LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Lexington Stakes on Saturday often serves as a prep for the Preakness, not the Kentucky Derby. And that would most definitely apply in the case of Arabian Lion, one of 11 3-year-olds confirmed for the final qualifying race toward the May 6 Derby. Arabian Lion, trained by Bob Baffert, lacks sufficient qualifying points for the Derby, helping to make that a moot point. But the May 20 Preakness remains in play, especially if the Justify colt runs big in the Grade 3, $400,000 Lexington at Keeneland. Arabian Lion “has been working really well out here,” Baffert said Wednesday from his California base. “He’s had a couple of races going two turns where he didn’t run very well, and I just wanted to give him one more chance.” :: Bet Keeneland with Confidence: Get DRF PPs, Picks, and Betting Strategies. Shop Now.  Arabian Lion was scheduled to arrive Wednesday at Keeneland, with Baffert’s top lieutenant, Jimmy Barnes, arriving the following day. The 1 1/16-mile Lexington will mark the fifth start for Arabian Lion, who began his career with Beyer Speed Figures of 92 and 93 before finishing a poor fifth in the Los Alamitos Futurity, then a fading fourth with a 92 Beyer in his most recent race, the Feb. 4 San Felipe. “He’s matured a little bit more, and he worked really well here the other day,” said Baffert, referring to a six-furlong drill Sunday at Santa Anita in 1:11.20. “I thought if he runs well in this race Saturday that I could maybe look at a race like the Preakness, or else maybe just keep him going one turn.” Of course, even if Arabian Lion somehow had enough points to make the Derby, it would’ve had to be for a different trainer, given that Baffert has been barred by Churchill Downs through the Derby, a policy stemming from the infamous 2021 Derby disqualification of Medina Spirit. Besides Arabian Lion, Victory Formation, and Disarm are among the other top contenders in the 41th Lexington, which will be co-featured on a terrific Saturday card with the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley and the Giant’s Causeway. One notable absentee from the Lexington lineup is Confidence Game, whose 18-1 upset in the Feb. 25 Rebel at Oaklawn Park already has him in the Derby lineup with 57 points. Trainer Keith Desormeaux said Wednesday that he decided to pass on the Lexington and train the Candy Ride colt straight into the Derby at Churchill following lengthy deliberations among himself and the partners in the Texas-based Don’t Tell My Wife Stables. “The decision was made over a daily course of discussion between myself and the owners,” said Desormeaux. “It’s a conscientious decision on what to do for everyone, but mainly for the horse, of course.” Confidence Game has breezed three times since the Rebel – twice at his Fair Grounds winter base, then last Saturday at Churchill when going five furlongs in 1:00.40 about a week after arriving there from New Orleans. Jimmy Graham has a return call for the Derby. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.