Kentucky Derby status for In Due Time uncertain after third-place run in Lexington Stakes

LEXINGTON, Ky. – In Due Time, third as the favorite Saturday in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, remains a prospect for the Kentucky Derby, although trainer Kelly Breen said Monday he and the owners of the Not This Time colt need more time to determine whether they actually want to run in the May 7 classic at Churchill Downs.

Tawny Port won the Lexington by a length over Major General, with In Due Time and jockey Paco Lopez another length back in third as the 19-10 choice. Breen said Lopez believes In Due Time “didn’t handle the surface all that well” and that the May 21 Preakness would be the goal if a choice is made to forgo the Derby. In Due Time is among a number of bubble horses whose Derby status will need to be determined by entry day, May 2. As many as four also-eligibles can make the Derby program.

Tawny Port was assigned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure for the Lexington on dirt. The Peachtree Stable colt had raced primarily on Tapeta beforehand. Trainer Brad Cox now has three confirmed Derby starters in his Churchill Downs barn, with the others being Arkansas Derby winner Cyberknife and Louisiana Derby runner-up Zozos.

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Slow Down Andy was withdrawn from Derby consideration Saturday after spiking a temperature at Keeneland earlier in the week. Slow Down Andy, trained by Doug O’Neill, had earned his way into the Derby field by winning the March 27 Sunland Park Derby.

Meanwhile, early Sunday at Churchill, Epicenter had his second work since he won the March 26 Louisiana Derby, going five furlongs in 1:00.80 in company with 6-year-old Gun It. Epicenter is the Derby favorite on many early rankings.

“With Epicenter, the spacing of his races since December has been very effective for him,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “We’re just trying to put the building blocks and space for him to handle the mile and a quarter in the Derby here. I couldn’t feel any better with how he’s doing here and how he loves Churchill Downs.”

Pioneer of Medina, another bubble horse, arrived at Churchill over the weekend following a five-furlong work Friday in 1:00.40 at Palm Beach Downs in Florida for trainer Todd Pletcher.