Meet the Contenders: 2023 Lexington Stakes

Meet the horses running in the 2023 Lexington (G3) over 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well in the Lexington field.

#1 BASELINE BEATER *

Pro: Deep-closing colt broke his maiden racing 1 1/16 miles at Fair Grounds.

Con: Never factored in his first Road to the Kentucky Derby foray, finishing ninth in the Louisiana Derby (G2).

#2 REINVEST * *

Pro: Unbeaten colt is 2-for-2, most recently nabbing an allowance optional claimer at Tampa Bay Downs.

Con: His career-best 82 Brisnet Speed rating looks light against the Lexington field.

#3 DEMOLITION DUKE * * *

Pro: Narrowly failed to rally and win a slow-paced allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds last month.

Con: Has yet to run especially fast on the Brisnet Speed rating scale.

#4 TRANSECT *

Pro: Beautifully bred son of Gun Runner has the pedigree to shine running long on dirt.

Con: Both of his victories have come sprinting on synthetic, and he exits a 10th-place run in the one-mile Gotham (G3) on dirt.

#5 FIRST MISSION * * * *

Pro: Trounced a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Fair Grounds last month, winning by 6 3/4 lengths with a 93 Brisnet Speed rating.

Con: He’s stepping up against tougher competition in the Lexington.

#6 DISARM * * * * *

Pro: Improving colt rallied from behind a slow pace to finish second in the Louisiana Derby.

Con: Doesn’t have a ton of tactical speed and may need a quick pace to fire his best shot.

#7 DENINGTON * *

Pro: Stretch-running colt has hit the board in a couple of Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers.

Con: Never challenged when coming home 10th in the Louisiana Derby.

#8 EMPIRESTRIKESFAST * * * *

Pro: Earned a flashy 99 Brisnet Speed rating when beating next-out Wood Memorial (G2) third-place finisher Dreamlike in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park.

Con: He’s only run once and is stepping up in class for the Lexington.

#9 PRAIRIE HAWK * * *

Pro: Finished fourth in a deep renewal of the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) that contained future Blue Grass (G1) winner Tapit Trice and Wood Memorial hero Lord Miles.

Con: The Lexington favorites have run a bit faster on the Brisnet Speed rating scale.

#10 CURLY LARRY AND MO *

Pro: Pacesetting colt is facing a Lexington field filled primarily with stalkers and closers.

Con: Scored his lone victory on turf and is 0-for-2 on dirt.

#11 ARABIAN LION * * *

Pro: Ran well to finish second in an allowance optional claimer at Keeneland last fall, earning a 98 Brisnet Speed rating.

Con: He’s done his best work sprinting and hasn’t cracked the trifecta in two starts running long, both times against Road to the Kentucky Derby competition.