Pletcher is double-barreled in Lexington

One week after a one-two finish in the Blue Grass S. (G1) with Monba (Maria's

Mon) and Cowboy Cal (Giant's Causeway), trainer Todd Pletcher will send out

another dangerous duo in ATONED (Repent) and BEHINDATTHEBAR (Forest Wildcat) in

Saturday's $325,000 Lexington S. (G2) at Keeneland. Both colts could earn a spot

in the Kentucky Derby (G1) with a strong showing on Saturday.

Behindatthebar, fifth in the El Camino Real Derby (G3) when making his stakes

and dirt debut two starts back, will enter the 1 1/16-mile Lexington off a

four-length allowance romp at Santa Anita on April 3. With a 3-2-1-0 mark at Santa

Anita, Pletcher noted the colt's affinity for a synthetic track, but

Behindatthebear has raced only on Cushion Track so far. The Lexington will be

his first attempt on Polytrack.

"He particularly liked the track at Santa Anita, so we'll be interested to

see how he handles this one," said his four-time reigning Eclipse Award-winning

conditioner.

Tampa Bay Derby (G3) runner-up Atoned, last seen finishing fourth in the

April 5 Illinois Derby (G2) at Hawthorne, doesn't have enough graded earnings to

run in the Kentucky Derby presently, but a first- or second-place finish in the

Lexington will likely ensure him a spot in the starting gate at Churchill Downs.

He's never run on a synthetic track, but his connections decided to give it a

shot following a sharp workout at Keeneland on Sunday. Pletcher said Atoned

displayed a "great affinity for the Polytrack surface."

Eight horses are considered probable for the Lexington: Atoned,

Behindatthebar, BIG GLEN (Cactus Ridge), RACECAR RHAPSODY (Tale of the Cat), RED

SANDY (Yes It's True), SALUTE THE SARGE (Forest Wildcat), SAMBA ROOSTER (Songandaprayer)

and TOMCITO (Street Cry [Ire]).