Behindatthebar Wins Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland

Behindatthebar, ridden by jockey David Flores, won Keeneland‘s $100,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes, one of the final major prep races for the 2008 Kentucky Derby, on Saturday, April 19.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Behindatthebar ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.14 and paid $13.60, $7.60 and $5.20. One length behind, Samba Rooster with jockey Garrett Gomez returned $17.00 and $9.20. Third place finisher Riley Tucker under jockey John Velazquez paid $6.80 to show.

Racecar Rhapsody is fourth in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland followed by Big Glen, Tomcito, Salute the Sarge, Atoned, St. Joe, Red Sandy and Felon.

Behindatthebar won the $201,500 Coolmore Lexington Stakes first prize, more than enough graded stakes earnings to qualify for the 2008 Kentucky Derby.

Horse trainer Todd Pletcher didn’t rule out an appearance for his colt, but signaled it was doubtful the horse would join stablemates Monba and Cowboy Cal in the May 3 Run for the Roses.

“I don’t think it’s a distance issue,” Pletcher said. “It’s a question of whether he’s a dirt horse or synthetic horse.”

Besides Behindatthebar, the only horse to run in Keeneland’s Coolmore Lexington Stakes that has sufficient graded stakes earnings to qualify for the 2008 Kentucky Derby was Eric Guillot’s Salute the Sarge who finished 7th. Guillot said he will now almost certainly stay home on Kentucky Derby day.

“Today was the determining factor whether we try (the Derby) or not,” Eric Guillot said. “We couldn’t go to bed tonight not knowing whether he could or not.”

The race also dashed the Kentucky Derby hopes of prominent trainer D. Wayne Lukas, whose final shot, Red Sandy, was 10th in the 11-horse field. Also among the beaten was 3-1 favorite Tomcito, who finished 6th.

"Behindatthebar Wins Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland" was posted on 19 April 2008 10:34 PM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Stakes Races

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