Grade 3, $200,000 Lexington Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Keeneland, April 10, 2021 (20 Derby qualifying points for first, 8 for second, 4 for third, 2 for fourth) Winner: King Fury, by Curlin Trainer: Kenny McPeek Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr. Owner: Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm LLC Beyer Speed Figure: 95 Maybe it was needing time to grow up after an ambitious campaign late last year, a hot pace that flattered his style, or relishing the off track – or all the above - but this version of KING FURY was a lot better than the one who underwhelmed in his final two starts last year, in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (https://www.drf.com/news/road-2021-kentucky-derby-breeders-cup-juvenile-analysis) and the Kentucky Jockey Club (https://www.drf.com/news/road-2021-kentucky-derby-kentucky-jockey-club-stakes-analysis). King Fury was making his first start in 4 1/2 months and got a career-best Beyer figure, one that puts him well within range of the division’s best fast-track numbers. As of the morning after the Lexington, he’s a bubble horse for the Derby, needing some help to get in, but several in the top 20 are not certain to run, and there’s often attrition as the race nears, so he bears watching. He’s 2 for 3 at Churchill, his only loss there the one time he wore blinkers, in the Kentucky Jockey Club. And he’s 3 for 5 with Hernandez, who put up another sensational, ground-saving ride here. Longtime readers of this space are well aware I’m a fanboy of Hernandez. He doesn’t have the marquee recognition of some of the bigger names among his brethren, but there’s no rider in this country who consistently rides as tactically sound a race as he. He may not always win, but he always puts his horses in position to succeed if they’re good enough, as he did here. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2021: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more In this race, King Fury went into the first turn toward the rear of the pack in the three path, then was angled to the rail, all this within a quarter-mile after starting in post 8 of 9. He made steady progress along the inside down the backstretch as the fast pace (22.39, 45.87) unfolded, and continued to advance while hugging the rail on the far turn. He split horses with less than a quarter-mile remaining while having to come around only the tiring NOBLE REFLECTION, drifted in slightly in upper stretch, but skipped over the slop without being asked for his best. His 434 Tomlinson fig proved prophetic. UNBRIDLED HONOR, who finished second, was outrun early and trailed into the first turn while racing in the two path, moved closer nearing the far turn, started in the two path but then dropped to the rail and followed King Fury. He was angled off the rail to the four path coming off the bend, took until midstretch to swap over to his correct lead, and then finished steadily while never threatening the winner. Like King Fury, he benefitted from the swift fractions. STARRININMYDREAMS, who was third, broke out a bit at the start but had enough speed to get over from his outside draw and drop into a good spot around the first turn, in fourth, with no one around him, in two path, with three horses setting a crackling pace in front of him. He was smartly rated in that spot by Luis Saez to the far turn, went to the four path to begin his rally entering the far turn, tried to stay with King Fury coming off the bend but couldn’t, was late to change leads, and tired in the final furlong. He had a pretty sweet trip overall. PROXY, who was fourth, wore blinkers for the second straight time. He was a bit sluggish in the opening strides and went into the first turn in seventh, about two to three paths wide, after being hip checked by HOCKEY DAD. He raced in the middle of the track down the backstretch, went into the far turn in the four path while being out-footed by King Fury and Unbridled Honor, was floated to the four or five path coming off the bend, but never made any appreciable surge, similar to his prior race. He just looks like he’s going through the motions. Maybe he’s over the top and in need of a freshening after having a steady series of races since his debut. He also may just need to follow his older half-sister Micheline onto the turf. Or both. Noble Reflection, who was fifth, was sent along from his inside draw and used his sprint speed to make the top, carved out a hot pace, was sent along three furlongs out but couldn’t shake off SWIFTSURE right away, had little left when King Fury roared past him, and steadily tired while being sympathetically ridden the final 150 yards. This was a big ask, making his two-turn debut and first against winners in his third start and only his second following a seven-month layoff. That plus the hot pace cooked him. He can rebound in a more suitable setting. IT’S MY HOUSE, who was sixth, raced midpack in the two path around the first turn, had little response when asked going into the far turn while in the three path, angled toward the inside coming off the bend but was always outrun. Swiftsure, who was seventh, was just behind and outside Noble Reflection around the first turn, stayed in that spot down the backstretch, was sent along three furlongs out to try and engage Noble Reflection but couldn’t get past him, was done before reaching the top of the lane and dropped back. He, too, was impacted by the hot pace. He also was making his two-turn debut following a 2 1/2-month layoff. The combination was too steep a hill to climb, but, like Noble Reflection, he can rebound in a spot more to his liking. Hockey Dad, who was eighth, broke a half-step slow, then moved up and got to the rail after bumping with Proxy early on the first turn. He saved ground while midpack around the turn, had no response midway down the backstretch when King Fury came up inside him, dropped back to last entering the far turn, and lost contact with all rivals but, eventually, BEZOS. Bezos, who was last of nine, broke a half-step slow and then rushed up to press the pace from the three path around the first turn. He remained behind and outside Noble Reflection and Swiftsure down the backstretch while attending the swift pace, was sent along early on the far turn but stopped badly and was taken in hand before even reaching the top of the stretch.