Lexington, KY is home to Keeneland, a most beautiful thoroughbred racetrack. This area of the world goes by both the Bluegrass State and the Horse Capitol of the World. With its lush rolling hills, the flowering trees and the striking horses, Keeneland is stunning. It is also the racetrack at which three KY Derby preps are race, just a short drive from Churchill Downs, Home of the Kentucky Derby.
To begin with, the KY Derby prep races started at Churchill Downs in September, 2021. Keeneland hosted its 2021 prep in October, the Breeders’ Futurity. The top four finishers were Rattle N Roll, Double Thunder, Classic Causeway and American Sanctuary. Rattle N Roll is ranked twenty-fifth on the KY Derby leaderboard.
This past Saturday, Keeneland hosted the 98th Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. The KY Derby prep points were awarded to Zandon, Smile Happy, Emmanuel, and Golden Glider. Zandon ranks second on the KY Derby leaderboard! Smile Happy is tenth, while Golden Glider is thirtieth. Only the top twenty will race in the KY Derby. Currently, it takes forty points to hit the top twenty, while Epicenter is number one with one-hundred and sixty-four points.
Now, the field for the 40th Stonestreet Lexington Stakes is set. Three of these eleven thoroughbreds have a good, final chance at hitting the top twenty on the KY Derby leaderboard. Saturday, April 16, 2022 at 5:16 PM ET, Keeneland will host the last lap on The Road to the Kentucky Derby. Thirty-four points are up for grabs (20-8-4-2 points are awarded to the respective top four). TVG will televise the full card of eleven races. Race 9 is the Grade III Stonestreet. With a purse of $400,000, it is a 1 and 1/16 mile dirt race for three year-olds. Here are the contenders, listed by post/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/morning-line odds/and current KY Derby prep points:
- Midnight Chrome/Jose Ortiz/John Servis/Alexandria Stable/20-1/2 points
- In Due Time/Paco Lopez/Kelly Breen/Edge Racing, Medallion Racing and Parkland Thoroughbreds/3-1/20 points
- We All See It/Luis Saez/Eddie Kenneally/Anderson Stables, LLC. and Homewrecker Racing, LLC./15-1/
- Ethereal Road/Victor Espinoza/D. Wayne Lukas/Julie Gilbert and Aron Sones/10-1/20 points
- Howling Time/Joseph Talamo/Dale Romans/Albuagh Family Stables, LLC./15-1/
- Skate to Heaven/David Cohen/Robertino Diodoro/Cypress Creek Equine, Rick and Clayton Weist/30-1
- Major General/Irad Ortiz, Jr./Todd Pletcher/WinStar Farm, LLC. and Sienna Farm, LLC.4-1
- Strava/Tyler Gaffalione/Dallas Stewart/WinStar Farm, LLC. and Sienna Farm and Denny Crum/20-1
- Tawny Port/Florent Geroux/Brad Cox/Peachtree Stable/5-2/40 points
- Dash Attack/Flavien Pratt/Kenneth McPeek/Catalyst Stable and Magdalena Racing, Kevin Pollard and Patty Slevin/10-1
- Call Me Midnight/James Graham/J. Desormeaux/Peter L. Cantrell and Benjamin Gase/6-1
Furthermore, it is Tawny Port that is the morning line favorite. He currently has 40 Kentucky Derby points. Tawny Port is in the top 20 of the KY Derby leaderboard. A win in the Lexington Stakes would cement his spot in the KY Derby field.
Meanwhile, Ethereal Road and In Due Time both have earned 20 points prior. Ethereal Road is ranked 26th and In Due Time is 29th. If either should win, the winner would have 40 points and tie with the point total at the bottom of the 20 ranked contenders.
I can not resist my excitement, as a Chromie, and looking forward to watching Midnight Chrome race! I can not wait to see this colt, sired by California Chrome. I will be present at Keeneland for the Lexington Stakes. Leave me a comment if you will be at the rail to watch.
Thank you as always for following and sharing. I send my readers love from Lexington. Stay in touch for more Keeneland racing and Kentucky Derby information soon. I’m off to the track!
Update: The winners from first to fourth were: Tawny Port, Major General, In Due Time and Ethereal Road!
