Hades headlines Lexington, last chance to make Kentucky Derby

Hades, the winner of the Holy Bull (G3) in February at Gulfstream Park, headlines a field of 10 3-year-olds entered for next Saturday’s Grade 3, $400,000 Lexington Stakes (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Keeneland.

The last points prep for Kentucky Derby 2024 will go as the 10th of 11 races with a 5:48 p.m. EDT post time. It offers 20-10-6-4-2 qualifying points to the top five finishers.

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Owned by D.J. Stable and Robert Cotran and trained by Joe Orseno, Hades has 30 qualifying points and would get into the Derby with a victory next weekend. In his most recent start he finished fifth March 30 in the Florida Derby (G1). José Ortiz has the mount from post 5.

Encino, who was scratched from Saturday’s Blue Grass (G1), was redirected to the Lexington. The Godolphin homebred who is trained by Brad Cox will be ridden out of post 8 by Florent Géroux. The Nyquist colt who won last month’s John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park will be moving from synthetic to dirt for the first time. With 20 points, Encino could get into the Derby with a Lexington win but would dropouts to get an invitation.

Liberal Arts, owned by Stephen and Evan Ferrado and trained by Robbie Medina, is another Grade 3 winner who will be in the gate. He finished first in the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs last fall. In his most recent start he was placed eighth in the Arkansas Derby (G1) on March 30. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount from post 9.