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.

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.

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. 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.The Bloodhorse.com Champion's history charts

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. 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.

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.

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.

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

Records Speed record: 1:48.45 @ 1 Distorted Reality (2007) 1:59.55 @ 1 Lech (1991)

Most wins by a jockey: 5 – Jerry Bailey (1984, 1985, 1995, 2000, 2002)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 – William I. Mott (1993, 1995, 2000, 2006)

Most wins by an owner: 2 – John M. Olin (1969, 1976) 2 – Tartan Farms (James & Virginia Binger) (1979, 1981) 2 – Sheikh Mohammed (1993, 2003)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner (Miles) Time Win$ Gr.2007Distorted Reality3John VelazquezTodd PletcherCentaur Farms, Inc. (Vernon Heath)11:48.45$64,800L2006After Market3Cornelio VelásquezWilliam I. MottPam & Martin Wygod11:48.80$65,640G32005Woodlander3Edgar PradoThomas AlbertraniDarley Stable12:01.92$65,820G32004Mustanfar3Jose SantosKiaran P. McLaughlinShadwell Stable12:01.15$66,660G32003Sharp Impact3Richard MiglioreKiaran P. McLaughlinSheikh Mohammed12:02.62$90,000G32002Chiselling3Jerry BaileyRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms12:00.42$90,000G32001Sharp Performance3John VelazquezDavid G. DonkWilliam Bloom, John T. Behrendt, Charles K. Marquis11:58.93$90,000G32000Rob's Spirit3Jerry BaileyWilliam I. MottAllen E. Paulson12:02.87$90,000G31999Mythical Gem3Jorge ChavezH. Graham MotionDogwood Stable12:01.21$90,000G31998Parade Ground3Mike E. SmithNeil J. HowardWilliam S. Farish III12:00.55$84,060G31997Private Buck Trout3Jorge ChavezRobert D. DeBonisA. Campagne, Robert Debonis, Joseph R. Sofia12:01.29$90,000G31996Ok by Me3Jorge ChavezH. James BondRudlein Stable (Donald & Anne Rudder) & William Clifton Jr.12:03.58$68,160G31995Green Means Go3Jerry BaileyWilliam I. MottPin Oak Stable12:01.69$66,960G31994Holy Mountain3John VelazquezÁngel Cordero Jr.Lazer Two Stable11:59.74$50,850G31993Llandaff3Julie KroneWilliam I. MottSheikh Mohammed12:02.93$52,380G31992Spectacular Tide3Julie KroneStanley M. HoughRoyal Lines Stable & David J. Whelan12:02.20$69,120G31991Lech3Ángel Cordero Jr.David G. DonkHenryk deKwiatkowski11:59.55$71,160G31990Solar Splendor3Eddie MaplePatrick J. KellyLive Oak Plantation12:01.80$56,640G31989Coosaragga3Richard MiglioreRichard A. Violette Jr.Morton & Rosalind Rosenthal12:00.80$69,720G21988Sunshine Forever3Ángel Cordero Jr.John M. VeitchDarby Dan Farm12:03.00$85,500G21987Milesius3Eddie MapleRichard J. LundyVirginia Kraft Payson12:03.20$89,580G21986Manila3Jose SantosLeRoy JolleyBradley M. Shannon12:03.20$88,980G21985Danger's Hour3Jerry BaileyMacKenzie MillerRokeby Stable12:00.40$71,370G21984Onyxly3Jerry BaileyJohn P. CampoLuck Si Si Stable12:01.20$58,770G21983Kilauea3Jean CruguetWilliam H. Turner Jr.Welcome Farm (Anne & Richard Winn)12:00.60$34,800G21982-1Majesty's Prince3Eddie MapleJoseph B. CanteyJohn Dewitt Marsh12:03.00$50,310G21982-2Royal Roberto3Jeffrey FellJames H. IselinKey West Stable (Mitchell Wolfson Sr.)12:01.80$50,310G21981Acaroid3Cash AsmussenJan H. NerudTartan Farms (James & Virginia Binger)12:00.20$52,380G21980Good Bid3Jean-Luc SamynH. Allen JerkensPaul Tackett12:01.00$50,310G21979Virilify3Roger VelezJan H. NerudTartan Farms (James & Virginia Binger)12:02.40$50,895G21978Mac Diarmida3Jean CruguetFlint S. SchulhoferJerome M. Torsney11:41.00$34,110G21977-1Swoon Swept3Larry MelanconMichael D. TinkerW. Cal Partee11:41.20$32,400G21977-2Johnny D.3Ángel Cordero Jr.Michael KayDana S. Bray Jr.11:41.00$32,100G21976-1Fabled Monarch3Jacinto VásquezWoody StephensJohn M. Olin11:50.00$27,450G21976-2Modred3Craig PerretWillard C. Freeman Helen E. Hertz Hexter11:49.40$27,300G21975-1Dr. Emil3Mike VeneziaWilliam F. SchmittC. Herbert Kaufman12:07.00$27,270G21975-2Brian Boru3Braulio BaezaFrank I. WrightBarbara Guggenheim Obre12:07.60$27,270G21974-1Jack Spratt3Ron TurcotteJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable11:56.40$28,020G21974-2Hasty Tudor3Vincent Bracciale Jr.Howard M. TesherJohn D. King11:56.80$27,870G21973London Company3Laffit Pincay Jr.LeRoy JolleyBertram Firestone11:56.00$35,760G21972Big Spruce3Raul CespedesVictor J. NickersonElmendorf11:56.80$34,7401971Bold Reason3John L. RotzAngel Penna Sr.William A. Levin11:54.80$33,8401970-1Roman Scout3Jacinto VásquezClyde TrouttAda L. Rice11:43.20$14,7711970-2Naskra3Jean CruguetPhilip G. JohnsonHarry Gordon, Her-Jac Stable (Richard Hersch & Peter Jacobs)11:43.40$15,0961969Eaglesham3Pete AndersonWoody StephensJohn M. Olin11:46.60$18,720 1965 – 1968 Race not held1964Laugh Aloud3Ron TurcotteEdward A. ChristmasHowell E. Jackson III11:43.00$19,1421963Marlin Bay3Johnny SellersArthur W. BeuzevilleVerna Lea Farm (Gene Goff)11:41.20$18,7521962Mongo3Charlie BurrFrank A. BonsalMontpelier Stable1 m1:34.20$18,8501961Wise Ship3Heliodoro GustinesJacob ByerMilton J. Ritzenberg1 m2:41.80$36,335

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