Last-Ditch Derby
Coin Silver wins the Lexington and pays $28.80; big favorite Rockport Harbor finishes sixth out of seven. It was clear as the field entered the stretch that Rockport had lost — he was too far back, didn’t seem to like the sloppy track, and would have had to make an amazing come-from-behind move to take the lead, and he just didn’t seem to have the energy or the heart to do any such thing this afternoon. Trainer John Servis was circumspect when asked after the race where Rockport Harbor would go next. “I’ll have to talk to Mr. Porter,” said Servis, adding, “You haven’t heard the last of [Rockport Harbor] yet.” Servis had said before the race that Rockport would have to win the Lexington convincingly to go to the Derby, otherwise, he would probably be pointed to the Preakness.
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The Lexington Stakes, aka “The last chance to make the Kentucky Derby,” is scheduled for today (Globe), with a field of eight — including Rockport Harbor, Sort It Out, and Going Wild — trying to prove they belong in Louisville two weeks from now. Rockport needs to win to prove he’s ready for the challenge of the Derby, Sort It Out needs to win so he has the graded stakes earnings to enter the Derby, and Going Wild needs to win to redeem his unexplainably bad performance in the Wood. Who will win, though, is anyone’s guess (I’m staying away from handicapping this race, which looks like a mess with horses coming off layoffs, out of difficult-to-interpret races, moving into stakes company for the first time, etc.). If Rockport shows up in even his Rebel form, his likely favorite status is justified, but Going Wild does fit a Lexington Stakes pattern trainer D. Wayne Lukas has established (DRF — sub. req.)…
Tangentially related: Galloping Grocer, who ran second to Rockport Harbor in the Remsen last November and who was talked about as “the next Funny Cide” early in the Triple Crown season, drops back into restricted stakes company. (Daily Racing Form)
