Hades, seeking Derby berth, hopes Lexington Stakes will get him there
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Hades' connections are ready to take one more swing to get into the Kentucky Derby.
Hades, coming off a disappointing fifth-place finish in last week’s Grade 1 Florida Derby, was entered Saturday for next Saturday’s Grade 3, $400,000 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. The Lexington, at 1 1/16 miles, is the last points-scoring race for the Kentucky Derby.
Hades entered Saturday with 30 qualifying points, which had him ranked 18th on the points list. The Derby is limited to 20 starters - with one spot already reserved to the Japan-based T O Password - and with three races Saturday offering 200 qualifying points to the Derby, it is a virtual certainty Hades will fall out of a Derby starting position.
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The Lexington offers 42 points - 20 to the winner - so Hades will likely have to win the race to have a chance to get in.
“We know if we come to the Lexington, we have to win it, which is the way I look at every race,” trainer Joseph Orseno said.
On Feb. 3, Hades won the Grade 3 Holy Bull, upsetting last year’s 2-year-old champion Fierceness. It was his third win in as many starts, all on the front end.
In the Florida Derby, Hades didn’t break sharp, was put in tight quarters early and never got close to the lead. He was last entering the far turn and came back somewhat to finish fifth, still beaten 19 3/4 lengths.
Orseno said he will put blinkers on Hades for the Lexington, equipment he had previously thought about using on the gelding but never did because he was winning without them.
“We couldn’t change, but now that he got beat I put the blinkers back on, stood him in the gate this morning and he stood really well,” Orseno said. “He’s trained okay with them all week. It looks like he wants to be on or near the lead and hopefully he’ll focus a little more leaving the gate.”
Hades said Jose Ortiz will ride Hades in the Lexington.
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