Lexington Stakes: Pure Fun will face males from post 11

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Pure Fun, the only filly in a field of 11 3-year-olds, drew the far-outside post for the Grade 3, $200,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes, to be run Saturday at Keeneland for the 32nd time.

Rosie Napravnik has the call on Pure Fun, a Grade 1-winning filly who will be prepping for a start in the May 3 Kentucky Oaks. She faces a demanding task in the 1 1/16-mile Polytrack race when facing the likes of Winning Cause, Sunbean, Examen, and Cerro.

The Lexington is worth 20 points to the winner toward qualifying for the May 4 Kentucky Derby.

Pure Fun already appears to have made the 14-horse field for the Kentucky Oaks. Trainer Ken McPeek initially wanted to run the filly in the Lexington to earn points for the Oaks, but with that seemingly a done deal, he still wants a prep race for her.

Sunbean, made eligible to the Lexington by a $15,000 supplementary payment by owner Evelyn Benoit, will be making his first start since being transferred to trainer Mike Maker. Formerly trained by Al Stall Jr., the Louisiana-bred colt won three races in a row before finishing eighth at 18-1 in his last start, the March 30 Louisiana Derby.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

Maker also has a second Lexington starter in Wings of Fortune. There are no coupled entries for wagering purposes.

One of a handful of longshot possibilities is Pick of the Litter, who finished a well-back sixth at 12-1 in his last start, the March 30 Florida Derby. It was just the third career start for the colt and followed a maiden romp by a little more than a month.

“He’s better than what he showed in the Florida Derby,” trainer Dale Romans said. “I really believe that. That’s why we’re eager to give him another shot. Plus, he’s by Kitten’s Joy, and a lot of his offspring is effective on the synthetic.”

From the rail, this is the Lexington lineup: Winning Cause, Pick of the Litter, River Rocks, Hip Four Sixtynine, Where’s Dominic, Sunbean, Examen, Cerro, Wings of Fortune, General Election, and Pure Fun.

The Lexington (race 9) anchors a 10-race Saturday card that includes the $100,000 Giant’s Causeway Stakes (race 8) for filly and mare turf sprinters. Post time for the Lexington is 5:13 p.m. Eastern. TVG will have full coverage.

Coolmore Lexington Stakes
Purse: $200,000; 1 1/6 miles; Grade 3
1. Winning Cause, J. Leparoux
2. Pick of the Litter, J. Castanon
3. River Rocks, J. Graham
4. Hip Four Sixtynine, G. Saez
5. Where’s Dominic, E. Prado
6. Sunbean (s), G. Stevens
7. Examen, G. Gomez
8. Cerro, J. Rosario
9. Wings of Fortune, C. Borel
10. General Election, J. Rocco Jr.
11. Pure Fun, R. Napravnik
(s) – supplementary entry.
All carry 118 pounds, except Sunbean (120)
Post time: 5:13 p.m. Eastern.
Television: TVG