Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Proxy’s path depends on the Lexington
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Proxy may or may not already have enough qualifying points to make the 20-horse cutoff for the May 1 Kentucky Derby, but forget that for a moment. A more immediate concern for trainer Mike Stidham is seeing whether the colt is good enough to win a Grade 3 race such as the $200,000 Lexington Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland.
“I can’t answer any questions about the Derby until we see how he runs in this spot,” Stidham said.
Despite having been competitive in all three Derby preps at Fair Grounds this winter – he was second in the Jan. 16 Lecomte and Feb. 13 Risen Star, then fourth in the March 20 Louisiana Derby – Proxy “is still not a stakes winner,” Stidham said. “We’d really like to get that done with him first before we move on to something else.”
Bred and owned by Godolphin, Proxy has accumulated 34 Derby points, which puts him on or near the bubble, depending partly on what happens this weekend with the final two preps. The Lexington is a 20-8-4-2 race, while the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park is a 100-40-20-10 race.
Godolphin already has Essential Quality, winner of the Blue Grass last Saturday at Keeneland, as the likely Derby favorite. The worldwide powerhouse stable had another Derby hopeful in Prevalence, but he eliminated himself from consideration when finishing sixth last weekend in the Wood Memorial.
Stidham, who won the $12 million Dubai World Cup on March 27 for Godolphin with Mystic Guide, said his plans with Proxy will pivot entirely on what transpires in the 1 1/16-mile Lexington, one of four stakes on Saturday’s card at Keeneland.
“He’s coming into this in great shape, had a nice breeze here Sunday,” said Stidham, referring to a bullet half-mile in 46.80 seconds that marked his first work since the Louisiana Derby. “We just want to see where we are with him before we make any firm decisions. It’s possible we may just want to wait on the Preakness, or if he runs a big one, you’d almost have to run back in the Derby. You never say never in this business.”
Proxy, with John Velazquez riding, was one of 10 3-year-olds entered Wednesday for the 39th Lexington, the ninth of 11 races Saturday. From the rail, this is the field: Noble Reflection, Swiftsure, Bezos, It’s My House, Unbridled Honor, Hockey Dad, Proxy, Ultimate Badger, King Fury, and Starrininmydreams.
The Lexington will share the Saturday spotlight with the Jenny Wiley, a Grade 1 turf fixture that drew just six fillies and mares. Also on tap are the Grade 3 Ben Ali for older horses going 1 1/8 miles and the Giant’s Causeway for filly-mare turf sprinters.
Peterson to ride first local race
Ferrin Peterson, who rode 50 winners last summer and fall at Monmouth Park in New Jersey, is scheduled to ride a Keeneland race for the first time when she gets a leg up from Graham Motion on Bernadette the Jet in the fourth race Friday.
Peterson has not ridden since March 21 at Laurel Park, where she won with 3 of 37 mounts this winter after giving the New York circuit a try in the fall. The 29-year-old has quite an interesting back story as a licensed veterinarian who began riding races in February 2018.
“When Laurel shut down recently,” because of an equine herpesvirus scare, “Ferrin began galloping horses for me first at Fair Hill and now here,” Motion said at Keeneland. “She’s quite the worker and I’m glad to give her an opportunity.”
Peterson, who will return to riding at Laurel, isn’t the only jockey making a first appearance at this meet Friday. Umberto Rispoli, who won the Santa Anita Derby last weekend with Rock Your World, will be in from Southern California to ride Friday and Saturday, while Junior Alvarado, in from New York, has five Friday mounts, including Get Smokin in the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile.
◗ A golf scramble in memory of longtime racing official Rick Leigh will be held May 10 at Triple Crown Country Club in Union, Ky., near Turfway Park. The cost is $150 per player ($600 per team), with dinner and bar included. More information is available at (859) 466-2109.
Leigh, an Ohio native and Air Force veteran, died Oct. 4 at age 73 following nearly 50 years in racing. He worked for 25 years as Turfway racing secretary while also serving as a steward at Keeneland and Churchill.
◗ The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Keeneland once again are teaming this week to raffle off $35,000 in college scholarships. The bi-annual event is being conducted virtually because of the pandemic, with some in-person presentations also scheduled to be made between races Friday. Some scholarships already were awarded earlier this week. Lane’s End Farm and Coca-Cola also have made substantial contributions to the giveaways.
◗ The Grade One Gamble handicapping tournament is set for Saturday at Keeneland. At stake are an estimated $200,000 prize pool, six seats to the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge at Del Mar, and 10 seats to the 2022 National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas.