Mike Lee Handicap
Encyclopedia
The Mike Lee Handicap is the first leg of the "Big Apple Triple," a grouping of three races in New York
state for New York breds. 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
race track, and the third leg is the Albany Stakes at the Saratoga Race Course
. The series began in 1999.
The Mike Lee is held at Belmont Park
in the spring and is open to three-year-olds of either gender running at 7 furlong
s. It offers a purse of $100,000. 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 now it's named for Mike Lee, the former sports editor for the Long Island Press
for over 40 years.
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. In the Albany Stakes, Tin Cup Chalice went up against Big Truck
, a Kentucky Derby horse and Icabad Crane
, the third place runner in the Preakness Stakes.
At this point becoming the first leg of the Big Apple Triple.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state for New York breds. 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
New York Derby
The New York Derby is the second leg of the "Big Apple Triple," a grouping of three races in New York state for New York breds. A horse who wins all three of the Big Apple Triple wins the purse total of $400,000 plus a $250,000 bonus. The first leg is the Mike Lee Handicap run at Belmont Park, and...
held at Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...
race track, and the third leg is the Albany Stakes at the Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
. The series began in 1999.
The Mike Lee is held at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
in the spring and is open to three-year-olds of either gender running at 7 furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
s. It offers a purse of $100,000. 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
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
OTB Big Apple Handicap prior to 1988, but now it's named for Mike Lee, the former sports editor for the Long Island Press
Long Island Press
The Long Island Press is a free newsweekly serving Long Island with extensive coverage of arts and entertainment, sports, and alternative political viewpoints. The newspaper started in 2003 after its parent company, Morey Publishing, bought The Long Island Ear, which was a free bi-monthly...
for over 40 years.
In 2008, Tin Cup Chalice
Tin Cup Chalice
Tin Cup Chalice , was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who, in 2008, became the first New York-bred to win New York’s “OTB Big Apple Triple" of Racing: the Mike Lee Handicap, the New York Derby, and the Albany Stakes...
won the first Big Apple Triple by taking the Albany Stakes, the New York Derby, and the Mike Lee Handicap. In the Albany Stakes, Tin Cup Chalice went up against Big Truck
Big Truck (horse)
Big Truck was an American Thoroughbred Racehorse. Sired by Hook and Ladder, a grandson of Northern Dancer, out of the mare Just A Ginny, a daughter of the 1994 Kentucky Derby winner, Go for Gin....
, a Kentucky Derby horse and Icabad Crane
Icabad Crane
Icabad Crane is an American Thoroughbred racehorse by Jump Start out of Adorahy. In February 2007, he was purchased as a two-year-old at the Ocala Breeders Sale for $110,000....
, the third place runner in the Preakness Stakes.
Past winners
(Since it became the Mike Lee)- 2011 - Preachintothedevil (Jose LezcanoJose LezcanoJose Lezcano is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He rides in New York in the spring, summer and fall and spends the winter in Florida. His big break came in 2008 when he won a Breeders' Cup race....
) - 2010 - Friend or Foe (Rajiv MaraghRajiv MaraghRajiv Maragh is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. An Indo-Jamaican, he is the son of a jockey who rode in Jamaica before relocating to Florida where he began a career as a horse trainer....
) - 2009 - Legal Consent (Ramon Dominguez)
- 2008 - Tin Cup ChaliceTin Cup ChaliceTin Cup Chalice , was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who, in 2008, became the first New York-bred to win New York’s “OTB Big Apple Triple" of Racing: the Mike Lee Handicap, the New York Derby, and the Albany Stakes...
(Pedro Rodriguez) - 2007 - Chief's Lake (Garrett Gomez)
- 2006 - Ferocious Won (Edgar Prado)
- 2005 - Naughty New Yorker (Jean Luc Samyn)
- 2004 - Multiplication (Edgar Prado)
- 2003 - Bossanova (Edgar Prado)
- 2002 - No Parole (Joseph Aquilino)
- 2001 - Solar Deputy (Edgar Prado)
- 2000 - Image Maker (Filiberto Leon)
- 1999 - Hearts At Risk (Robbie G. Davis)
At this point becoming the first leg of the Big Apple Triple.
- 1998 - Chasin' Wimmin (Jerry BaileyJerry BaileyJerry D. Bailey is a retired American Hall of Fame jockey. He began his racing career in November 1974. His first mount was on a horse named Pegged Rate, who ran off the board. He notched his first career win the next day on his second career mount, Fetch, at New Mexico's Sunland Park, and has...
) - 1997 - Say Florida Sandy (Richard MiglioreRichard Migliore (jockey)Richard Migliore is a retired American jockey whose mounts have ranged from Fourstardave to Wando to Funny Cide to Kip Deville to Hidden Lake to Desert Code....
) - 1996 - Carbine Special (Robbie Davis)
- 1995 - Endsaseeket (Richard Migliore)
- 1994 - Scarlet Rage (Robbie Davis)
- 1993 - Classi Envoy (Chris AntleyChris AntleyChristopher Wiley Antley was a champion American jockey.He was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida but grew up in Elloree, South Carolina. He left school at sixteen to ride horses professionally at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. His first win was on a horse named Vaya Con Dinero...
) - 1992 - Montreal Marty (Julie KroneJulie KroneJulie Krone , is a retired American jockey. In 1993, she became the first female jockey to win a Triple Crown race when she captured the Belmont Stakes aboard Colonial Affair...
) - 1991 - Ambassador in Love (Jorge Chavez)
- 1990 - The Professor (Jorge Chavez)
- 1989 - J.R.'s Gift (Jerry Bailey)
- 1988 - Notebook (Jose SantosJosé SantosJose Abon Santos is a retired Chilean thoroughbred jockey who has been honored by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in the United States.-Career:...
)