Coolmore Lexington Can Give Pletcher Another Derby Starter

The $300,000 Coolmore Lexington (G2) on Saturday at Keeneland can be a last ditch effort to get into the Kentucky Derby in most years, and Charismatic used the race as a springboard to winning the Kentucky Derby in 1999.

However, this year, the graded earnings cut off appears to be around $250,000, and the winner of the Lexington is only going to earn $180,000, which is not enough to earn a starting berth in the Kentucky Derby without prior graded stakes earnings.

There is one runner in Saturday’s race that could conceivably make his way into the Derby with a win.

Connemara is 29th on the graded earnings list with $138,500, and a victory would move him into position to wheel back in two weeks in Louisville.

That has to make the connections of several of the horses sitting on the graded earnings bubble nervous.

One trainer that likely will not be nervous is Todd Pletcher, who sends out Connemara.

Win or lose, Pletcher will be well represented come Derby Day. The four time Eclipse Award winning trainer will saddle the likely favorite Eskendereya, as well as Rule, Mission Impazable, Interactif, and Discreetly Mine.

If Connemara does win the Lexington and head to the Derby, it would be the colt’s first start on conventional dirt; his first six career starts all coming over a variety of synthetic surfaces.

Get in on the action now – SIGN UP HERE

While the Lexington may lack Derby drama, it certainly will have enough drama for horseplayers, who will have to weave their way through a 12 horse field to find the winner.

The morning line favorite is Uptowncharlybrown, who was trained by Alan Seewald, who passed away unexpectedly April 12 at the age of 62.

The colt is owned by Fantasy Lane Stables, a group of more than 50 partners, and the colt will be saddled by Seewald’s assistant Linda White, who worked as an assistant to Seewald for more than a dozen years.

“I got the call (with news of Seewald’s death) about 9 o’clock Monday morning,” said White. “He was getting ready to come down to Florida for the Ocala sales and buy some 2-year-olds.”

“It is just surreal coming here,” White said. “I had heard about Keeneland and all the tradition. People here have been great to us, helping us out, doing anything they can for us.”

Uptowncharlybrown did not have the best of trips in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3). The colt had to check in traffic while in tight going into the first turn, did not have clear sailing while down along the rail in the stretch and weakened late to finish fifth, beaten 2 ¾ lengths for the top spot.

All four of his career starts have come over the Tampa Bay Downs main track.

Horses shipping east from Southern California have fared well in Derby preps, and two fit the bill in this race.

Trainer John Sadler, who trains top Derby contender Sidney’s Candy, brings Distorted Dave to the Lexington.

The colt is coming off a sharp looking victory against first level allowance company at Santa Anita over the Pro Ride surface.

He appears to have plenty of upside potential and has a nice pedigree. The colt is by Distorted Humor out of the stakes winner Crazy Ensign.

The other west coast shipper is Kettle River for trainer Eoin Harty, a former top assistant to hall of fame trainer Bob Baffert.

Kettle River made his stakes debut in the Sham (G3) at Santa Anita where he checked in a non threatening eighth.

There appears to be plenty of early speed in the race, with Exhi the likely pacesetter.

The Todd Pletcher trainee was carried out wide heading into the first turn, but was angled to the rail where he took over the lead and held off Lonesome Street by a length winning the Rushaway Stakes.

An intriguing longshot in the race is Bushwacked, who broke his maiden in his last start for hall of fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard.

The gelding was competitive in his first two starts at Gulfstream Park, then took to the polytrack last out with his sharp win, his first trip over a synthetic surface.

This will be his first start around two turns, and being out of a Dynaformer mare, he should be able to handle the stretch out.

Rushaway runner up Lonesome Street will be sent out by trainer Mike Maker, who has two promising prospects for the Kentucky Derby in Stately Victor, the upset winner of the Toyota Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland, and Dean’s Kitten, who won the Lane’s End (G2) at Turfway Park.

The Bill Mott trained Chief Counsel drew a tough post, but the son of Officer looks capable of moving forward in his second try around two turns.

The colt was fourth in the Lane’s End (G2), while 1 ¾ lengths behind Connemara for the third spot.

The Keeneland meeting concludes next Friday, with Churchill Downs opening its spring meeting on Saturday with the $200,000 Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (G3) the opening day feature.

Bay Shore (G2) winner Eightyfiveinafifty, who has $120,000 in graded earnings, good for 32nd on the money list may wheel back in one week and enter the Kentucky Derby if he wins the Derby Trial according to his trainer Gary Contessa.

In just a few minutes you can be betting on the hottest games for this week –  JOIN HERE!