King Fury records upset in Lexington comeback

Apr 10, 2021 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

King Fury blew hot and cold as a juvenile last season, entirely cold
in graded stakes. But the regally-bred son of Curlin demonstrated a huge
progression Saturday with an impressive tally in the $200,000 Lexington S. (G3)
at Keeneland, the penultimate 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby series prep.

Making his first start since late November, King Fury saved ground down the
backside behind a fast pace of :22.39 and :45.87 set by Noble Reflection. King
Fury made strong, steady progress through the field while riding the rail, went
around the tiring Noble Reflection turning for home, and drove home a decisive 2
3/4-length winner under Brian Hernandez Jr.

'I got to the five-eighths pole and I was like, 'Man, they're in trouble from
this point,' because he was doing it the right way…he was there for me the
whole way,' Hernandez said.

Owned by Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm, King Fury paid $38.40
after completing 1 1/16 miles over a sloppy track in 1:43.50. Unbridled Honor, a
20-1 chance, rallied for second, with Starrininmydreams third and 2-1 favorite
Proxy fourth. The order of finish was rounded out by Noble Reflection, It's My
House, Swiftsure, Hockey Dad, and Bezos.

King Fury won two of his first three starts last season, including the Street
Sense S. at Churchill Downs, but had been uncompetitive when tested against
higher-level rivals, finishing eighth in the Breeders' Futurity (G1), seventh in
the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), and fifth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2).

'This has always been a really, really good horse,' trainer Kenny McPeek said.
'We were a little aggressive with him last fall. I'm going to give a tip of the
hat to the Three Chimneys team. They said, 'Send him to us for a little while,
let's give him a little break.' He needed it. He came back bigger and stronger.'

King Fury earned 20 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points for the win, below
the present cut line to get into the field, but if he doesn't make the
Louisville classic King Fury could be considered for the Preakness (G1), a race
McPeek won last fall with the filly Swiss Skydiver.

'I think he's going to handle the mile and a quarter without any trouble,'McPeek said. 'Whether he gets in, it's out of our control. It will definitely be
one or the other.'

Unbridled Honor earned eight Derby qualifying points, boosting his total to
13. Starrininmydreams earned four points, while Proxy boosted his total by two
points to 36. Proxy, a borderline Derby qualifier, would now seem unlikely to
move on following such a modest effort in the Lexington.

Bred in Kentucky by Heider Family Stables, King Fury was sold for $950,000 as
a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling. He was produced by the Grade 1-winning Taris,
a daughter of Flatter.