar3 Jose Santos Kiaran P. McLaughlin Shadwell Stable 1142:01.15$66,660G3
2003Sharp Impact3 Richard Migliore Kiaran P. McLaughlin Sheikh Mohammed 1142:02.62$90,000G3
2002Chiselling3 Jerry Bailey Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 1142:00.42$90,000G3
2001Sharp Performance3 John Velazquez David G. Donk William Bloom, John T. Behrendt, Charles K. Marquis1141:58.93$90,000G3
2000Rob's Spirit3 Jerry Bailey William I. Mott Allen E. Paulson 1142:02.87$90,000G3
1999Mythical Gem3 Jorge Chavez H. Graham Motion Dogwood Stable 1142:01.21$90,000G3
1998Parade Ground3 Mike E. Smith Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III 1142:00.55$84,060G3
1997Private Buck Trout3 Jorge Chavez Robert D. DeBonisA. Campagne, Robert Debonis, Joseph R. Sofia1142:01.29$90,000G3
1996Ok by Me3 Jorge Chavez H. James Bond Rudlein Stable (Donald & Anne Rudder) & William Clifton Jr.1142:03.58$68,160G3
1995Green Means Go3 Jerry Bailey William I. Mott Pin Oak Stable 1142:01.69$66,960G3
1994Holy Mountain3 John Velazquez Ángel Cordero Jr. Lazer Two Stable1141:59.74$50,850G3
1993Llandaff3 Julie Krone William I. Mott Sheikh Mohammed 1142:02.93$52,380G3
1992Spectacular Tide3 Julie Krone Stanley M. Hough Royal Lines Stable & David J. Whelan1142:02.20$69,120G3
1991Lech3 Ángel Cordero Jr. David G. Donk Henryk deKwiatkowski 1141:59.55$71,160G3
1990Solar Splendor3 Eddie Maple Patrick J. Kelly Live Oak Plantation 1142:01.80$56,640G3
1989Coosaragga3 Richard Migliore Richard A. Violette Jr. Morton & Rosalind Rosenthal1142:00.80$69,720G2
1988 Sunshine Forever 3 Ángel Cordero Jr. John M. Veitch Darby Dan Farm 1142:03.00$85,500G2
1987Milesius3 Eddie Maple Richard J. Lundy Virginia Kraft Payson 1142:03.20$89,580G2
1986 Manila 3 Jose Santos LeRoy Jolley Bradley M. Shannon1142:03.20$88,980G2
1985Danger's Hour3 Jerry Bailey MacKenzie Miller Rokeby Stable 1142:00.40$71,370G2
1984Onyxly3 Jerry Bailey John P. Campo Luck Si Si Stable1142:01.20$58,770G2
1983Kilauea3 Jean Cruguet William H. Turner Jr. Welcome Farm (Anne & Richard Winn)1142:00.60$34,800G2
1982-1 Majesty's Prince 3 Eddie Maple Joseph B. Cantey John Dewitt Marsh1142:03.00$50,310G2
1982-2Royal Roberto3 Jeffrey Fell James H. IselinKey West Stable (Mitchell Wolfson Sr.)1142:01.80$50,310G2
1981Acaroid3 Cash Asmussen Jan H. Nerud Tartan Farms (James & Virginia Binger)1142:00.20$52,380G2
1980Good Bid3 Jean-Luc Samyn H. Allen Jerkens Paul Tackett1142:01.00$50,310G2
1979Virilify3 Roger Velez Jan H. Nerud Tartan Farms (James & Virginia Binger)1142:02.40$50,895G2
1978 Mac Diarmida 3 Jean Cruguet Flint S. Schulhofer Jerome M. Torsney11161:41.00$34,110G2
1977-1Swoon Swept3 Larry Melancon Michael D. Tinker W. Cal Partee 11161:41.20$32,400G2
1977-2 Johnny D. 3 Ángel Cordero Jr. Michael KayDana S. Bray Jr.11161:41.00$32,100G2
1976-1Fabled Monarch3 Jacinto Vásquez Woody Stephens John M. Olin 1181:50.00$27,450G2
1976-2Modred3 Craig Perret Willard C. Freeman Helen E. Hertz Hexter 1181:49.40$27,300G2
1975-1Dr. Emil3 Mike Venezia William F. SchmittC. Herbert Kaufman13162:07.00$27,270G2
1975-2Brian Boru3 Braulio Baeza Frank I. WrightBarbara Guggenheim Obre13162:07.60$27,270G2
1974-1Jack Spratt3 Ron Turcotte John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 13161:56.40$28,020G2
1974-2Hasty Tudor3 Vincent Bracciale Jr. Howard M. Tesher John D. King13161:56.80$27,870G2
1973 London Company 3 Laffit Pincay Jr. LeRoy Jolley Bertram Firestone 13161:56.00$35,760G2
1972 Big Spruce 3Raul Cespedes Victor J. Nickerson Elmendorf 13161:56.80$34,740
1971 Bold Reason 3 John L. Rotz Angel Penna Sr. William A. Levin13161:54.80$33,840
1970-1Roman Scout3 Jacinto Vásquez Clyde Troutt Ada L. Rice 11161:43.20$14,771
1970-2Naskra3 Jean Cruguet Philip G. Johnson Harry Gordon, Her-Jac Stable (Richard Hersch & Peter Jacobs)11161:43.40$15,096
1969Eaglesham3 Pete Anderson Woody Stephens John M. Olin 11161:46.60$18,720
1965– 1968Race not held
1964Laugh Aloud3 Ron Turcotte Edward A. Christmas Howell E. Jackson III11161:43.00$19,142
1963Marlin Bay3 Johnny Sellers Arthur W. BeuzevilleVerna Lea Farm (Gene Goff)11161:41.20$18,752
1962 Mongo 3 Charlie Burr Frank A. Bonsal Montpelier Stable 1 m1:34.20$18,850
1961 Wise Ship 3 Heliodoro Gustines Jacob ByerMilton J. Ritzenberg158 m2:41.80$36,335

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References

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