NEWS
Pletcher aims to continue Lexington domination
Posted: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 5:08 PM
CONNEMARA
Vassar Photography
by Mike Curry
Trainer Todd Pletcher will shoot for a Coolmore Lexington Stakes (G2) three-peat on Saturday when he sends out graded stakes winner Connemara and Rushaway Stakes winner Exhi for the $300,000 race at Keeneland Race Course.
The four-time Eclipse Award winner as outstanding trainer won the Lexington Stakes, one of the final major prep races for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), with Advice last year and Behindatthebar in 2008.
With only two weeks separating the 1 1/16-mile Lexington and the Kentucky Derby, most of the major players in the three-year-old division have already secured their spots in the field for the first jewel of the Triple Crown on May 1 at Churchill Downs. But with the Derby field limited to 20 starters with preference given to horses with the highest career earnings in graded stakes, several three-year-olds that generated buzz earlier this season remain on the outside looking in for the Kentucky Derby and the Lexington represents a final opportunity to get to Louisville.
Connemara won the El Camino Real Derby (G3) in February at Golden Gate Fields before finishing third in the Lane’s End Stakes (G2) on March 27 at Turfway Park for Pletcher. The Giant’s Causeway colt currently ranks 30th with $138,500 on the graded stakes earnings list of three-year-olds being pointed to the Kentucky Derby. The $180,000 winner’s share for the Lexington would cement his spot in the Derby field.
Pletcher also will send out Exhi, who defeated Lexington Stakes entrant Lonesome Street by a length to win the Rushaway on March 27. The Maria’s Mon colt has only $358 in graded stakes earnings and even with a win would need multiple defections to make the Derby field.
Uptowncharlybrown stamped himself a contender for the U.S. classics with a six-length win in the Pasco Stakes in January at Tampa Bay Downs, but he has not reached the winner’s circle in two subsequent starts. The Limehouse colt was third in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) on February 13 and fifth in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on March 13 in his most recent start. With $29,000 in graded earnings, the $180,000 winner’s share of the Lexington Stakes purse would not be enough to guarantee Uptowncharlybrown a spot in the Kentucky Derby field.
The Lexington also drew multiple stakes winner Heavenville and Kettle River, who was highly regarded early this season after an allowance win at Santa Anita Park before losing some luster with an eighth-place finish in the Sham Stakes (G3).
The Lexington also lured several dangerous three-year-olds coming off impressive victories. Krypton and Bushwacked both won at Keeneland in one-turn races earlier in the spring meet. Distorted Dave delivered a visually impressive 4 1/4-length win in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming race at Santa Anita on March 26 for John Sadler and the Distorted Humor colt probably will be one of the betting favorites.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
