Coolmore Lexington Stakes

The Coolmore Lexington Stakes is held at the end of April (two weeks before the Kentucky Derby) at Keeneland Racecourse, it is a Grade II event with a purse of $325,000.

Originally the Lexington Stakes, named after either the great stallion Lexington or the city of Lexington, Kentucky, it's been sponsored by Coolmore Stud in Ireland since 1998 and its purse raised to its present level.

In its 27th running in 2008, the Lexington was a formerly a race for two-year-olds during Keeneland's inaugural meeting in 1936. Then it was an overnight handicap for 3-year-olds and up from 1938-1941.

Returning to a stakes schedule in 1984, it became a money-added event, and is now considered, along with the Federico Tesio Stakes, to be the final prep for the Kentucky Derby.

The race record of 1:41, while Keeneland was still a dirt track, was set by Charismatic in 1999 who went on to win the Kentucky Derby.

Past winners

2007 - Slew's Tizzy (Robby Albarado)
2006 - Showing Up (Cornelio Velasquez)
2005 - Coin Silver (Javier Castellano)
2004 - Quintons Gold Rush (Jerry Bailey)
2003 - Scrimshaw (Edgar Prado)
2002 - Proud Citizen (Mike E. Smith)
2001 - Keats (Larry Melancon)
2000 - Unshaded (Shane Sellers)
1999 - Charismatic (Jerry Bailey)
1998 - Classic Cat (Robby Albarado)
1997 - Touch Gold (Gary Stevens)
1996 - City by Night (Shane Sellers)
1995 - Star Standard (Pat Day)
1994 - Southern Rhythm (Garrett Gomez)
1993 - Grand Jewel (Jerry Bailey)
1992 - My Luck Runs North (Ricardo Lopez)
1991 - Hansel (Jerry Bailey)
1990 - Home at Last (Jerry Bailey)
1989 - Notation (Pat Day)
1988 - Risen Star (Jacinto Vasquez)
1987 - War (Herb McCauley)
1986 - Wire Times (Keith Allen)
1985 - Stephan's Odyssey (Laffit Pincay, Jr.)
1984 - He Is a Great Deal (Julio C. Espinoza)
1983 - Highland Park (Jacinto Vasquez)
1982 - Stage Reviewer (Jerry Bailey)
1981 - Swinging Light (Dan Delahoussaye)
1980 - Rockhill Native (John Oldham)
1979 - Pianist (Michael Morgan)
1978 - Sensitive Prince (Mickey Solomone)
1977 - Giboulee (Jeffrey Fell)
1976 - Master Derby (Darrel McHargue)
1975 - Satan's Hills (David E. Whited)
1974 - Our Native (Don Brumfield)