Hades Attempts to Earn Kentucky Derby Spot in Lexington

The field for the 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) is almost set, but the 1 1/16-mile $400,000 Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland April 13 provides a final opportunity to make Derby dreams come true.

The 'wild card' race is the last opportunity to earn qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, which it awards to the top five finishers on a scale of 20-10-6-4-2.

Currently, Morplay Racing's Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) winner No More Time  holds the final spot with 45 points. Only one horse in the Lexington can ensure a spot in the Derby with a Lexington victory: D. J. Stable and Robert Cotran's Hades .

Hades burst onto the Derby trail with an impressive front-running victory Feb. 3 in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park, defeating Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner Domestic Product  and 2-year-old champion Fierceness .

After his connections decided to skip the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) March 2, Hades' Derby hopes relied on the March 30 Florida Derby (G1). Failing to make the lead, Hades experienced bumping and a wide run in the far turn before finishing fifth, 19 3/4 lengths behind Fierceness .

Video: Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1)

"I actually wanted to put blinkers on him before, but he kept winning," trainer Joe Orseno said. "He'll wear blinkers in the Lexington."

The equipment change isn't the only thing that will change for Hades as jockey Jose Ortiz replaces Paco Lopez in the Awesome Slew   gelding's saddle. These changes have one goal in mind for Orseno: the Kentucky Derby.

"We're going all out to get into the Derby," Orseno said. "If he wins, he's in."

A victory would place Hades 15th on the Derby leaderboard with 50 points, safely securing a spot. However, 10 points for a runner-up finish would move him into 21st place unless Encino  wins, ranking Hades 22nd. Either way, he would need help from defections under those scenarios. (Hades would have the earnings in non-restricted stakes tiebreaker over Grand Mo the First , who already has 40 points.)

Godolphin homebred Encino can't make the top 20 with a win, but can position himself to be the first one called up should a defection occur.

Encino has raced exclusively on Turfway Park's all-weather surface in all three starts but has shown ability and talent. In his previous start March 2, the Nyquist   colt rallied for victory in the John Battaglia Memorial, picking up 20 Kentucky Derby points.

Entered in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) April 6, trainer Brad Cox scratched Encino the morning of the race in favor of trying the Lexington.

"We wanted to see how (the Blue Grass) shaped up," Cox said. "I thought it made more sense to try him in the Lexington."

While forfeiting an opportunity at enough points to qualify for the Derby outright, sitting 21st with two weeks before Derby entries are taken is not a bad spot to be as defections are par for the course. Encino was flattered when Epic Ride , who he ran down in the Battaglia, finished third in the Blue Grass.

Florent Geroux will be aboard, replacing Encino's regular rider Axel Concepcion.

Also looking to catapult into the top alternate spots is Stephen and Evan Ferraro's Liberal Arts . Winner of the Street Sense Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs last fall, the son of Arrogate has accumulated 19 points and most recently was disqualified from sixth to eighth in the March 30 Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park after getting out exiting the clubhouse turn.

Victory for Liberal Arts would secure him 22nd place on the leaderboard, or 23rd should Hades finish second.

Also in the Field

While three fight for a spot in the Derby starting gate, seven other 3-year-olds are simply looking for a signature victory that could move them into the top ranks ahead of the other classics and for the second half of the year, including:

• The Wine Steward  started his 2-year-old year a perfect 3-for-3 with two stakes victories before being defeated by a half-length in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) by Locked  Oct. 7 at Keeneland. Unraced since, the son of Vino Rosso   is the 5-2 morning line favorite.
• Lucky Jeremy  has kept good company in all five of his starts. All three races he lost were won by Derby qualifiers: Honor Marie , Stronghold , and Endlessly . A victory would give him 36 Derby qualifying points and an outside chance to make the field.

The Lexington is race 10 with a post time of 5:48 p.m. ET.