Coolmore Lexington Draws Eight Derby Hopefuls

Edited release from Keeneland
A field of eight will face the starter for Saturday's $325,000-added Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland. The 1 1/16-mile race is the eighth on the nine-race card, with an approximate post of 4:45 p.m.

Trust N Luck brings the most accomplished resume into the race. The multiple stakes winning son of Montbrook thrust himself into the Triple Crown picture with an impressive wire-to-wire victory in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park. Subsequently second to early Kentucky Derby (gr. I) favorite Empire Maker in the Florida Derby (gr. I), also at Gulfstream, the Ralph Ziadie trainee will be ridden by Cornelio Velasquez.

While Trust N Luck may be the most accomplished horse in the field, owners Bob and Beverly Lewis and trainer D. Wayne Lukas are hoping lightening will strike twice in the Coolmore Lexington. The same owner/trainer combination sent out 1999 Coolmore Lexington winner Charismatic, who went on to win both the Derby and Preakness Stakes (gr. I). Lukas will saddle the Lewis' Scrimshaw this year. Jockey Edgar Prado gets the call on Scrimshaw.

Neil Drysdale will saddle Golden State Mile winner Ministers Wild Cat, who will sport blinker for the first time. The son of Deputy Minister ran second to Ocean Terrace in the El Camino Real Derby (gr. III) with an extremely wide trip. Victor Espinoza gets the call on the half-brother to Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) winner War Chant.

Keeneland's all-time leading rider Pat Day has taken the call on Lloyd Madison Farm's Champali, a graded winner as a 2-year-old, who won three stakes in a tow before finishing third in the Lane's End (gr. II) at Turfway Park. The son of Glitterman is trained by Greg Foley.

The field for Saturday's $325,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes includes:
1 -- Scrimshaw (Edgar Prado, 10-1)
2 -- Ministers Wild Cat (Victor Espinoza, 7-2)
3 -- Eye of the Tiger (Robby Albarado, 15-1)
4 -- Most Feared (Mark Guidry (6-1)
5 -- Domestic Dispute (Jerry Bailey, 9-2)
6 -- Champali (Pat Day, 4-1)
7 -- Ocean Terrace (Shane Sellers, 6-1)
8 -- Trust N Luck (Cornelio Velazquez, 3-1)