Disarm winning in his second start at Saratoga on Whitney Day (NYRA/Coglianese)
Darren Rogers/Churchill Downs
LOUISVILLE, Ky.— Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Disarm, runner-up in the TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (GII) in his most recent start, will try to earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) starting gate when he heads a field of 11 3-year-olds entered for Saturday’s 41st running of the $400,000 Lexington (GIII).
The 1 1/16-mile test will go as the ninth race on Saturday’s 11-race program at Keeneland with a 5:16 p.m. (all times Eastern) post time. First post Saturday is 1 p.m.
The Lexington is the final race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and carries 40 points that will be awarded on a 20-8-6-4-2 basis to the first- through fifth-place finishers. The Derby is limited to the top 20-point earners and invitees that pass the entry box.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Disarm has his 40 points from the Louisiana Derby. The current cut is 45 points.
Owning a record of 4-1-2-1, Disarm will be ridden Saturday by Jose Ortiz and exit post position 6. Disarm garnered much attention when he broke his maiden at second asking by 6 ¼ lengths on Aug. 6 at Saratoga. Following that race, Disarm was on the sidelines until Feb. 19 where he finished second by four lengths to Two Eagles River in a first-level allowance contest at Oaklawn. In the Louisiana Derby, Disarm was defeated 3 ½ lengths to Kingsbarns.
