Lexington Provides Final Opportunity for Derby Points

The final chance to earn points toward the Kentucky Derby (G1) comes April 12 at Keeneland in the $400,000 Lexington Stakes (G3).

The 1 1/16-mile Lexington offers points on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale. However, none in the field of nine are in the top 32 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. 

Favored on the morning line at 2-1 to cross the wire first is Praetor , who enters the Lexington with a pair of wins going a mile over the dirt, including a 7 1/2-length romp in an allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park. 

The son of leading sire Into Mischief   has been putting down very good breeze times under the watchful eye of trainer Chad Brown. In his first work after his Gulfstream win, Praetor posted a bullet four-furlong effort in :49. In his most recent work, he was fourth-best at three furlongs at Keeneland, going :37 April 8.

After Tyler Gaffalione was in the irons at Gulfstream, Flavien Prat, who guided Praetor in his first two starts, returns.

Praetor was bred by Bridlewood Farm and Alter's Racing Stables. He is owned by William Lawrence, CHP Racing, and Gainesway Stable.

Second betting choice Gosger  (7-2) is a Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables homebred who broke his maiden last time out, a one-mile maiden special weight at Gulfstream that also served as his 3-year-old debut. The gray or roan son of Nyquist   is 1-1-0 from two starts under the guidance of trainer Brendan Walsh. 

Grade 3 winner and grade 2-placed Bullard  (9-2) might be the most accomplished of the nine 3-year-olds breaking from the starting gate. Bred by Three Chimneys Farm, which co-owns the son of Gun Runner   with By Talla Racing, St. Elias Stables, and West Point Thoroughbreds, will be difficult to beat if he shows the form that won the Bob Hope Stakes (G3) in November at Del Mar.

In the Bob Hope, Bullard outlasted a small field that included likely Kentucky Derby hopeful Madaket Road  by 4 3/4 lengths.

Another with graded experience is Hypnus  (6-1). He broke his maiden at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in January but followed up with a pair of seventh-place finishes in the Rebel Stakes (G2) and Louisiana Derby (G2). Bred by Phoenix Thoroughbreds and owned by Brookdale Racing, Hypnus is by Into Mischief and out of grade 1 winner Dream Tree . 

Despite those seventh-place finishes, trainer Kenny McPeek has the colt sharp after a bullet four-furlong breeze in :47 1/5 at Churchill Downs April 7. Hypnus, who adds blinkers, is one of four horses entered in the Lexington to have run the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Lexington.

Rounding out the field are Bracket Buster , Hard as Life , Native Runner , Rolando , and Touchy .