4/10/21

 1  KEE      Coolmore Lexington (GIII) [KYD]

     $200.000        3yo           1 1/16th  Dirt         120lbs

Did I ever tell you that I love Lexington, and more specifically, KEE?  A million times?  yeah, well, tough.  I love this place and one of the stakes staples is the Coolmore Lexington (GIII) as the 3yos give it one last-gasp chance to qualify for the KYD.  I’m probably chalky with my choices and I took Pocantico as the top choice.  He won the DMR Futurity (GI) and BC Juv (GI) as a 2yo and has yet to win as a 3yo.  He stands 17th on the points list but with multiple entrants from other barns, he potentially is higher – and doesn’t need to run in this.  So I think the barn WANTS him to be here.  Another that deserves  big look is Baller Alert and he just missed in the LA Derby (GII) so you know he’s sharp.  There are a few others that deserve a serious look, but I’ll stick with the top pair.

Here’s The Field –

Won four of his first five with a third, then he moved up to graded horses and it’s been tough since.  A pair of eighth place finishes vs. graded horses but this is a sharp outfit and they don’t run horses just to put them in races.  Can he turn it around here?

Lightly raced with only four starts and he’s won half of them.  He was fourth vs. LA-bred stakes company so this is obviously a step up from that type.  He will need his best to be involved today.

Sold three races back for $300.000, so obviously they liked this one, but it’s been tough since the switch.  Started out with a third in the Lecomte Stakes (GIII) but the other two have been last place finishes in the Risen Star and LA Derby (GII), all of those at FG.  His best would make him tough, but does he still have his best?

Won his first two then a couple of poor starts in the Smarty Jones and FOY (GII), but did bounce back a bit last our winning the Crescent City Derby taking down LA-breds in his most recent.  Is that a sign of a turn-around or just softer company?

Had a three-race win-streak snapped last out, running second vs Alw horses at SA.  He broke maiden vs PA-bred, took down similar in stakes company, then won at a flat mile at GG vs open Alw types, so he’s just picked-his way through without a bad race… having a pair of runner-up efforts in his other starts.  This barn doesn’t play.

The BC Juv (GI) winner makes his third start of the year and he’s still looking for his first win.  Fourth at TAM in the Davis Stakes (GIII) then third in the Gotham Mile (GIII) last out.  Obviously he has a ton of talent and should be a major factor here today.

Broke maiden and then won a stakes, both against LA-bred types, then was seventh in the Risen Star (GII) and eighth in the LA Derby (GII) where he did show some late interest but he needs to tighten up to be a factor with these.

Broke maiden then came back to be sixth in the Battaglia at TP. Only his fourth start today, and we all know that you have to fear horses from this barn.  I’d give him a look and he may be a decent price. 

Broke maiden last out and jumps into the deep end of the pool here.  That was his first start for this barn after being nabbed for $30.000 at GP prior.  They took him back to the distance and he responded, so maybe he makes a mess here.

Could be the favorite today off of that third in the LA Derby (GII) last out, where he bounced back from a last place finish in the Withers (GIII).  He’s a nice horse and they probably would like to Q for the KYD as the distance seems to be something this one really wants. 

They snagged this one for the bargain basement price of $6.250 and came back to win an Alw race at SA.  He’s been entered vs. stakes horses before and was on the AE list, so the finally get to test the waters.  He looks like he could be any type, so is it upset time?

Only a maiden win from this one, and he has struggled when facing graded foes.  Last in the DMR Futurity (GI) and beat a couple last out in the San Felipe (GII) at SA.  He’s obviously going to need better than those efforts to be part of the goings-on here.

Needs some help to get in but off of that five length Alw win, you have to wonder if this horse is ready to light it up.  If he gets in, it could get interesting.

This stable has a pair on the AE and this one is two-for-three and even his fifth place finish, he had the lead to deep stretch.  With only three starts, his best is obviously in front of him.

Broke maiden then won an Alw race at HOU so they have to think he can run.  Look for him in a stakes race near you, soon.

COZMAN  6 / 10    Willie’s Green Card   10 / 6 / 11

Categories: FEATURED STORIES, Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES, TC 2021-2023, THE TRIPLE CROWN