Post by SoK Admin on Apr 18, 2005 16:02:43 GMT -5
Rockport Harbor will face a short field
Marty McGee | Daily Racing Form
LEXINGTON, Ky. - After the Blue Grass Stakes and Arkansas Derby go into the record books this weekend, just one serious prep will remain for the May 7 Kentucky Derby.
And, as usual, a handful of 3-year-olds will be trying to take the so-called backdoor route to the Derby by running in next Saturday's $325,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, which will be run for the 24th time.
Easily the most noteworthy candidate for the Grade 2 Lexington is Rockport Harbor, the once-beaten colt who has been nagged by minor ailments and injuries throughout his winter-spring campaign at Oaklawn Park. As few as four other starters are expected for the 1 1/16-mile race.
Rockport Harbor is scheduled to arrive by van Sunday at Keeneland after breezing the previous morning at Oaklawn, according to trainer John Servis. The colt went through a routine gallop under exercise rider Bobby Velez on Friday morning at Oaklawn.
Primarily because Rockport Harbor has had just one race this year, a second-place finish in the March 19 Rebel Stakes, Servis tentatively has planned for the colt to work out an extra sixteenth-mile beyond the finish of the Lexington.
Probably the most formidable prospective foe for Rockport Harbor is Going Wild, who will be running back on two weeks' rest after a dismal performance in the April 9 Wood Memorial for D. Wayne Lukas. The other probable starters, with trainers, are Sort It Out, Bob Baffert; Southern Africa, Mike Puhich; and Storm Surge, Dallas Stewart.
The 2004 Lexington drew an all-time record Keeneland crowd of 31,028.
The other stakes here this week are the Doubledogdare on Wednesday, the Forerunner on Thursday, the Royal Chase steeplechase on Friday, the Stravinsky on the Lexington undercard, and the Appalachian on Sunday. All are $100,000 races except the $150,000 Royal Chase.
Marty McGee | Daily Racing Form
LEXINGTON, Ky. - After the Blue Grass Stakes and Arkansas Derby go into the record books this weekend, just one serious prep will remain for the May 7 Kentucky Derby.
And, as usual, a handful of 3-year-olds will be trying to take the so-called backdoor route to the Derby by running in next Saturday's $325,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, which will be run for the 24th time.
Easily the most noteworthy candidate for the Grade 2 Lexington is Rockport Harbor, the once-beaten colt who has been nagged by minor ailments and injuries throughout his winter-spring campaign at Oaklawn Park. As few as four other starters are expected for the 1 1/16-mile race.
Rockport Harbor is scheduled to arrive by van Sunday at Keeneland after breezing the previous morning at Oaklawn, according to trainer John Servis. The colt went through a routine gallop under exercise rider Bobby Velez on Friday morning at Oaklawn.
Primarily because Rockport Harbor has had just one race this year, a second-place finish in the March 19 Rebel Stakes, Servis tentatively has planned for the colt to work out an extra sixteenth-mile beyond the finish of the Lexington.
Probably the most formidable prospective foe for Rockport Harbor is Going Wild, who will be running back on two weeks' rest after a dismal performance in the April 9 Wood Memorial for D. Wayne Lukas. The other probable starters, with trainers, are Sort It Out, Bob Baffert; Southern Africa, Mike Puhich; and Storm Surge, Dallas Stewart.
The 2004 Lexington drew an all-time record Keeneland crowd of 31,028.
The other stakes here this week are the Doubledogdare on Wednesday, the Forerunner on Thursday, the Royal Chase steeplechase on Friday, the Stravinsky on the Lexington undercard, and the Appalachian on Sunday. All are $100,000 races except the $150,000 Royal Chase.