Derby News

Lexington, KY (April 20, 2006) - With the exception of Sunriver, the connections of several Kentucky Derby "bubble" horses have entered Saturday's $325,000 Lexington Stakes (GII) at Keeneland in an attempt to earn their way into the big race May 6.

The 1 1/16 mile race is final graded prep race on the Derby trail, and with more than the maximum of 20 starters currently pointing for the Derby, the Lexington will make or break the chances of a handful of horses. Seven of the ten scheduled to go postward are Triple Crown nominees and a win by any of those would likely put them in the starting gate in Louisville.

The post-time favorite will most probably be the speedy Like Now, an upsetter at 36-1 in Aqueduct's Gotham last month. The confirmed front-runner has never run outside of New York, but should take to Keeneland's surface. He was a bit unfortunate to draw post 8, so regular rider Fernando Jara will have to send him from the gate quickly if he is to secure a good position going into the first turn. Like Now currently sits in 20th place on the Derby graded earnings list, meaning that a third place finish or better in the Lexington would put him in the Derby starting gate.

Others in the race need better results if they are to run in the Derby. Showing Up, trained by 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Barclay Tagg, is undefeated in two starts, both at Gulfstream Park, but needs to win the Lexington to go on to Louisville. Tagg is fully aware of the task facing his colt.

"We’ve had a couple of setbacks. We wanted to run him in the Wood (on April 8 at Aqueduct). That was our perfect plan, but it wasn’t to be. We considered the Blue Grass (on April 15), but he needed another week and another breeze. So we decided it was best to wait for this race. We have to win here to make it to the Derby."

Showing Up will break from post two and ridden by Cornelio Velasquez, who will be aboard the son of Strategic Mission for the first time.

Hemingway's Key looms as Nick Zito's last hope to have an entrant in this year's Run for the Roses after several of his promising young stars have fell by the wayside. After running well late last year, Hemingway's Key has not hit the board in three starts this season. Like Showing Up, he gets a rider switch, to Rafael Bejarano. With just $10,000 in graded money, Hemingway's Key needs a victory to enter the Derby fray.

Another needing a win in the Lexington is Greeley's Legacy, who drew the far outside post. A hit or miss type, he has won two of ten starts, and was most recently beaten 26 lengths in the Wood. Prior to that, he was beaten only a length and a quarter when fourth in the Gotham, a race won by Like Now.

The remaining Triple Crown nominees include West Coast shipper Fast Parade, winner of three staight, including the Baldwin (GIII) on the downhill turf at Santa Anita. Very quick from the gate, the Doug O'Neill trainee is sure to add to the pace. Bear Character is trained by leading Canadian conditioner Reade Baker. He has been well-beaten in his previous two graded stakes attempts. Special Interest, trained by Wayne Lukas, is still a maiden after nine starts but did run second in the Rushaway on the Lane's End undercard at Turfway March 25.

The trio not nominated to the Triple Crown are: Gone Prospecting, trained by Kiaran McLauglin. The Florida-bred has made all three of his starts in his home state, running second to the promising Bushmill's Best at the OBS Championships in his last outing; More Than Regal, the fourth-place finisher in the Lane's End; and Chin High, a winner of two in a row, including the Transylvania (GIII) on the turf on opening day of this meet.

As far as Sunriver, trainer Todd Pletcher had this to say, "We'll roll the dice and hope to get in here. He's doing well and he probably does better with five weeks between races, and if we run in the Lexington we'd probably be compromising our chances in the Derby even if we did get in."

The Lexington will be the ninth race on Keeneland's card and will be shown on ESPN2, along with the Federico Tesio, on delayed basis from 6-7 p.m. Eastern Time Saturday.

No. Horse Weight Jockey
1 Gone Prospecting 117 J. Velazquez
2 Showing Up 117 C. Velasquez
3 More Than Regal 117 S. Bridgmohan
4 Hemingway’s Key 117 R. Bejarano
5 Bear Character 117 R. Douglas
6 Special Interest 117 M. Guidry
7 Chin High 123 R. Albarado
8 Like Now 123 F. Jara
9 Fast Parade 117 M. Ruis
10 Greeley’s Legacy 117 J. Castellano

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