Lexington fails to attract serious Derby contenders

LEXINGTON, Ky. – One side effect of the Blue Grass Stakes being moved one week farther out from the Kentucky Derby was supposed to be a positive move for the Lexington Stakes.

Instead of being two weeks out from the Derby, the Lexington now is three weeks out, having taken the place of the Blue Grass, which was run last Saturday at Keeneland in its new four-weeks-out spot. With 10 Derby eligibility points still available to the winner, the Lexington theoretically became a little more relevant, if only for this reason: The longer wheel-back time to the Derby is more conducive to modern training patterns.

But Keeneland officials can’t be too thrilled with the turnout for the Grade 3, $250,000 Lexington. Despite a nominations list of 59 3-year-olds, only seven are entered for the 1 1/16-mile race Saturday, and none is a serious Derby prospect. Among the likely favorites are Divining Rod, most recently third in the Tampa Bay Derby, and Fame and Power, a last-out maiden winner at Santa Anita for Juddmonte Farms and Bob Baffert.

From the rail and with riders, this is the field for the 34th Lexington: Divining Rod, Julien Leparoux; Comfort, Javier Castellano; Quimet, Jose Lezcano; Tiznow R J, Robby Albarado; Harry Jones, Paco Lopez; Fame and Power, Irad Ortiz Jr.; and Donworth, Joel Rosario.

Divining Rod, a recent arrival from Tampa with trainer Arnaud Delacour, was bred and is owned by Roy and Gretchen Jackson of Barbaro fame. The colt incurred two quarter cracks at Tampa this winter but will race in regular racing plates Saturday. Delacour said he is not necessarily intent on running the colt back in the Derby.

“I’m not really thinking of the run after that,” he said. “He’s doing good at the moment, and I’m excited about running him Saturday.”

One surprise entrant in the Lexington, Donworth, was to be scratched from a first-level allowance here Thursday.

The Lexington is carded as the 10th of 11 Saturday races and is one of four stakes on the card. After sporadic rain in this region through Friday, beautiful weather has been forecast for Saturday, with sunny skies and highs in the mid-60s.

Ball Dancing tops Jenny Wiley

The premier race on the Saturday card at Keeneland is the Grade 1, $300,000 Jenny Wiley (race 9), a 1 1/16-mile turf race that drew eight fillies and mares, including the 2014 winner, Hard Not to Like.

From the hedge, this is the lineup for the 27th Jenny Wiley: Personal Diary, Starstruck, Filimbi, Ball Dancing, Hard Not to Like, Samiam, Emotional Kitten, and Eden Prairie.

One of the favorites is Ball Dancing, second in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup here last fall and most recently second to Chad Brown-trained stablemate Stephanie’s Kitten in the March 7 Hillsborough at Tampa. Brown was on hand here Wednesday to oversee the training of his local string and said he is very satisfied with how the 4-year-old filly is approaching the Jenny Wiley.

Two other stakes, the Ben Ali and Giant’s Causeway, are set for earlier on the Saturday card.

Maker’s 46 without top runners

Without Wise Dan in the lineup, the Maker’s 46 Mile isn’t as attractive as it has been, but the same could be said for pretty much any race in which the two-time Horse of the Year has competed within the last few years.

Trainer Charlie LoPresti continues to keep Wise Dan under close watch at his Rice Road barn while hoping to receive clearance to return the 8-year-old gelding to light training within the next couple of weeks. Wise Dan is recovering from a slight foreleg fracture diagnosed last October.

Meanwhile, Ring Weekend, a standout turf performer whose name shows up prominently in the past performances of two of the Maker’s 46 favorites, Summer Front and Za Approval, was not seriously considered for this race. After winning the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile early last month at Santa Anita, the next target for the 4-year-old colt became the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on the May 2 Kentucky Derby undercard.

** The finishing touches have been put on the new chalet that rises above the outer perimeter of the stone paddock wall at Keeneland. There’s now decorative green-and-white bunting hanging over the sides of an impressive facility similar to what is used at professional golf tournaments and other sports and entertainment venues.

The chalet balconies are so close to several of the saddling rings that some horsemen have expressed concern that disorderly patrons might easily spook those horses being prepared for an upcoming race, but Keeneland racing secretary Ben Huffman said security personnel stationed in the chalet are making “a concerted effort” to prevent any such mishaps from occurring.

** If you’re a little late to play the Friday races at Keeneland, don’t fret. The earlier races are noticeably subpar, with six-horse fields in each half of the early double and a couple of so-so maiden-claiming events carded as races 3 and 5. Fortunately, the quality picks up as the program unfolds, with the seventh race, a $60,000 turf allowance with an oversubscribed field, being typical of more familiar Keeneland fare.