Kentucky Derby prep: 1 style dominates Lexington Stakes
It has been four years since a horse has gone from the Grade 3, $400,000 Lexington Stakes to the Kentucky Derby. Saturday’s 40th renewal at Keeneland could send one or two colts to Churchill Downs.
The 1 1/16-mile race has been part of the Derby qualifying system since the current process was established nine years ago. The race carries only one-fifth the points of the major, 1 1/8-mile preps that were completed last weekend, so it has been regarded as little more than a last chance for borderline horses to get into big race three weeks later.
This year Keeneland doubled the race’s purse to $400,000. That and the circumstances of this year’s Derby qualifying might give the race more heft than it has had anytime this century. Since it was established as the Calumet Purse, the Lexington has produced only two Derby winners – Swale in 1984 and Charismatic in 1999.
This is the race’s record of sending horses to the Kentucky Derby since 2000. It is shown with the graduates’ Quirin Speed Points as provided by Brisnet.
| Year | Horse | Quirin | Lex. | Ky. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ||||
| 2020 | - no Lexington - | |||
| 2019 | ||||
| 2018 | My Boy Jack | S 0 | 1st | 5th |
| 2017 | ||||
| 2016 | ||||
| 2015 | ||||
| 2014 | ||||
| 2013 | ||||
| 2012 | ||||
| 2011 | Derby Kitten | P 2 | 1st | 13th |
| 2010 | ||||
| 2009 | Advice | S 0 | 1st | 13th |
| 2008 | ||||
| 2007 | ||||
| 2006 | Showing Up | E/P 5 | 1st | 6th |
| 2005 | Coin Silver | E/P 5 | 1st | 12th |
| Sort It Out | P 2 | 2nd | 17th | |
| Going Wild | E 7 | 5th | 18th | |
| 2004 | Song of the Sword | P 3 | 3rd | 11th |
| Quintons Gold Rush | E/P 7 | 1st | DNF | |
| 2003 | Eye of the Tiger | P 6 | 2nd | 5th |
| Domestic Dispute | P 3 | 3rd | 10th | |
| Scrimshaw | E/P 7 | 1st | 11th | |
| 2002 | Proud Citizen | E 7 | 1st | 2nd |
| 2001 | Keats | E 5 | 1st | 16th |
| 2000 | Commendable | E/P 4 | 4th | 17th |
| E - Early (pacesetter) | ||||
| E/P - Early presser (stalker) | ||||
| P - Presser (mid-pack) | ||||
| S - Sustainer (closer) |
Although there has not been a distinct style pattern for the Derby horses who came out of the race, most of the Lexington winners have been closers. The last four came from at least 7 1/4 lengths behind, and 10 of the last 16 made up at least four lengths.
| Year | Winner | 1/4 | 1/2 | 3/4 | Str | Fin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | King Fury | 8 - 10 1/2 | 7 - 9 1/2 | 4 - 2 1/2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2020 | - no race - | |||||
| 2019 | Owendale | 8 - 5 | 9 - 7 1/4 | 8 - 3 1/4 | 1 | 1 |
| 2018 | My Boy Jack | 9 - 10 1/2 | 9 - 10 1/4 | 6 - 6 | 3 - 1/2 | 1 |
| 2017 | Senior Investment | 9 - 8 1/2 | 9 - 11 1/4 | 9 - 6 | 4 - 4 | 1 |
| 2016 | Collected | 2 - 1/2 | 2 - 1/2 | 2 - 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2015 | Divining Rod | 3 - 1 1/2 | 3 - 1 1/2 | 3 - 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2014* | Mr Speaker | 4 - 2 | 3 - 1 | 4 - 1 1/2 | 3 - 1/2 | 1 |
| 2013* | Winning Cause | 5 - 4 1/2 | 5 - 4 1/2 | 6 - 4 | 2 - 1/2 | 1 |
| 2012* | All Squared Away | 4 - 2 1/2 | 4 - 3 | 3 - 2 | 3 - 1 1/2 | 1 |
| 2011* | Derby Kitten | 6 - 5 1/2 | 6 - 6 1/2 | 6 - 3 3/4 | 4 - 2 1/2 | 1 |
| 2010* | Exhi | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2009* | Advice | 11 - 7 3/4 | 11 - 6 1/4 | 10 - 7 1/4 | 8 - 3 1/4 | 1 |
| 2008* | Behindatthebar | 10 - 15 | 9 - 14 3/4 | 7 - 10 1/2 | 4 - 3 1/2 | 1 |
| 2007* | Slew's Tizzy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2006 | Showing Up | 5 - 3 3/4 | 4 - 4 | 5 - 2 | 3 - hd | 1 |
| 2005 | Coin Silver | 5 - 5 1/4 | 5 - 3 1/4 | 3 - 1 1/2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2004 | Quintons Gold Rush | 2 - 1 1/2 | 2 - 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2003 | Scrimshaw | 2 - 1 1/2 | 3 - 2 | 3 - 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2002 | Proud Citizen | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2001 | Keats | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2000 | Unshaded | 7 - 11 | 7 - 9 1/4 | 7 - 1 1/2 | 1 | 1 |
| *Synthetic track |
Tawny Port, who needs a top-four finish Saturday to get to the Derby, is a mid-pack horse who fits the winning, off-the-pace profile. Bye Bye Bobby and In Due Time, both pace stalkers, would advance to Churchill Downs by winning this weekend.