Lexington Stakes

Road to the Kentucky Derby > Lexington Stakes

Lexington Stakes Race Facts

  • Location: Keeneland Racecourse, Kentucky
  • Inaugural Race: 1936
  • Current Distance: 1 1/16 miles (8.5 furlongs)
  • Track Type: Left-Handed Dirt
  • Age Qualifications: Three-year-olds
  • Status: Grade 3
  • 2023 Purse: $400,000
  • 2023 Race Date: Saturday, April 15th

2022 Lexington Stakes Results

POSTHORSEJOCKEY / TRAINERWIN / PLACE / SHOW
9Tawny PortFlorent Geroux / Brad H. Cox$12.20 / $6.40 / $3.80
7Major GeneralIrad Ortiz, Jr. / Todd A. Pletcher$7.60 / $4.80
2In Due TimePaco Lopez / Kelly J. Breen$2.80
4Ethereal RoadVictor Espinoza / D. Wayne Lukas
8StravaTyler Gaffalione / Dallas Stewart
10Dash AttackFlavien Prat / Kenneth G. McPeek
1Midnight ChromeJose L. Ortiz / John C. Servis
5Howling TimeJoseph Talamo / Dale L. Romans
11Call Me MidnightJames Graham / J. Keith Desormeaux
6Skate to HeavenDavid Cohen / Robertino Diodoro
3We All See ItLuis Saez / Eddie Kenneally

Exotic Payoffs:

  • $1.00 Exacta (9-7) Paid: $41.80
  • $0.50 Trifecta (9-7-2) Paid: $58.80
  • $0.10 Superfecta (9-7-2-4) Paid: $63.23

Watch the 2022 Lexington Stakes

History of the Lexington Stakes

First held as a race for 2-year-olds in 1936, this didn’t become a significant 3-year-old race until 1973, when it was known as the Calumet Purse. It was renamed the Lexington Stakes in 1984.

The Lexington Stakes gives horses a last chance to get into the Kentucky Derby. Points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby table was previously allocated to the first four finishers on a 10-4-2-1 basis, but that has been upgraded to 20-8-4-2 in 2018. It’s highly unlikely to be enough to earn the winner a Derby spot in itself, but the points can be enough to secure a start for a horse already on the fringe of qualifying.

Just two horses that ran in the Lexington Stakes have gone on to win the Derby; Swale, who finished second in the Lexington Stakes in 1984, and Charismatic, who won both races in 1999. Other winners of the race include the Classic winners Master Derby, Risen Star, and Touch Gold.

These days the race is used more often as a prep for the Preakness Stakes or Belmont Stakes than the Kentucky Derby; no Lexington Stakes runner has contested the Derby since 2011. Many of the horses won’t have contested earlier Derby prep races; punters may need to look at a wide variety of previous races when making their selections for this race.

Lexington Stakes Historical Results

YearWinnerJockey / TrainerDistance / TIme
2022Tawny PortFlorent Geroux / Brad H. Cox​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.24
2021King FuryBrian Hernandez Jr. / Kenneth G. McPeek​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.50
2020Race not held
2019OwendaleFlorent Geroux / Brad H. Cox​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.14
2018My Boy JackKent J. Desormeaux / J. Keith Desormeaux​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.22
2017Senior InvestmentChanning Hill / Kenneth G. McPeek​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.05
2016CollectedJavier Castellano / Bob Baffert​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.33
2015Divining RodJulien R. Leparoux / Arnaud Delacour​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.29
2014Mr. SpeakerJose Lezcano / Claude R. McGaughey III​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.18
2013Winning CauseJulien R. Leparoux / Todd A. Pletcher​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.93
2012All Squared AwayJulio A. Garcia / Wesley A. Ward​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.55
2011Derby KittenJulien R. Leparoux / Michael J. Maker​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.03
2010ExhiRobby Albarado / Todd A. Pletcher​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.38
2009AdviceGarrett K. Gomez / Todd A. Pletcher​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.33
2008BehindatthebarDavid R. Flores / Todd A. Pletcher​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.14
2007Slew's TizzyRobby Albarado / Gregory Fox​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.20
2006Showing UpCornelio Velasquez / Barclay Tagg​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:46.42
2005Coin SilverJavier Castellano / Todd A. Pletcher​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.76
2004Quintons Gold RushJerry D. Bailey / Steven M. Asmussen​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.82
2003ScrimshawEdgar S. Prado / D. Wayne Lukas​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.47
2002Proud CitizenMike E. Smith / D. Wayne Lukas​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.58
2001KeatsLarry Melancon / Niall M. O'Callaghan​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.54
2000UnshadedShane Sellers / Carl A. Nafzger​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.60
1999CharismaticJerry D. Bailey / D. Wayne Lukas​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.00
1998Classic CatRobby Albarado / David C. Cross Jr.​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.80
1997Touch GoldGary L. Stevens / David E. Hofmans​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.20
1996City by NightShane Sellers / Patrick B. Byrne​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.20
1995Star StandardPat Day / Nicholas P. Zito​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.00
1994Southern RhythmGarrett K. Gomez / James O. Keefer​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.60
1993Grand JewelJerry D. Bailey / Neil J. Howard​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.60
1992My Luck Runs NorthRicardo D. Lopez / Angel M. Medina​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.00
1991HanselJerry D. Bailey / Frank L. Brothers​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.60
1990Home At LastJerry D. Bailey / Carl A. Nafzger​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.40
1989NotationPat Day / James W. Murphy​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.40
1988Risen StarJacinto Vasquez / Louie J. Roussel III​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.80
1987WarHerb McCauley / D. Wayne Lukas​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.40
1986§ Wise TimesK. Keith Allen / Philip A. Gleaves​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.80
1985Stephan's OdysseyLaffit Pincay Jr. / Woodford C. Stephens​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.60
1984He Is A Great DealJulio C. Espinoza / Bernard S. Flint​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.40
1983Highland ParkJacinto Vasquez / Anthony L. Basile​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.80
1982Stage ReviewerJerry D. Bailey / Lucien Laurin​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.20
1981Swinging LightDan Delahoussaye / James P. Conway​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.20
1980Rockhill NativeJohn Oldham / Herbert K. Stevens​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.40
1979PianistMichael Morgan / Peter M. Howe​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.00
1978Sensitive PrinceMickey Solomone / H. Allen Jerkens​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.80
1977GibouleeJeffrey Fell / Jacques Dumas​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.80
1976No LinkDarrel McHargue / Douglas Davis Jr.​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.20
1975Master DerbyDarrel McHargue / Smiley Adams​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.60
1974Satan's HillsDavid E. Whited / Peter W. Salmen Jr.​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.00
1973Our NativeDon Brumfield / William Resseguet Jr.​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.80
1943–1972Race not held
1942TechnicianOvie Scurlock / Ross O. Higdon​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:46.80
1941Steel HeelsJimmy George / Frank P. Letellier​1 1⁄4 miles / 2:03.40
1940Steel HeelsAlbert Snider / Frank P. Letellier​1 1⁄4 miles / 2:04.20
1939Chief OnawayEddie Arcaro / Richard T. Watts​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:50.40
1938TunicaGeorge South / Charles C. Norman​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:49.40
1937Co-SportPorter Roberts / Richard T. Runnels6 furlongs / 1:12.80
1936White TieJoseph Cowley / John M. Gaver Sr.6 furlongs / 1:12.00