Ezum pegged as Lexington favorite

Apr 08, 2026 James Scully

Confessional wins at Keeneland (Photo by Coady Media)

A romping maiden winner four weeks ago, Ezum will make his first stakes appearance in Saturday’s $400,000 Lexington (G3) at Keeneland. The 1 1/16-mile race offers a combined 32 qualifying points to the top five finishers as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series, but it won’t have any impact on the first leg of the Triple Crown, serving more as a possible Preakness (G1) prep this year.

Ezum rolled to a 19-length win when making his second career start at Colonial Downs March 14, and Flavien Prat retains the assignment on the gray Essential Quality colt for Brad Cox, who will send out another serious contender in Virginia Derby third-placer Confessional.

Irad Ortiz Jr., winner of the Blue Grass (G1), Arkansas Derby (G1), and Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) the last three weekends, will pick up the mount on Confessional. Ezum is listed as the 2-1 morning line favorite, Confessional comes next at 7-2.

Other contestants in the 11-horse field include Corona de Oro, a convincing maiden winner at Fair Grounds last out. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount for Dallas Stewart. Stakes-placed juvenile The Hell We Did will make his second start this year for Todd Fincher following an eye-catching performance at Sunland Park, generating a 93 Brisnet Speed rating for the 13-length allowance win, and Luis Saez will take over riding duties.

Enforced Agenda will make his first appearance since finishing third in the Jerome S. at Aqueduct in early January, and Exhibition Only enters off a fourth in the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct in late February. Multiple stakes-placed Trendsetter is also part of the mix.