Hades seeks Derby berth in Lexington

Apr 10, 2024 James Scully

The Road to the Kentucky Derby series closes Saturday with the $400,000 Lexington (G3) at Keeneland, a 1 1/16-mile race awarding points on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale, and Hades will look to guarantee himself a spot in a 20-horse Kentucky Derby (G1) field with a win. He’s the lone member of the 10-horse field who controls their fate.

An upset winner of the Holy Bull (G3) two back, Hades broke slowly and was caught behind horses entering the first turn of the Florida Derby (G1), winding up a well-beaten fifth. The Florida-bred son of Awesome Slew does his best running on the front end, and the Joe Orseno-trained gelding will receive a rider switch to Jose Ortiz. Look for Hades to show speed from the start, and he’s been pegged as the 7-2 second choice by oddsmaker Nick Tammaro.

Morning line favoritism goes to The Wine Steward, who is listed at 5-2 in his first start since finishing a half-length second to Locked in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland last October. By Vino Rosso, the New York-bred colt has won three of four starts for Mike Maker, and Luis Saez will be up on the stalker.

Encino, Liberal Arts, and Lucky Jeremy will look to join the Kentucky Derby bubble, needing defections to gain entry, by winning the Lexington.

Last seen winning the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway, Encino will make his first dirt start for Brad Cox after being scratched from last Saturday’s Blue Grass (G1). Florent Geroux will be up on the early 5-1 fourth choice.

Grade 3 juvenile winner Liberal Arts, third when opening his season in the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn, will look to rebound from a sixth in the Arkansas Derby (G1) two weeks ago. Irad Ortiz Jr. takes over the reins on the 4-1 shot for Robert Medina.

Stakes victor Lucky Jeremy, tabbed at 8-1 following a third in the Sunland Derby (G3) and a fifth in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), will likely show outside speed with Gerardo Corrales.