By Emily Shields
Although the Arkansas Derby (G1) is technically going to be run a little bit later than the Lexington Stakes on Saturday, the latter is notoriously known as a Hail Mary for many trainers trying to get their horses into the Kentucky Derby over the years. With just 20 points going to the winner, compared to 100 in the Arkansas race or any of the races last weekend, it can make or break a bubble horse’s chances.
10 horses are entered in the 1 1/16 mile race, a grade 3 event worth $200,000. Sitting at #23 on the Derby leaderboard is Anothertwistafate, who will break from post 4 in the Lexington. Sueno is the #25 bubble horse for the Derby – only 20 get in. Other horses behind them, such as Improbable and Galilean – are also trying to make it into the Derby and are racing in Arkansas, which puts added intrigue on the weekend.
#1 Shang (10-1) is coming in off two straight stakes wins, including an 8 ¾ length score in the Cresent City Derby on March 23. That was over this distance at the Fair Grounds for trainer Steve Asmussen.
#2 Hawaiian Noises (10-1) has won three in a row, including the Animal Kingdom Stakes at Turfway Park for trainer Wesley Ward. He gets top jockey John Velazquez.
#3 Sueno (5-1) was third in the Louisiana Derby (G2) for Keith Desormeaux, and second in the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park before that. He was also second in the Sham Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita, and has run at five different tracks in his last five starts.
#4 Anothertwistafate (2-1) burst onto the scene with a four-length win at Golden Gate Fields in his second start. He then took a condition allowance by five lengths, and the El Camino Real Derby by seven. He was second, beaten just a neck, in the Sunland Park Derby (G3) on March 24; winning there would have sent him straight to the Derby.
#5 Harvey Wallbanger (7-2) was a leading Derby candidate after winning the Holy Bull Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park on February 2. He was a soundly beaten eighth in the Florida Derby (G1) March 30. Which Harvey Wallbanger will show up on Saturday?
#6 Chase the Ghost (30-1) broke his maiden at the Fair Grounds three back, but was well beaten in both strakes tries over that course. Dallas Stewart trains.
#7 Knicks Go (15-1) has been a boggling sort. The son of Paynter is a grade 1 winner over this trip from last fall, then was second behind one of the Derby hotshots, Game Winner, in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Since then he has been 11th, 5th, and 7thin three stakes tries.
#8 Owendale (12-1) is a son of Into Mischief trained by Brad Cox. He worked a bullet five furlogns at Churchill Downs on April 5 for this, and comes in off an eighth place effort in the Risen Star (G2). He is two for seven lifetime.
#9 Zenden (6-1) ships in from Florida, where he was fourth in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and second in the Swale Stakes (G3) sprinting. The son of Fed Bix is a stakes winner over six furlongs.#10 Roiland (15-1) goes for Tom Amoss. He was eighth in the Louisiana Derby after being a good third in the Risen Star, and has already won over at Churchill Downs. If speed materializes in front of him, he could have a shot here too.
The post Lexington is Trail’s Last Hope appeared first on Horse Racing News, Betting Previews & Picks by TVG Blog®.
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