Lexington Stakes Could Serve as Preakness Prep

Seven months after the Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs launched the 2024-25 Road to the Kentucky Derby, the series concludes April 12 at Keeneland with the $400,000 Lexington Stakes (G3). The 1 1/16-mile race seemingly carries no Kentucky Derby (G1) implications this year. Its limited qualifying points—the top-five finishers earn points on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis—essentially means that none of the competitors could amass enough points to make the Derby field based on what they already bring into the Lexington. Touchy currently leads the Lexington field with six qualifying points. The past two years, a threshold of about 40 points has been necessary to gain entry into an oversubscribed Derby, a tally that is trending higher this year in part because three foreign horses are scheduled to race. The Lexington could more realistically produce a starter in the second leg of the Triple Crown, the May 17 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course. Of all the Triple Crown races, the Preakness is typically most in need of starters, owing to Kentucky Derby runners having just two weeks of rest if they return in the Preakness. Aside from the Derby winner, who typically wheels back in pursuit of Triple Crown glory, many Derby participants are given a break to await the Belmont Stakes (G1) five weeks after the Derby. The Preakness has already been won by some owners with runners in the Lexington and three participating trainers: Chad Brown, Kenny McPeek, and Michael McCarthy. Brown is a dual Preakness winner, taking the race with Cloud Computing in 2017 and Early Voting five years later; McPeek won the 2020 Preakness with the filly Swiss Skydiver; and McCarthy scored with Rombauer the following year. Brown runs 2-1 favorite Praetor in the Lexington; McPeek has a pair of starters in 15-1 Native Runner and 6-1 shot Hypnus; and 9-2 shot Bullard represents McCarthy. Hypnus, twice seventh in graded stakes this year after a debut maiden win, adds blinkers. They must run well in the Lexington before their connections can even begin to plot a trip to Baltimore for the 1 3/16-mile Preakness. Five of the nine runners in the Lexington have not yet scored around two turns, including Touchy and the three shortest prices on the morning line: Praetor, 7-2 shot Gosger, and Bullard. The latter three have never competed in a two-turn route. Following a third-place finish in his debut when sprinting six furlongs in the mud, Praetor has twice won over a one-turn mile. He notably outlasted Kentucky Derby contender Sovereignty by a neck in a maiden race Sept. 27 at Aqueduct Racetrack and, in his return as a 3-year-old, cruised by 7 1/2 lengths in a first-level allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park March 9. A son of six-time reigning general sire leader Into Mischief, he is out of the six-time stakes-winning Curlin mare Curlin's Approval. All but one of her victories came in sprints, with the exception coming in the 2017 Royal Delta Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park over 1 1/16 miles. That race, like the Lexington, was a short-stretch contest that ended at what is typically the sixteenth pole. Praetor's older full sister, Charlottesapproval, has scored two wins on turf, taking a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs and an allowance optional claiming race at 7 1/2 furlongs. A $725,000 purchase by agent Mike Ryan from the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from the Gainesway consignment, Praetor races for William H. Lawrence, CHP Racing, and Antony Beck's Gainesway Stable. Gosger, racing for Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables, also comes off a one-mile win at Gulfstream, breaking his maiden there Feb. 15 after running second at Gulfstream Dec. 14 in his debut. Two of eight returnees from his Feb. 15 maiden race have since won, and another two hit the board. By 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist out of the unraced Tapit mare Gloria S, he is a half brother to Bill Mott-trained Harvey's Lil Goil, a daughter of American Pharoah who won the 2020 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T) for Clarke at Keeneland. Brendan Walsh trains Gosger. Bullard is the only existing graded winner in the Lexington, having rallied from behind a hot pace to roll in the 2024 Bob Hope Stakes (G3) at Del Mar last fall. That race followed a debut maiden victory there last summer. Most recently, he was third in the Jan. 4 San Vicente Stakes (G2) when racing seven furlongs at Santa Anita Park, beaten six lengths by Barnes. He was outfinished by a half-length for the place by Romanesque. Trainer Michael McCarthy sent Bullard to Oaklawn Park, intending to run him in the Feb. 23 Rebel Stakes (G2) there, but the colt became sick and did not compete. Missed training led McCarthy to regroup. He nominated Bullard to the April 5 Santa Anita Derby (G1) but chose to skip the race, which was won by his stablemate, Kentucky Derby favorite Journalism. Bullard is a son of Gun Runner—sire of 10 grade 1 winners and 13 millionaires—out of the unraced Warrior's Reward mare Reve d'Amour. Bullard is a half brother to dual stakes-winning sprinter Mundaye Call (Into Mischief). Bullard is smaller than most of his 3-year-old counterparts, weighing 996 pounds when competing in the San Vicente. By comparison, Journalism tips the scales at more than 1,100 pounds. Bred by Three Chimneys Farm, Bullard races for his breeder and co-owners By Talla Racing, St. Elias Stables, and West Point Thoroughbreds. He was a $675,000 purchase from the 2023 Keeneland September sale from the Denali Stud consignment.