Greyvitos to make 2018 debut in Lexington Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - The two-time stakes winner Greyvitos will have his 2018 debut in Saturday’s Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, trainer Adam Kitchingman said Sunday.

Last week, Kitchingman considered starting Greyvitos in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at 1 1/8 miles at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, but has opted for the $200,000 Lexington Stakes, which is run at 1 1/16 miles.

“I’ll go in the softer spot and the shorter distance,” he said. “It’s been weighing on my mind pretty heavy in the last few days.”

The decision could keep Greyvitos from gaining sufficient qualifying points to earn a berth in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 5.

Through Sunday, Greyvitos had 10 qualifying points and was tied for 32nd in the rankings. The winner of the Lexington Stakes will receive 20 qualifying points. Even if Greyvitos wins the Lexington Stakes and has 30 points, the colt would not be certain of a berth in a race with a safety limit of 20 starters.

“The Preakness will be our back-up plan,” Kitchingman said.

The Preakness Stakes is run at 1 3/16 miles at Pimlico on May 19.

Owned by Triple B Farms, Greyvitos has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $306,345. He won the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar last November for his first win in his third start.

By Malibu Moon, Greyvitos won the Springboard Mile at Remington Park on Dec. 17, but had a bone chip removed from a knee days later.
Greyvitos resumed workouts on Feb. 26. He went five furlongs from the gate in 1:00.20 at Santa Anita on Saturday.

“It’s amazing he’s come back this well,” Kitchingman said.