Lexington (Grade 3) (KYD)- $400.000 Purse
KEE- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
April 13, 2024

It’s the final chance to earn KYD points! After last week’s excitement, we probably know who at least half of the KYD field will be, but there are spots that are up for grabs at the back end of the top 20. Bring on the Grade 3 Lexington, which is the final opportunity for horses to earn points. 20 points go the winner, and they awarded down to two points for fifth place, so if you are on the bubble for the big race, the Lexington can provide the needed points. Determining whether or not you are on the bubble isn’t a given, either, but unlike some past years when Mb Stables had about seven horses in the top 20, he “only” has four, and there are no other trainers with more than three. 21st place is an Mb horse, making the top 22 horses the ones that would be safe coming in, unless Mb sells a horse. Of course, you can’t just sit in 22nd and not run here, because the points earned by others figures to knock you out. We do have some in the field who are running more for the $400.000 purse, which isn’t too bad, either. Let’s take a look at the field!

1- Hyakutake (Riggins Racing, ridden by J R Velazquez)- After breaking his maiden in January, Hyakutake was entered into the Mike La Rosa LA Derby and came from the middle of the field to finish third. That earned him 25 points, but as a newcomer to the KYD chase, that would not be enough as of this point to make it into the big race. Trainer may regret giving him all of February off, but if Hyakutake gets into the KYD, he could be a threat to win it as his works are very good.

2- Raging Heights (Riggins Racing, ridden by R M Hernandez)- Riggins has spent a lot to get his stable back to where it was in its prime, and that has been largely successful. However, he does not have a KYD runner right now but has four between 28th and 45th. Raging Heights is the 45th place one, with 13 points overall. Unlike his stablemate, he has had multiple opportunities to pick up points and had a steady run three weeks ago in the Ruby Stakes despite finishing fifth. He doesn’t excite me as much as Hyakutake, though.

3- Charm City Bomber (Jerry Garcia Racing, ridden by F Geroux)- Won on debut, but has not returned to the winner’s circle since, and he has now made seven starts. He wasn’t very competitive in many of them, either, but was gelded prior to his last start. The resulted in a second at a GP optional claimer, and the trainer is once again going to give Charm City Bomber a shot in a graded race. Otherwise, he’s happy for Excoriator.

4- Complicated (Waldo, ridden by F T Alvarado)- It took this one a while to break his maiden, but he finally accomplished that in January at SA, five days after he was gelded. Waldo was encouraged by that and entered Complicated into the Risen Star. It was a rainy day at FG, he was a distant ninth on the muddy track, so that could be a reason to throw it out. However, based on how he was before the geld, I’m not ready to say the mud was the reason. His works are fantastic, though, if you believe otherwise.

5- Fun Runner (Asgar, ridden by P Lopez)- Over the KYD Chase, I have covered Fun Runner a few times, and he made a positive impression on two occasions. First, it was an impressive victory at the Grade 3 Lecomte, and he followed that up with a strong second in the Risen Star, as the mud did not bother him at all. However, his last race was the Mike La Rosa LA Derby, and there, his late run only got him up to sixth place, and it was surprising to see him not be a factor in that. He’s 22nd on the board right now, which when deducting the two Mb horses that can’t get in, would be fine, but there’s a concern for others to leapfrog him, so Fun Runner needs something here. Fourth probably does it as long as he finishes ahead of Backroad Bounty, but he’s capable of more.

6- Star Traveler (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by A Beschizza)- In his second of ten starts, Star Traveler broke his maiden at GG, but he has done very little to be excited about since. The trainer has given him several top opportunities to show something but time and time again, has come up empty. I’ve been wrong before about ruling out horses, including ones by this trainer, but Star Traveler is likely overmatched here.

7- Good Memories (Mb Stables, ridden by R L Moore)- There’s no denying that Mb Stables has a good one right here, as Good Memories has won two out of three races. Most recently, we saw this colt at TP for the $250.000 Rushaway Stakes three weeks ago, and he made an impression on me with a two-length win. He’s not here to make the KYD, as a win would not get him enough points, but this may very well be a prep for the PRK, and the trainer wouldn’t mind the top share of the $400.000 purse along the way.

8- Pressing Concern (London Racing, ridden by G Corrales)- About to get the toughest test of this career here in the Lexington. Pressing Concern has made four starts, including two for London Racing, who claimed for $40.000. Both of those starts were allowance, and he won one of them, coming at GG. Not only is he taking on tougher challengers here, but he will also be running more than seven furlongs for the first time. Works are fine for the distance, but rivals here are working better, at least publicly.

9- Kings Justice (Paradise Stable, ridden by V Espinoza)- After a string of races on the turf did not amount to much, Kings Justice was moved to the main track for his last start, and was given a tough assignment in the $250.000 Rushaway Stakes. He would be way back at the start there and passed several to get the fourth-place cut. However, winner Good Memories never noticed him all day. Kings Justice will need a better start to have a shot here, but he doesn’t have a shot of making the KYD, even if he wins.

10- Smack (Fractious, ridden by F Prat)- It’s been a great season for Fractious in terms of getting three-year-olds to the KYD, as he will be able to start three while having others perform well that can be targeted for the PRK. Smack comes into this after a poor performance in the Gotham, a race that he was entered into after breaking his maiden in his second start. Looks like one that is gradually improving with time, so watch for him in the summer, if not now.

11- Backroad Bounty (Aer Stables, ridden by D Davis)- Right now, Backroad Bounty is 23rd in KYD points, so must get something here. He’s had a strong year after being moved to the main track, winning the Allison Derby at SUN before capturing the SUN Derby at that same racetrack. Following that, he was second in the TAM Derby, and in most years that combination would probably be enough to get into the KYD but that is not the case this year. Last time out, he was a no show in the FL Derby, putting his trainer in the situation to need something here. The close battle between him and Fun Runner in the points is a good race within the race.

12- Extreme Flyer (La Canada Racehorses, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- Finally, Extreme Flyer is a horse that seemed to be on the right track to make the KYD field. In January, he would win the $125.000 Leonatus Stakes at TP, a race that sent him into the Grade 3 Davis Stakes a few weeks later. There, he was third, getting points that the trainer hoped he could build upon, but that did not happen. Extreme Flyer was a distant eighth in the mud at the San Felipe and has been idle since. All he has to show for it is six points, so a win here would not be enough to make the KYD.

Prediction: 5-1-7-11

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES