| Grade III race | |
|---|---|
| Lexington Stakes | |
| Location | Keeneland Race Course Lexington, Kentucky, United States |
| Inaugurated | 1936 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | Keeneland racing |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 11/16 miles (8.5 furlongs) |
| Track | Dirt, left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | US$300,000 |
The Lexington Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. Open to three-year-old horses, the Grade III event is contested on dirt over a distance of 11/16 miles (8.5 furlongs)
It was run as Calumet Purse, an overnight allowance race, from 1973-1983. Renamed the Lexington Stakes in 1984, since 1998 it has been sponsored by Ireland's renowned Coolmore Stud.
First run in 1936, it was a six furlong race for two-year-olds during Keeneland's inaugural meeting. Then, it was an 1¼ mile overnight handicap for 3-year-olds and up from 1938–1941. A listed race in 1984, it achieved Grade III status in 1986 and was a GII from 1988 through 2010. The race was downgraded to GIII status for 2011 by the American Graded Stakes Committee.[1] It is now considered, along with the Federico Tesio Stakes, to be the final prep for the Kentucky Derby.
Speed record:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by an owner:
| Year |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
| 2011 | Derby Kitten | Julien Leparoux | Mike Maker | Ken & Sarah Ramsey | 1:42.03 |
| 2010 | Exhi | Robby Albarado | Todd Pletcher | Wertheimer et Frere | 1:44.38 |
| 2009 | Advice | Garrett Gomez | Todd A. Pletcher | WinStar Farm LLC | 1:43.33 |
| 2008 | Behindatthebar | David Flores | Todd A. Pletcher | Padua Stables. S. K. Sanan, et al. | 1:42.14 |
| 2007 | Slew's Tizzy | Robby Albarado | Gregory J. Fox | Joseph LaCombe Stable | 1:43.20 |
| 2006 | Showing Up | Cornelio Velasquez | Barclay Tagg | Lael Stables | 1:46.42 |
| 2005 | Coin Silver | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | Peachtree Stable | 1:45.76 |
| 2004 | Quintons Gold Rush | Jerry Bailey | Steve Asmussen | Padua Stables & Jay Manoogian | 1:43.82 |
| 2003 | Scrimshaw | Edgar Prado | D. Wayne Lukas | Bob & Beverly Lewis | 1:45.47 |
| 2002 | Proud Citizen | Mike E. Smith | D. Wayne Lukas | R. C. Baker/D. Cornstein/W. L. Mack | 1:44.58 |
| 2001 | Keats | Larry Melancon | Niall M. O'Callaghan | Henry E. Pabst | 1:43.54 |
| 2000 | Unshaded | Shane Sellers | Carl Nafzger | James Tafel, LLC | 1:43.60 |
| 1999 | Charismatic | Jerry Bailey | D. Wayne Lukas | Bob & Beverly Lewis | 1:41.00 |
| 1998 | Classic Cat | Robby Albarado | David C. Cross, Jr. | Gary M. Garber | 1:42.80 |
| 1997 | Touch Gold | Gary L. Stevens | David Hofmans | Frank Stronach & Stonerside Stable | 1:43.20 |
| 1996 | City by Night | Shane Sellers | Patrick B. Byrne | Nancy & Richard Kaster | 1:42.20 |
| 1995 | Star Standard | Pat Day | Nicholas P. Zito | W. J. Condren & J. Cornacchia | 1:45.00 |
| 1994 | Southern Rhythm | Garrett Gomez | James O. Keefer | William Heiligbrodt, et al. | 1:45.60 |
| 1993 | Grand Jewel | Jerry Bailey | Neil J. Howard | W. S. Farish III & W. S. Kilroy | 1:43.60 |
| 1992 | My Luck Runs North | Ricardo Lopez | Angel M. Medina | Melvin A. Benitez | 1:44 .00 |
| 1991 | Hansel | Jerry Bailey | Frank L. Brothers | Lazy Lane Farms | 1:42.60 |
| 1990 | Home at Last | Jerry Bailey | Carl Nafzger | Russell L. Reineman Stable | 1:43.40 |
| 1989 | Notation | Pat Day | James W. Murphy | Joan C. Johnson, et al. | 1:44.40 |
| 1988 | Risen Star | Jacinto Vasquez | Louie J. Roussel III | Louie J. Roussel III & Ronnie Lamarque | 1:42.80 |
| 1987 | War | Herb McCauley | D. Wayne Lukas | Tom Gentry | 1:44.40 |
| 1986 | Wise Times | Keith Allen | Philip A. Gleaves | Russell L. Reineman Stable | 1:44.80 |
| 1985 | Stephan's Odyssey | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Woody Stephens | Henryk de Kwiatkowski | 1:42.60 |
| 1984 | He Is a Great Deal | Julio C. Espinoza | Bernard S. Flint | B. S. Flint, Inc. & M. Palmisano | 1:45.40 |
| 1983 | Highland Park | Jacinto Vasquez | Anthony Basile | Bwamazon Farm & B. C. Jones | 1:44.80 |
| 1982 | Stage Reviewer | Jerry Bailey | Lucien Laurin | Mrs. Lucien Laurin | 1:44.20 |
| 1981 | Swinging Light | Dan Delahoussaye | James P. Conway | Edgar Zantker | 1:44.20 |
| 1980 | Rockhill Native | John Oldham | Herbert K. Stevens | Harry A. Oak | 1:43.40 |
| 1979 | Pianist | Michael Morgan | Peter M. Howe | Pillar Farm | 1:43.00 |
| 1978 | Sensitive Prince | Mickey Solomone | H. Allen Jerkens | Joseph Taub | 1:44.80 |
| 1977 | Giboulee | Jeffrey Fell | Jacques Dumas | Jean-Louis Levesque | 1:42.80 |
| 1976 | No Link | Darrel McHargue | Douglas Davis, Jr. | Fred Selz & Gus Blass | 1:43.20 |
| 1975 | Master Derby | Darrel McHargue | Smiley Adams | Golden Chance Farm | 1:42.60 |
| 1974 | Satan's Hills | David Whited | Peter W. Salmen, Jr. | Crimson King Farm | 1:43.00 |
| 1973 | Our Native † | Don Brumfield | William Resseguet, Jr. | Mrs. M.J. Prichard & W. Resseguet, Jr. | 1:42.80 |
| 1937 | Co-Sport | Porter Roberts | Robert L. Dotter | Bert Friend | 1:12.80 |
| 1936 | White Tie | Joseph Cowley | John M. Gaver, Sr. | Manhasset Stable | 1:12.00 |
* † In 1973, Starkers finished first but was disqualified and set back to second.