Lush Lips reliable threat in Jenny Wiley; 11 vie in Lexington

Lush Lips has been a gem of consistency for trainer Brendan Walsh, which makes her especially dangerous against a quality cast in the $650,000 Jenny Wiley (G1) at Keeneland on Saturday.

Since joining the Walsh stable in the fall of 2024, Lush Lips has finished first or second in all nine of her starts. The victories have come more frequently of late as she rides a three-race win streak into the one-mile Jenny Wiley, the first of which was the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) over this course in October.

The winning margins were narrower in the Mrs. Revere (G2) and Honey Fox (G3), but Lush Lips looks solid. She's joined in the field by stablemate Expensive Queen, who's won three of her four starts following her importation from England. The latest was an eye-catching triumph in the Albert M. Stall Memorial at Fair Grounds.

You can't talk Jenny Wiley without Chad Brown being in the discussion. He's won the fixture a record seven times, all within the last 11 years. Dynamic Pricing, who won last year's Just a Game (G1), was below par as a lukewarm favorite in the First Lady (G1) over this course in October, but Segesta ended 2025 on a high note, scoring in the Matriarch (G1).

Although up the track against Lush Lips here in October, Destino d'Oro has rebounded well from that disappointment to win three consecutive stakes, including the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2) and Hillsborough (G2).

The remainder of the field might have class questions to answer, but almost everyone is qualified to land a slice with their best effort. Evidence of how deep the Jenny Wiley is.

The $400,000 Lexington (G3) is technically the last Road to the Kentucky Derby series prep, but it's hard to see the 1 1/16-mile test having much bearing on the composition of the Derby field. Perhaps the May 16 Preakness (G1), though.

Ezum turned heads on Virginia Derby Day at Colonial Downs on March 14, graduating by 19 1/2 lengths on second asking for Brad Cox. Stablemate Confessional later placed in the Virginia Derby itself, beaten only a neck for second. His one poor run, in the Sam F. Davis S., was his lone try without blinkers.

Corona de Oro outclassed a maiden field at Fair Grounds in his first attempt around two turns, while The Hell We Did sped six furlongs in 1:08 when taking a first-level allowance at Sunland Park last month.

For what it's worth, the Lexington will offer Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points of 20-8-6-4-2 to the respective top five finishers.