The promise Telekinesis displayed this winter at Fair Grounds makes him a leading contender in Saturday's Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland, and strikes against two of his principal rivals add to his wagering appeal.
Magnum Moon can head into the Kentucky Derby undefeated if he clears one more hurdle Saturday in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn. The competition will be keen.
A couple of final tweaks to the Kentucky Derby field could be forthcoming Saturday at Keeneland when a field of 12 3-year-olds goes postward in the 37th running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Lexington Stakes.
Road to the 2018 Kentucky Derby: Blue Grass Stakes analysis
Magnum Moon and Solomini, the first- and second-place finishers in the $900,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 17, drew side by side for their rematch in Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby.
Lone Sailor had his first breeze since finishing second in the Louisiana Derby when going a half-mile in 47.80 seconds before dawn Wednesday over a fast Churchill Downs track.
Except for the college basketball teams at Villanova and Notre Dame, no one has had a better spring than trainer Todd Pletcher, who has shrewdly plotted the placement of his 3-year-olds to knock off three of the biggest final-round Kentucky Derby preps in this country and will seek a fourth on Saturday in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby with Magnum Moon.
Magnum Moon is attempting to do something that hasn't been done since 1882 – win the Kentucky Derby without having raced at age 2. But backing him up, the colt has a distance-oriented pedigree that has found recent success in the American classic series.
The unbeaten Justify, a prominent member of the Derby Watch top 20 since his debut, completed his ascent in the rankings by taking over the top spot following his victory in the Santa Anita Derby. He is the 4-1 favorite on the line set by Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form's national handicapper, after being the second choice last week at 6-1.
Road to the Derby: Wood Memorial analysis
