Coming off a good week where the four-time Eclipse Award winning trainer came up with not one but two Derby prospects with Monba and Cowboy Cal running one-two in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1), Todd Pletcher could have another Derby runner.
Behindatthebar won the Lexington Stakes (G2) on Saturday, earning $201,500, which puts the colt in the Top 20 in graded stakes earnings.
Pletcher has not announced that Behindatthebar would go in the Derby off a two-week break. The colt would be making his third start since April 3, where the colt won a first-level allowance race at Santa Anita.
(The latest Kentucky Derby future odds list should include Behindatthebar this week at BodogLife.com’s online racebook).
Its possible Pletcher could give the colt a couple of extra weeks off and bring him back in the Preakness Stakes (G1).
However, seven of the last nine Lexington winners did return off two weeks rest to run in the Derby.
Behindatthebar was sent off as the fifth choice in the race. Jockey David Flores had him at the back of the pack early, made his move just off the rail on the far turn, angled out for the stretch drive and got up to win by a length despite drifting in a bit.
“When he passed those horses, he wanted to lug in and stay with the horses but I just kind of let him gallop out,” said Flores. “It doesn’t look like the distance is going to be a problem.”
The winner returned $13.60 for a $2 wager.
Samba Rooster set the early fractions and held on gamely for second, completing a $252.00 exacta. The colt was making his first start after a private purchase landed him with trainer Bob Baffert.
The Bill Mott trainee Riley Tucker completed the trifecta, which paid $1,227.20 for a $1.
Tomcito was sent off as the 7/2 favorite, making a mild late run to finish sixth.
With War Pass off the Derby trail, Pyro sits atop the graded stakes earnings list with $1,020,000. Trainer Nick Zito reported on Friday that War Pass has a small fracture in a sesamoid bone in the left front leg
There will still be some jostling for positions on the list in the upcoming week. Trainer Larry Jones may enter fillies Proud Spell and Eight Belles to face the boys in the Derby.
Salute the Sarge, who is sitting 14th on the list, put in a poor effort in the Lexington and may not go to the Derby.
Massive Drama, who sits at 19th on the list is another that seems doubtful to make the trip to Churchill Downs.
Several defections could open things up for some of the horse currently sitting on the fence. Here are the horses sitting 21st through 26th on the graded earnings list:
21 Visionaire $202,500
22 Big Truck $194,500
23 Bob Black Jack $180,000
24 Denis of Cork $165,000
25 Halo Najib $157,996
26 Indian Sun $154,000
It is entirely possible that Jones could enter both of his fillies in the Derby and Kentucky Oaks, and if he scratches his fillies after the post position draw, we would see a field of just eighteen, as there is no also-eligible list in the Derby.
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Weekly horse racing report is courtesy of Mike Dempsey at Turfnsport.com. Mike has been handicapping races for three decades and runs free horse handicapping contests [1] from his site every week. His exclusive Pointspread.com article appears here Mondays or Tuesdays.