Lexitonian tops big exacta in Concern Stakes

Lexitonian was bred in Kentucky and trains in Kentucky but so far has done all his best racing in Maryland. He won the Grade 3 Chick Lang Stakes at Pimlico in May and on Sunday took down the $75,000 Concern Stakes at Laurel by a neck.

A 17-1 shot in the Chick Lang, Lexitonian paid $39.20 in the Concern as bettors over-weighted a poor last-out performance in the Woody Stephens Stakes at Belmont. Royal Urn, who lost a few lengths with a slow break from the rail, rallied wide to claim second by a nose over 2-5 favorite Mind Control. A $1 exacta returned $510.20 to any gambler intrepid enough to include a pair of prices at the top of their ticket.

Poor Mind Control probably was best in the Concern. After finishing eighth with considerable trouble in the Woody Stephens, Mind Control initially went up along the rail to contest the early pace – the opening quarter went in a quick 22.63 seconds – with Compound It before jockey Trevor McCarthy grabbed Mind Control and took him back off the lead. McCarthy stayed busy on Mind Control around the turn to keep him engaged, and perhaps he was off the bridle just enough not to hit a hole at the top of the stretch. McCarthy tried at one point to steer between Lexitonian, who had surged to the front in upper stretch, and Captain Von Trappe, but the latter horse wandered back to the inside and blocked his passage. Mind Control wound up trapped for much of the final quarter-mile, coming with late rush that fell just short once finally extricated from traffic.

Lexitonian, Sheldon Russell in the irons, needed no excuse and provided owner-breeder Brad Kelley’s Calumet Farm and trainer Jack Sisterson a second stakes win of the weekend following Bandua’s tally Saturday in the Arlington Handicap. Lexitonian, beaten 18 1/2 lengths in the Woody Stephens before returning to Sisterson’s barn at Keeneland, notched his third win from eight starts. A son of Speightstown and Riviera Romper, by Tapit, Lexitonian ran seven furlongs in 1:22.21 – just fast enough to win the Concern.