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Lexington provides opportunity for Kentucky Derby berth Saturday's $325,000 Lexington S. (G2) is shaping up to be an exciting race, with a well-matched field of 11 sophomores set for the 1 1/16-mile event at Keeneland, and it will have serious Kentucky Derby (G1) consequences as well. Grade 2 winner SALUTE THE SARGE (Forest Wildcat) is the only entrant with enough graded earnings to run back two weeks later at Churchill Downs, so the Lexington will be a last-ditch scramble for most of its contestants. Florida Derby (G1) third-placer TOMCITO (Street Cry [Ire]) ranks as a top contender for Dante Zanelli, who would not be running in the Lexington if graded earnings of $151,292 would ensure his colt a spot in the Derby. However, that amount ranks only 25th on the current list, so Tomcito will make his Polytrack debut on Saturday. A Group 1 winner at 1 1/4 and 1 1/2 miles while based in Peru last season, the Kentucky-bred Tomcito offered a good late run to finish a non-threatening third behind Big Brown (Boundary) when making his U.S. debut in the Florida Derby. Jockey Jorge Chavez will retain the mount. Todd Pletcher saddled the top two finishers in last week's Blue Grass S. (G1), and he's got a shot at the Lexington exacta with ATONED (Repent) and BEHINDATTHEBAR (Forest Wildcat). Atoned ended his juvenile season on a strong note, finishing a troubled second in the Remsen S. (G2), and opened 2008 with an excellent second in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), finishing second by a neck. He'll attempt to rebound from a fourth-place finish in the Illinois Derby (G2) while picking up a hot rider in Edgar Prado. Behindatthebar will be severely tested for class, but he likes synthetic tracks, recording a 2-1-0 mark in three starts at Santa Anita. Those effort came on Cushion Track, but Pletcher is optimistic that Behindatthebar can transfer his form to Polytrack. David Flores will ride him back. Grade 2-placed RILEY TUCKER (Harlan's Holiday) likes the local oval, finishing a closing second in the off-the-turf Transylvania S. (G3) on Keeneland's opening day, and he finished second by a head in the 2007 Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) over Polytrack. John Velazquez will pick up the mount for Bill Mott. BIG GLEN (Cactus Ridge) exits a victory in the Rushaway S. over Turfway's Polytrack, and ST. JOE (Trippi) exits an allowance score at Keeneland on April 4 and is a two-time winner over the track. Grade 2-placed RACECAR RHAPSODY (Tale of the Cat), a good-looking maiden winner at Keeneland last October, also merits respect. The Kenny McPeek runner made a belated three-year-old debut in the March 22 Lane's End S. (G2), offering a strong middle move to reach contention before weakening to fourth, and is eligible to improve off that showing. Robby Albarado will return to the saddle. Salute the Sarge reportedly wasn't on the Derby trail a few weeks back, but trainer Eric Guillot recently opened the door to a possible start if the colt runs well in the Lexington. Winner of last year's Best Pal S. (G2) over the Polytrack at Del Mar, Salute the Sarge also finished a commendable second in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) before a failed attempt over the sloppy track at Monmouth Park in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). The bay Kentucky-bred didn't return to the races until March 29, winning the six-furlong San Miguel S. at Santa Anita by 1 3/4 widening lengths. Salute the Sarge could run well while returning to Polytrack with jockey Michael Baze. Atoned will lead the post parade. Next comes Salute the Sarge; SAMBA ROOSTER (Songandaprayer), Garrett Gomez; St. Joe, Miguel Mena; Racecar Rhapsody; FELON (Stephen Got Even), Julien Leparoux; Behindatthebar; Tomcito; Big Glen, Rene Douglas; Riley Tucker; and RED SANDY (Yes It's True), Jamie Theriot. All runners will carry 117 pounds except Tomcito, who will tote 123, and Big Glen at 119.
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