Lexington to determine fate of Anothertwistafate

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Anothertwistafate drew post 4 in a field of 10 3-year-olds for the Lexington Stakes, a Kentucky Derby points race on Saturday that most likely will determine whether the colt makes the 20-horse cutoff for the May 4 Derby.

The Grade 3, $200,000 Lexington will share top billing Saturday at Keeneland with the $350,000 Jenny Wiley, the last of four Grade 1 races at the 16-day spring meet.

The 1 1/16-mile Lexington offers 34 qualifying points (20-8-4-2) for the Derby, and Anothertwistafate, with 30 points already collected, stands the best chance to advance. Other Lexington starters who have earned points are Sueno (28), Knicks Go (18), Harvey Wallbanger (10), Roiland (10), and Zenden (5).

Anothertwistafate, trained by Blaine Wright, arrived here Friday after breezing a half-mile in 46.80 seconds the previous day at Sunland Park in New Mexico, where the Scat Daddy colt had been stabled since a runner-up finish behind Cutting Humor in the March 24 Sunland Park Derby. He closed at 19-1 in Pool 4 of the Derby futures last weekend.

From the rail, this is the Lexington field: Shang, Hawaiian Noises, Sueno, Anothertwistafate, Harvey Wallbanger, Chase the Ghost, Knicks Go, Owendale, Zenden, and Roiland.

The Lexington goes at 5:34 p.m. Eastern as the ninth of 11 races and directly precedes the Jenny Wiley (race 10, 6:12), a 1 1/16-mile turf race that trainer Chad Brown will be looking to win for the third time in the last five runnings. Brown will send out three major contenders – Onthemoonagain, Rushing Fall, and Rymska.

From the hedge, this is the Jenny Wiley field: Phantom Opening, Rushing Fall, Princess Warrior, Rymska, Goodyearforroses, Bellavais, Got Stormy, Onthemoonagain.

Last year, Brown swept the top three spots in the Jenny Wiley with Sistercharlie, Fourstar Crook, and Off Limits.

Also on tap for Saturday are the Grade 3, $200,000 Ben Ali (race 7, 4:24), a 1 1/8-mile race in which Flameaway and Solomini figure as favorites in a field of 11 older horses, and the $100,000 Giant’s Causeway (race 8, 4:57), which drew a well-matched field of 11 filly and mare turf sprinters. The four stakes are grouped together in a pick four wager. First post is 1:05.

◗ The condition book for the five-day Kentucky Downs meet that starts Aug. 31 is now available online. Purses are projected to exceed a whopping $2.3 million per card.