LEXINGTON, Ky. — Encino won Saturday's $400,000 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland by three-quarters of a length, the final chance to qualify for next month’s Kentucky Derby.

What You Need To Know

  • Encino won Saturday's $400,000 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland by three-quarters of a length

  • It marked the final chance to qualify for next month's Kentucky Derby

  • Ridden by Florent Geroux, Encino led all the way in running 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.93

  • He paid $8.62, $3.94 and $3.42 

Ridden by Florent Geroux, Encino led all the way in running 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.93. He paid $8.62, $3.94 and $3.42.

The Wine Steward returned $3.32 and $2.88, while Ireland-bred Dilger was another 8 1/4 lengths back in third and paid $9.42 to show.

Trained by Brad Cox, Encino earned 20 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby May 4, giving him 40. That ties him with Grand Mo the First for 21st on the list, but Encino owns the tiebreaker based on his higher earnings. He would need a defection to get into the 20-horse Derby field.

Cox already has two Derby qualifiers in Catching Freedom and Just a Touch.

Hades came in with 30 qualifying points, and a victory would have guaranteed him a spot in the Derby. He finished seventh.

Related Stories