Lexington Stakes Winner Can Make the Kentucky Derby 135
By GREG MELIKOV
Winner of the $300,000 Lexington Stakes automatically makes the 20-horse field for the 135th Kentucky Derby. First is worth $180,000.
For another horse just a good performance will suffice since he has enough graded stakes earnings.
Another 3-year-old can end up the runner-up and qualify because second money would boost his graded earnings enough to satisfy the requisite.
So it’s all or nothing at all Saturday for all except three 3-year-old probable Kentucky Derby contenders in the expected full field for the 28th running of the race at 1 1/16 miles on Keeneland‘s Polytrack.
The Lexington Stakes usually sends at least one starter to Louisville, but the past two winners didn’t make the trip. The 2006 victor Showing Up ran sixth behind Barbaro at Churchill Downs, home of the 2009 Kentucky Derby.
Only Charismatic in ’99 won both races. In ’84, Lexington runner-up Swale won the Kentucky Derby. Both won two legs of the Triple Crown. Other Lexington Stakes winners that hit the board at Churchill Downs were Proud Citizen, second, ’02; Risen Star, third, ’88; and Our Native, third, ’73.
Square Eddie, the likely favorite, just needs the work because he ranks fifth on the graded earnings list. He hasn’t run since Jan. 17 when finishing second to The Pamplemousse in the $100,000 San Rafael at Santa Anita.
The son of Smart Strike, which earned most of his $756,000 during a successful juvenile season, has been training well the past two months since suffering a cannon bone injury.
After Square Eddie breezed six furlongs in 1:13 on April 5 at Hollywood Park, trainer Doug O’Neill told the Daily Racing Form:
“He galloped out with so much energy and came out of the work so well. I think it makes sense now. He’s ready for that. We had talked of doing a simulated race in the morning and we all know a race is more useful. Realistically to win a mile-and-a-quarter race off a layoff, we’ll need a good prep.”
Last Saturday, Square Eddie worked even better covering the six furlongs in 1:12 1/5 at Hollywood.
Two other Lexington Stakes contenders also are traveling from the Left Coast: Mythical Power, runner-up in the Sunland Derby, and Jeranimo, third behind Pioneer of the Nile in the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park in his stakes debut.
Mythical Power on Sunday went five furlongs handily in a minute on Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface. Jeranimo worked Monday at Santa Anita covering four furlongs in 49 seconds handily.
Another Lexington Stakes starter, Conservative, breezed five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 at Keeneland on Monday, galloping out six furlongs in 1:14 3/5, according to track clockers.
The son of Unbridled’s Song is coming off two straight victories at Gulfstream Park: a turf maiden contest and an off-the-turf allowance race. Three starts back he was runner-up to El Crespo in a maiden affair.
El Crespo subsequently captured the 1 1/8-mile Palm Beach on the grass and banked $90,000. He breezed five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 on Sunday over the Polytrack.
The son of A. P. Indy could make it to the Kentucky Derby 135 if he’s second in the Lexington because he’d earn $60,000.
Among others that must win are:
His Greatness, third in the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne; Masala, fourth in the Gotham at Aqueduct; Parade Clown, second in Turfway Park‘s John Battaglia and fourth in the Lane’s End; Pitched Perfect, fourth in the Count Fleet at Aqueduct; and Brave Victory, fourth in Gulfstream‘s Swale.
Tags: Brave Victory, Conservative, El Crespo, His Greatness, Jeranimo, Masala, Mythical Power, Parade Clown, Pitched Perfect, Square Eddie
"Lexington Stakes Winner Can Make the Kentucky Derby 135" was posted on 15 April 2009 9:08 AM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Race Tracks, Racing Picks & Betting Tips, Stakes Races, Triple Crown
10% Instant Bonus, Free & Fast Payouts
Up to 60% Racebook Deposit Bonus +5% Weekly Horse Betting Rebate
Get Reward Points For Free Bets