With just two weeks remaining until the Kentucky Derby on May 3, Saturday's Lexington Stakes at Keeneland is the final stop on the road to Churchill Downs. The last-ditch prep race drew a field of eight horses, and several horses in the field could be Derby bound thanks to a big effort.

In recent years, the Lexington Stakes has been a successful stepping-stone for the Derby, with 1999 Derby winner Charismatic and last year's Derby runner-up Proud Citizen. If there is a possible Kentucky Derby success story in this year's Lexington, it is likely to be Minister's Wild Cat, who adds blinkers for the first time for Neil Drysdale, the trainer of 2000 Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus. Minister's Wild Cat lost to Ocean Terrace in his last race, but still has plenty of room for more improvement here in what will be his fifth career race. Minister's Wild Cat's runner-up finish in the El Camino Real Derby wasn't too bad considering he finished a nose ahead of Ten Most Wanted who came back to win the Illinois Derby in his next race.

In recent months, Domestic Dispute has gone from early Kentucky Derby favorite to non-factor thanks to back-to-back fifth-place finishes in the San Felipe and Santa Anita Derby. Nevertheless, he is a strong candidate to bounce back a bit in this race at 1 1/16 miles against an easier field from a better post (broke from post 9 in the nine furlong SA Derby).

Finally, Ocean Terrace should be an obvious contender in this race based on his win over Minister's Wild Cat and Ten Most Wanted in the El Camino Real Derby back on March 8. However, he'll need to prove his ugly 47-length loss last time out in the Santa Anita Derby was some kind of fluke.

SELECTIONS:

Lexington-G2
Keeneland, Saturday 4/19 - Race 8
Purse: $325,000, Distance: 1 1/16 miles
1) 2-Minister's Wild Cat
2) 5-Domestic Dispute
3) 7-Ocean Terrace