Meet the Contenders: 2025 Lexington Stakes
Bullard romps in the Bob Hope at Del Mar (Photo by Benoit Photo)
April 9th, 2025
Meet the horses running in the 2025 Lexington S. (G3) 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 the opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your stable alerts.
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Hard as Life wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
#1 Hard as Life *
Pro: Has been running exclusively on turf/synthetic but might prefer switch to dirt.
Con: Up the track in lone stakes try, so plenty of class concerns.
Bracket Buster wins at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)
#2 Bracket Buster **
Pro: Graduated here and split field in a salty renewal of the Street Sense (G3).
Con: Unraced since Street Sense, which was way back on Oct. 27; might need one.
Bullard romps in the Bob Hope at Del Mar (Photo by Benoit Photo)
#3 Bullard *****
Pro: Brings solid graded form from Southern California; bred to like longer.
Con: How fit he will be after a four-month spell is the main concern.
🐎 Del Mar 2-year-old watch 👀
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 4, 2024
The Michael McCarthy trainee Bullard uncorked a strong rally to run down the Bob Baffert hotpot Kalea Bay on Sunday. The $675K yearling is a Gun Runner 1/2 brother to Mundaye Call.
Add Bullard to your #StableAlerts ⬇️ https://t.co/EbKnsv9cSC pic.twitter.com/69VRmHTd25
Rolando wins the Hutcheson. (Photo by Coglianese Photo / Credit to G Sonny Hughes)
#4 Rolando *
Pro: Gamely won Hutcheson S. two back and would be the one to catch if he runs.
Con: Raced on Monday and unlikely to start.
TwinSpires
#5 Native Runner *
Pro: Slow to come around but enters on a two-win race streak.
Con: Wasn’t beating the deepest fields at Fair Grounds; significantly tougher spot here.
TwinSpires
#6 Gosger ***
Pro: Nyquist has displayed some early promise, and barn was off to fast start this meet.
Con: Hasn’t yet faced winners and is relatively inexperienced.
Praetor breaking his maiden at Aqueduct (Photo by Chelsea Durand/Coglianese Photos)
#7 Praetor ****
Pro: Beat Sovereignty last year and trounced allowance foes in his comeback.
Con: Pace player wouldn’t want to get involved in a fast, contested tempo.
Hypnus wins at Fair Grounds. (Photo by Hodges Photography)
#8 Hypnus ***
Pro: Barn is still confident in his ability, and blinkers might help sharpen his speed.
Con: No threat in either Rebel (G2) or La. Derby (G2) despite some hype.
Touchy wins at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)
#9 Touchy ***
Pro: Multiple stakes-placed colt won impressively the first time over this track.
Con: No real threat in only two-turn attempt to date in Sunland Park Derby.
