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3rd at 3 COOLMORE LEXINGTON S.(gr. II , 8.5f , to Exhi, Bushwhacked, defeating Chief Counsel, Prince Will I Am, Kettle River, Distorted Dave, Heavenville, Krypton, Connemara, Call Shot, Lonesome Street ).
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Exhi picked a good time to win his first graded stakes. The victory came in the April 17 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II), the last of the major preps for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Exhi races for brothers Alain and Gerard Wertheimer in the name Wertheimer and Frere (frre is French for brother). The Wertheimers are Swiss residents and senior members of the French family that owns Chanel perfume. The Wertheimers not only have a viable Derby contender in Exhi but also in Interactif. A 2009 graded stakes winner and third in the BreedersÕ Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IIT), Interactif ran second in this yearÕs San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) and the Hallandale Beach Stakes on turf and fourth in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland. Exhi, who shared top weight of 121 pounds with 4-1 favorite Connemara in the Lexington, scored at 19-1 by a length over Bushwhacked, with Connemara finishing 10th. The victory came in ExhiÕs third start of the year. Exhi had won the March 27 Rushaway Stakes at Turfway Park in his last outing. Wertheimer et Frere purchased ExhiÕs dam, Soldera, for $600,000 at the 2004 Keeneland November breeding stock sale from Eaton Sales, agent. In the race preceding the Lexington, Wertheimer and FrereÕs West Ocean took command at the eighth pole and drew off to an easy 43Ú4-length score in the 14th running of the $100,000 GiantÕs Causeway. It was the second consecutive stakes win for the 4-year-old son of Elusive Quality. ExhiÕs sire, deceased MariaÕs Mon, is no stranger to siring a Kentucky Derby winner. His son Monarchos won the 2001 Run for the Roses. Both Monarchos and Exhi were produced from Northern Dancer-line mares. MariaÕs Mon is represented as a stallion by 50 stakes winners, including additional 2010 added-money winner Paris Vegas (in France). MariaÕs Mon stood at Josephine AbercrombieÕs Pin Oak Stud near Versailles, Ky., prior to his death in 2007.ÑD.S. |
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