{{Multiple issues| {{no footnotes|date=August 2016}} {{more citations needed|date=August 2016}} }}
{{Infobox horseraces | class = Grade II | horse race = First Flight Handicap | image = | caption = | location = [[Belmont Racetrack]]<br>[[Elmont, New York]], United States | inaugurated = 1978 | race type = [[Thoroughbred]] – [[Flat racing]] | website = {{URL|http://www.nyra.com/Belmont/Stakes/FirstFlight.shtml}} | distance = 7 [[furlong]]s | surface = Dirt | track = left-handed | qualification = Fillies & Mares, three-years-old & up | weight = Assigned | purse = US$150,000 | bonuses = }} The '''First Flight Handicap''' is an American [[Thoroughbred horse race]] held annually in late June/early July at [[Belmont Park]] in [[Elmont, New York]]. A [[Graded stakes race|Grade II]] event open to [[Filly|fillies]] and [[Mare]]s, ages three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of seven [[furlong]]s.
The race is named in honor of [[Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney]]'s [[American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly]] of 1946. [[First Flight (racehorse)|First Flight]] won the [[Matron Stakes (United States)|Matron Stakes]], and beat male opponents in winning the [[Belmont Futurity Stakes]].
Inaugurated in 1978, the race has been hosted by [[Aqueduct Racetrack]] and Belmont Park: * Aqueduct – 1978–1989, 1991–2002, 2004–2006 * Belmont – 1990, 2001, 2003, 2007–present
==Records== '''Speed record:''' * 1:20.60 – Shared Interest (1992)
'''Most wins:''' * 2 – Twist Afleet (1994, 1995) * 2 – Country Hideaway (1999, 2000) * 2 – Shine Again (2001, 2002)
'''Most wins by a [[jockey]]:''' * 4 – [[Jerry Bailey]] (1987, 1990, 1992, 1994)
'''Most wins by a [[Horse trainer|trainer]]:''' * 6 – [[H. Allen Jerkens]] (1991, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2008)
'''Most wins by an owner:''' * 3 – [[Allaire du Pont|Bohemia Stable]] (1997, 2001, 2002)
==Winners== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! style="background-color:#DACAA5; width:25px" | Year<br> ! style="background-color:#DACAA5; width:125px"| Winner<br> ! style="background-color:#DACAA5" width:25px" | Age<br> ! style="background-color:#DACAA5; width:130px"| Jockey<br> ! style="background-color:#DACAA5; width:130px"| Trainer<br> ! style="background-color:#DACAA5; | Owner<br> ! style="background-color:#DACAA5" | Time<br> |- |2009 |Porte Bonheur |4 |[[Ramon Domínguez]] |David Duggan |Johanna Murphy-Leopoldsberger |1:22.45 |- |2008 |Any Limit |5 |[[Cornelio Velásquez]] |[[H. Allen Jerkens]] |Joseph V. Shields Jr. |1:23.86 |- |2007 |[[Ginger Punch]] |4 |[[Rafael Bejarano]] |[[Robert J. Frankel]] |[[Stronach Stable]] |1:22.64 |- |2006 |Carmandia |4 |[[Chris DeCarlo]] |[[Richard E. Dutrow Jr.]] |Four Roses Thoroughbreds |1:22.91 |- |2005 |Great Intentions |4 |[[Edgar Prado]] |[[Michael E. Hushion]] |[[Barry K. Schwartz]] |1:23.98 |- |2004 |Bending Strings |3 |[[Shaun Bridgmohan]] |[[Kiaran McLaughlin]] |John D. Gunther |1:22.13 |- |2003 |Randaroo |3 |[[Heberto Castillo Jr.]] |[[Kiaran McLaughlin]] |[[H. Joseph Allen]] |1:23.65 |- |2002 |Shine Again |5 |[[Jean-Luc Samyn]] |[[H. Allen Jerkens]] |[[Allaire du Pont|Bohemia Stable]] |1:23.75 |- |2001 |Shine Again |4 |[[Jean-Luc Samyn]] |[[H. Allen Jerkens]] |[[Allaire du Pont|Bohemia Stable]] |1:23.21 |- |2000 |Country Hideaway |4 |[[Jose L. Espinoza|Jose Espinoza]] |[[Claude R. McGaughey III|C. R. McGaughey III]] |[[Ogden Phipps]] |1:22.60 |- |1999 |Country Hideaway |3 |[[Heberto Castillo Jr.]] |[[Claude R. McGaughey III|C. R. McGaughey III]] |[[Ogden Phipps]] |1:23.00 |- |1998 |Catinca |3 |[[Richard Migliore]] |[[John C. Kimmel]] |Robert K. Waxman |1:22.14 |- |1997 |Dixie Flag |3 |[[Mike Luzzi]] |[[H. Allen Jerkens]] |[[Allaire du Pont|Bohemia Stable]] |1:22.84 |- |1996 |Thunder Achiever |3 |[[Robbie Davis]] |[[Carlos F. Martin]] |Flying Zee Stables |1:21.59 |- |1995 |Twist Afleet |4 |[[Gary Stevens (jockey)|Gary Stevens]] |[[John C. Kimmel]] |Lucille Conover |1:22.95 |- |1994 |Twist Afleet |3 |[[Jerry Bailey]] |[[John C. Kimmel]] |Lucille Conover |1:23.02 |- |1993 |Raise Heck |5 |[[Roger I. Velez]] |[[H. Allen Jerkens]] |[[Hobeau Farm]] |1:23.51 |- |1992 |Shared Interest |4 |[[Jerry Bailey]] |[[Flint S. Schulhofer]] |[[Robert S. Evans]] |1:20.65 |- |1991 |Missy's Mirage |3 |[[Eddie Maple]] |[[H. Allen Jerkens]] |Middletown Stables |1:21.98 |- |1990 |[[Queena]] |4 |[[Jerry Bailey]] |[[Claude R. McGaughey III|C. R. McGaughey III]] |Emory G. Alexander |1:22.40 |- |1989 |[[Grecian Flight]] |5 |[[Craig Perret]] |[[Joseph H. Pierce Jr.]] |Henry C. B. Lindh |1:22.00 |- |1988 |Cagey Exuberance |4 |[[Joseph Imparato]] |[[Robert W. Camac]] |Lindsey D. Burbank |1:24.40 |- |1987 |Al's Helen |4 |[[Jerry Bailey]] |[[Jack Van Berg]] |[[Kinsman Stable]] |1:21.80 |- |1986 |Chaldea |6 |[[Jean-Luc Samyn]] |[[Thomas J. Skiffington]] |R. Lewis Mangum |1:22.40 |- |1985 |Alabama Nana |4 |[[Jorge Velásquez]] |[[D. Wayne Lukas]] |Leonard D. Mathis |1:22.20 |- |1984 |Shortly |4 |[[Mario G. Pino]] |[[James W. Murphy (horse trainer)|James W. Murphy]] |Sam O. Graham |1:22.60 |- |1983 |Pert |4 |[[Frank Lovato Jr.]] |[[Stephen A. DiMauro]] |Harold I. Snyder |1:25.20 |- |1982 |Number |3 |[[Eddie Maple]] |[[Woody Stephens]] |[[Claiborne Farm]] |1:22.20 |- |1981 |Island Charm |4 |[[Richard Migliore]] |[[Stephen A. DiMauro]] |David A. McKibbin |1:23.60 |- |1980 |Samarta Dancer |4 |[[Cash Asmussen]] |[[Carlos A. Garcia]] |[[Gustave Ring]] |1:25.60 |- |1979 |Gladiolus |5 |[[Laffit Pincay Jr.]] |[[Freeman E. McMillan]] |Sea Spray Farms |1:22.40 |- |1978 |[[What A Summer]] |5 |[[Jeffrey Fell]] |[[LeRoy Jolley]] |[[Bertram & Diana Firestone|Diana M. Firestone]] |1:22.20 |- |}
==References== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100130201852/http://ntra.com/races.aspx?section=races&id=37093 The 2009 First flight Handicap at the NTRA]
[[Category:Previously graded stakes races in the United States]] [[Category:Sprint category horse races for fillies and mares]] [[Category:Horse races established in 1978]] [[Category:Belmont Park]] [[Category:Horse races in New York (state)]]