Cox's Tawny Port takes the Lexington for first win on dirt

Lexington, Ky.

News of Slow Down Andy’s defection from the Derby on Saturday morning assured Tawny Port of getting an invitation to the big race next month at Churchill Downs. But trainer Brad Cox still sent the Pioneerof the Nile colt to the post for the Grade 3, $400,000 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland.

“I found out this morning he would get in regardless of the result today or if he was not to run in this race,” Cox said after Tawny Port (5-1) came home a one-length winner. “But we’d planned for it, prepared him for it, and (owner) John Fort was wanting to run.”

So, too, was the colt who only two weeks ago finished second in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on the synthetic track at Turfway Park. With jockey Florent Géroux getting shuffled back to eighth place on the backstretch of Keeneland's fast main track, Fort’s $430,000 yearling purchase in 2020 made his decisive move going four wide into the second turn.

“When those horses in front of me were starting to fade, I started to make my move on the outside,” Géroux said. “He was very strong all the way to the end. I would guess the extra distance shouldn’t be an issue for him.”

Coming off Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile test, that would be an extra 330 yards to get to the Derby’s 1 1/4 miles in just three weeks. Unless two more horses drop out of the current top 20, Tawny Port would be the only one of the 11 finishers of the Lexington to reach the May 7 classic.

In only his fourth race for trainer Todd Pletcher, Major General (7-1) led from the start until the rest of the field caught up with him at the top of the stretch. He held on for second after establishing less than blistering early fractions of 24.41, 48.14 and 1:11.85.

“He’s still learning,” his jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. said. “I was going perfect. When I asked him to go, he gave me a good effort. In the stretch he was looking around, waiting for some company.”

Post-time favorite In Due Time (9-5) made up seveh lengths in the stretch and finished third, 2 1/2 lengths from the winner. It was another length back to fourth-place Ethereal Road (9-1), who finished seventh on the same track only a week ago in the Blue Grass (G1). A win Saturday also would have sent In Due Time or Ethereal Road to the Derby.

Instead, it was Tawny Port who was clocked at 1:45.24 in his first victory in two tries on real dirt. Two months ago he finished fifth in the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds.

“He’s more of a synthetic, turf type,” Géroux said. “But I thought he had a great chance to win in the Risen Star. He got beat by (7 3/4) lengths, but I thought right away that that was a sneaky good race. I thought he finished with a lot of energy. I’m glad Brad kept that in mind. They kept on trying and gave him another try on the dirt. Now I think he’s a horse that deserves to start in the Kentucky Derby.”

He will not be the only one from the Risen Star who graduates to America’s biggest race. Four of the top five finishers from the Fair Grounds prep – Epicenter (first), Smile Happy (second), Zandon (third), Tawny Port (fifth) and Slow Down Andy (sixth) – wound up in the top 20.

Slow Down Andy will not be running for the roses. Trainer Doug O’Neill said he came down with a fever that ruled him out – and assured Tawny Port of getting in even before the Lexington was run and won.

Cox, who also saw Arkansas Derby (G1) victor Cyberknife and Louisiana Derby (G2) runner-up Zozos qualify since March 26, said the Risen Star might have been the most influential prep on the road to Louisville.

“It was probably the deepest Derby prep run this year,” he said. “That was (Tawny Port’s) first run on the dirt. I think he’s more of a polished horse mentally and physically. He’s more mature than he was in February, so I thought he was only going the right way.”

Cox said he intends to put all three of his qualifiers into the Derby entry box. The only problem is Géroux, who has ridden all of them, can be on only one next month.

“Right now Florent is committed to Cyberknife,” Cox said. “But yeah, we’re going to need some riders. It’s a great position to be in, really.”

Tawny Port paid $12.20 as the 5-1 second choice.