In the weeks leading up to the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 3, the US Racing Handicappers will lay out $100 worth of betting options on selected races.
2025 LEXINGTON STAKES PRIME CONTENDERS
#7 PRAETOR
This is the last chance for a horse to earn 2025 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Unfortunately, the 20 points awarded to the winner will not be enough to get any of these runners to the Kentucky Derby.
So, you have to take the long-range view, bringing the Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 17 into view. That’s where trainer Chad Brown hopes Praetor lands after this race.
Praetor is the 2-1 morning-line favorite following a pair of sharp 1-mile wins. The latest was a 7 ½-length front-running romp in an allowance at Gulfstream Park.
With Tyler Gaffalione sidelined by injury, Flavien Prat gets the riding assignment. Prat was aboard for the colt’s first two races.
Praetor has faced some classy company in his three-race career. He ran third in his debut last summer at Saratoga to Ferocious. He followed that with a maiden victory at Aqueduct over Sovereignty, who came back to win the Street Sense at Churchill Downs and the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream before finishing second in the Florida Derby (G1).
This is the stakes debut for a colt destined for bigger and better. Look for him down the road in Baltimore on Preakness Day.
#3 BULLARD
Michael McCarthy trains Journalism, the Derby points leader who will enter that race as the one to beat.
Bullard. Benoit Photo.
Bullard has a way to go to match his illustrious stablemate. Not that he can’t be a factor here.
Bullard is a graded stakes winner, having captured the Bob Hope (G3) at Del Mar, beating Kentucky Derby prospect Madaket Road in the process. Next out was a third-place finish behind Barnes in the San Vicente (G2).
His resume is impressive, but there are a few caveats. His most recent start, the San Vicente, was over three months ago. He might need this race to get back into the game.
The other concern is distance. He has yet to run beyond 7 furlongs. At 1 1/16 miles, the Lexington Stakes will test his stamina in his first two-turn race.
# 9 TOUCHY
Always seems to be in the mix with a record of 1-2-2 in six starts. Most impressively, he usually runs well at Keeneland, with a maiden win and a third-place finish in the Lafayette Stakes on Monday.
Running back on short rest can be detrimental, but trainer Wesley Ward has a knack for defying conventional wisdom.
WORTH A LOOK
#8 HYPNUS
Hypnus garnered considerable attention with his debut win in the slop at the Fair Grounds in mid-January.
His follow-up efforts were a pair of seventh-place finishes in the Rebel Stakes (G2) and the Louisiana Derby (G2).
We think the potential is still there, and trainer Kenny McPeek hopes to unlock it with the addition of blinkers.
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