Expert Pick of the Week: 2023 Lexington Stakes

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ homebred Disarm is among the most talented contenders in the contest and could punch his ticket to Churchill Downs on May 6 with a top-two result in the contest. The talented son of Gun Runner has put in a pair of smart runs to commence 2023 and seems poised for success in his Keeneland debut on Saturday. He is the Expert Pick of the Week. 

Trained by Steve Asmussen, the chestnut colt was a fine graduate in his second lifetime try at Saratoga in the summer when drawing off by a convincing, 6 1/4 lengths over a solid maiden special weight field. Disarm rallied to be a creditable second in an allowance tilt at Oaklawn Park in his sophomore bow, which preceded a clear runner-up performance in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds in his most recent assignment. 

Disarm has posted a pair of good morning moves in the interim and lands in a winnable spot while making his third run off the layoff. Bred in the Bluegrass State, the good-looking youngster has earned triple-digit Brisnet Late Pace figures from a pair of outings this campaign and has enough gate speed to stay in touch during the early stages of the race, as well. Jose Ortiz picks up the mount aboard the top selection. 

The Bob Baffert-trained Arabian Lion has flashed considerable potential on a few occasions in his career and comes in fresh for a second attempt of the season. The $600,000 son of Justify finished a sharp allowance second in his lone prior run at Keeneland, and the colt comes off a pair of tough heats at the graded stakes level in the Golden State. Speedy sophomore has been training in fast fashion in advance of his second run of 2023 and figures to be forcing the pace from the start despite drawing widest of all in the field. Top pilot Irad Ortiz Jr. inherits the mount. 

Expert Pick