The Mike Lee Stakes is the first leg of the "Big Apple Triple", a grouping of three races in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

state for New York . A horse who wins all three of the Big Apple Triple wins the purse total of $400,000 plus a $250,000 bonus. The second leg is the New York Derby held at Finger Lakes Racetrack and the third leg is the Albany Stakes at the

Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track located on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. Opened in 1863, it is often considered to be the oldest major sporting venue of any kind in the country, but is actua ...

. The series began in 1999. The Mike Lee is held at

Belmont Park Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse racing facility in the northeastern United States, located in Elmont, New York, just east of the New York City limits. It was opened on May 4, 1905. It is operated by the non-profit New York Racin ...

in the spring and is open to three-year-olds of either gender running at 7

furlong A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one eighth of a mile, equivalent to 660 feet, 220 yards, 40 rods, 10 chains or approximately 201 metres. It is now mostly confined to use in hors ...

s. It currently offers a purse of $125,000. Although it is not restricted to registered New York breds, due to the racing conditions, it's still not an open race. This race was run as the New York City OTB Big Apple Handicap prior to 1988, but in 1989 was named for Mike Lee, the former sports editor with the

Long Island Press The ''Long Island Press'' is a free monthly news and lifestyle periodical serving Long Island. Alternative Weekly Its previous print incarnation was as a free, independent print and digital monthly news journal with extensive coverage of local a ...

for over 40 years. The race was run as the Mike Lee Handicap through 1995. In 2008, Tin Cup Chalice won the first Big Apple Triple by taking the Albany Stakes, the New York Derby, and the Mike Lee Handicap.BloodHorse.com article titled Tin Cup Chalice Earns Big Apple Triple
/ref>

Records

Time record: * 7 furlongs – : Captain Serious, 1:20.99 (2014) (Mike Lee Stakes) * 7 furlongs – : Clearly Now, 1:19.96 (2014) (Belmont Park track record at this distance) Most wins by a

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

* 4 – Edgar S. Prado (2001, 2003, 2004, 2006) Most wins by a trainer: * 3 – Michael E. Hushion (2013, 2014, 2017) * 3 – H. James Bond (2000, 2001, 2003) Most wins by an owner: * 3 – James F. Edwards (1984, 2000, 2001)

Past winners

References

{{reflist Horse races in New York (state) Belmont Park Flat horse races for three-year-olds Racing series for horses 1988 establishments in New York (state) Recurring sporting events established in 1988