Study Guide: 2024 Lexington Stakes
Apr 08, 2024
Hades wins the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park (Photo by Lauren King/Coglianese Photos)
The Road to the Kentucky Derby wraps up on Saturday with the running of the $400,000 Lexington S. (G3) at Keeneland.
Held over 1 1/16 miles, the Lexington awards Kentucky Derby (G1) qualification points on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis to the top five finishers. It's a diminished prize compared to the last few weeks of 100-50-25-15-10 preps, but it does offer horses on the bubble for Derby qualification a last-ditch opportunity to pick up additional points.
A field of 10 has entered the Lexington. Let's check out the contenders:
Secret Chat
Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0
Owner: Gelfenstein Farm
Breeder: Gelfenstein Farm
Trainer: Roderick Rodriguez
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Top Speed Rating: (90) when finishing second in the Aventura S. at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $58,750
Sire: Union Rags
Dam: La Vie Ross
Color: Gray/roan
Secret Chat has shown promise competing at Gulfstream Park, most notably rallying after a troubled start to finish second by half a length in the one-mile Aventura S. That effort yielded a 90 Brisnet Speed rating, suggesting Secret Chat can vie for a top-five finish in the Lexington.
The Wine Steward
The Wine Steward wins the Bashford Manor S. 2023
(Photo by Coady Photography/Ellis Park)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Paradise Farms and David Staudacher
Breeder: Sequel Thoroughbreds, Lakland Farm, and Mark Toothaker
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: Luis Saez
Top Speed Rating: (97) when winning the Funny Cide S. at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $370,260
Sire: Vino Rosso
Dam: Call to Service
Color: Bay
The Wine Steward won his first three starts sprinting as a juvenile before finishing second by half a length against the talented Locked in the 1 1/16-mile Breeders' Futurity (G1) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby at Keeneland. He hasn't run since October, but a sharp series of workouts indicates The Wine Steward is a viable win threat while sticking to the same track and distance as the Breeders' Futurity.
Dilger
Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Michael J. Ryan
Breeder: Demers Bloodstock
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Top Speed Rating: (87) when breaking his maiden at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $44,300
Sire: Lope de Vega
Dam: Post Perfection
Color: Bay
Dilger failed to factor in his first three starts, but he improved in a one-mile maiden special weight at Gulfstream last month, rallying to win by a determined nose. However, his career-best 87 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light against the Lexington field.
Footprint
Footprint wins at Keeneland (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 7
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 2
Owner: Greg McDonald
Breeder: Greg B. McDonald
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing third in an Oaklawn Park allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $152,121
Sire: Dialed In
Dam: Poplar Girl
Color: Dark bay/brown
Footprint has gone 0-for-6 since winning his debut in a $150,000 maiden claimer racing 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland last fall, but he was only beaten a neck in the Rushaway S. at Turfway last time out. Footprint also earned Kentucky Derby qualification points when fourth in the Dec. 23 Gun Runner S. at Fair Grounds, so a top-five finish while returning to Keeneland isn't out of the question.
Hades
Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: D. J. Stable and Robert Cotran
Breeder: Ocala Stud, Joseph M. O'Farrell III, David O'Farrell, et al.
Trainer: Joseph Orseno
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Top Speed Rating: (98) when winning a Gulfstream Park allowance.
Total Earnings: $252,900
Sire: Awesome Slew
Dam: The Shady Lady
Color: Bay
Hades prevailed in his first three starts at Gulfstream Park, most notably capitalizing on a slow pace to win the Holy Bull (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby over future Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner Domestic Product and next-out Florida Derby (G1) hero Fierceness. Hades finished fifth after failing to make the lead in the Florida Derby, but he didn't get an ideal trip and is adding blinkers for the Lexington, which may help him revert to the front-running strategy he employed in the Holy Bull. A rebound is possible.
How's Ur Attitude
How's UR Attitude wins at Turfway Park (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 2
Owner: Welch Racing
Breeder: Malibu Farm
Trainer: John Ennis
Jockey: Adam Beschizza
Top Speed Rating: (81) when breaking his maiden at Turfway Park.
Total Earnings: $54,688
Sire: Street Sense
Dam: Daring Kathy
Color: Bay
How's Ur Attitude won a one-mile maiden special weight at Turfway Park last time out with a modest 81 Brisnet Speed rating. He's competed exclusively over Turfway's synthetic Tapeta track so far, so perhaps switching to dirt can trigger improvement. He did work a fast five furlongs in :59 at Keeneland last month.
Everdoit
Start(s): 8
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Donald L. Ming
Breeder: Don Ming
Trainer: Kevin Rice
Jockey: Axel Concepcion
Top Speed Rating: (84) when winning a Tampa Bay Downs allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $90,600
Sire: Gary D
Dam: Jaggermama
Color: Gray/roan
Everdoit has shown flashes of talent across eight starts, but his career-best 84 Brisnet Speed rating ranks on the low side, and an eighth-place finish in the Tampa Bay Derby on the Road to the Kentucky Derby suggests Everdoit needs a step forward to factor against this caliber of competition.
Encino
Encino wins the John Battaglia Memorial (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Top Speed Rating: (91) when winning the John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park.
Total Earnings: $142,715
Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Glittering Jewel
Color: Dark bay/brown
Encino scratched from last week's Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland to await the Lexington. He's competed exclusively on Tapeta at Turfway so far, most notably conquering a quality field in the John Battaglia Memorial S. last month, but he's bred top and bottom to thrive on dirt. Encino has the talent and pedigree to be a legitimate Lexington win threat.
Liberal Arts
Liberal Arts wins the Street Sense at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 7
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 3
Owner: Stephen Ferraro and Evan Ferraro
Breeder: Stephen Ferraro and Evan Ferraro
Trainer: Robert Medina
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $332,325
Sire: Arrogate
Dam: Ismene
Color: Gray/roan
Winner of the 1 1/16-mile Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs last fall, stretch-running Liberal Arts has finished third or better in three of his four Road to the Kentucky Derby forays. His only miss came when finishing sixth (demoted to eighth place via disqualification) in the Arkansas Derby (G1) two weeks ago. Liberal Arts refused to settle during the early stages of the Arkansas Derby and lost ground as a result, but he did pass a few rivals late in the race, so if Liberal Arts relaxes better in the Lexington he can bounce back with a top-three finish.
Lucky Jeremy
Lucky Jeremy (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Jeremy Ramsland
Breeder: Mr. and Mrs. Craig L. Minten
Trainer: William Morey
Jockey: Gerardo Corrales
Top Speed Rating: (92) when finishing third in the Sunland Park Derby (G3) at Sunland Park.
Total Earnings: $174,280
Sire: Lookin At Lucky
Dam: Powder N Blush
Color: Bay
Riley Allison Derby winner Lucky Jeremy has run well in a couple of Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers, employing pacesetting tactics to finish third in the Sunland Park Derby (G3) on dirt and fifth in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on Tapeta. In the Sunland Park Derby, Lucky Jeremy finished only 2 1/2 lengths behind next-out Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Stronghold, so returning to dirt for the Lexington can yield a strong showing.
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