Trendsetter all the rage in Lexington

Apr 11, 2026 James Scully

Trendsetter wins the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)

Midway Racing’s Trendsetter tracked frontrunners to the completion of the far turn and surged past The Hell We Did and Corona de Oro in upper stretch of Saturday’s $398,750 Lexington (G3) at Keeneland, driving to a 2 1/4-length upset in the final qualifier in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series.

Overlooked at 32-1 odds, Trendsetter made his first start in a Kentucky Derby qualifier and picked up 20 points, with the 1 1/16-mile Lexington awarding points on a 10-6-4-2 basis to second-through-fifth. But none of the Lexington runners appear positioned to qualify for the Kentucky Derby (G1).

TRENDSETTER springs a big upset in the G3 Lexington at 32/1! 💰

Kazushi Kimura was up for trainer Ben Colebrook.

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/4qkWZrPjdR

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 11, 2026

Kazushi Kimura was up for trainer Ben Colebrook on Trendsetter, who entered off a third in the March 21 Rushaway S. at Turfway Park. By Modernist, the bay gelding won his first two starts at Colonial Downs last summer, including a 5 1/2-furlong restricted stakes, and Trendsetter also finished second in the 6 1/2-furlong Turfway Prevue S. in January before stretching to two turns in the Rushaway. He stopped the Lexington teletimer in 1:46.54, improving his career record to 8-3-1-1.

The Hell We Did, who made a bid for the lead before being passed by Trendsetter, wound up second as the 5-1 third choice, three-quarters of a length better than pacesetter Corona de Oro in third. Next came I Did I Did, 9-5 favorite Confessional, 5-2 second choice Ezum, Mister T, Ramblin, and Exhibition Only.

The second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness (G1) on May 16, is an option for Trendsetter.