Proxy's path depends on his Lexington Stakes performance

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Proxy may or may not already have enough qualifying points to make the 20-horse cutoff for the May 1 Kentucky Derby, but forget that for a moment. A more immediate concern for trainer Mike Stidham is seeing whether the colt is good enough to win a Grade 3 race such as the $200,000 Lexington Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland.

“I can’t answer any questions about the Derby until we see how he runs in this spot,” Stidham said.

Despite having been competitive in all three Derby preps at Fair Grounds this winter – he was second in the Jan. 16 Lecomte and Feb. 13 Risen Star, then fourth in the March 20 Louisiana Derby – Proxy “is still not a stakes winner,” Stidham said. “We’d really like to get that done with him first before we move on to something else.”

Bred and owned by Godolphin, Proxy has accumulated 34 Derby points, which puts him on or near the bubble, depending partly on what happens this weekend with the final two preps. The Lexington is a 20-8-4-2 race, while the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park is a 100-40-20-10 race.

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Godolphin already has Essential Quality, winner of the Blue Grass last Saturday at Keeneland, as the likely Derby favorite. The worldwide powerhouse stable had another Derby hopeful in Prevalence, but he eliminated himself from consideration when finishing sixth last weekend in the Wood Memorial.

Stidham, who won the $12 million Dubai World Cup on March 27 for Godolphin with Mystic Guide, said his plans with Proxy will pivot entirely on what transpires in the 1 1/16-mile Lexington, one of four stakes on Saturday’s card at Keeneland.

“He’s coming into this in great shape, had a nice breeze here Sunday,” said Stidham, referring to a bullet half-mile in 46.80 seconds that marked his first work since the Louisiana Derby. “We just want to see where we are with him before we make any firm decisions. It’s possible we may just want to wait on the Preakness, or if he runs a big one, you’d almost have to run back in the Derby. You never say never in this business.”

Proxy, with John Velazquez riding, was one of 10 3-year-olds entered Wednesday for the 39th Lexington, the ninth of 11 Saturday races. From the rail, this is the field: Noble Reflection, Swiftsure, Bezos, It’s My House, Unbridled Honor, Hockey Dad, Proxy, Ultimate Badger, King Fury, and Starrininmydreams.

The Lexington will share the Saturday spotlight with the Jenny Wiley, a Grade 1 turf fixture that drew just six fillies and mares. Also on tap are the Grade 3 Ben Ali for older horses going 1 1/8 miles and the Giant’s Causeway for filly-mare turf sprinters.