Exhi avoids Kentucky clash with stablemate

Stablemate to the potentially great Eskendereya, EXHI had his own time on the limelight after winning the Lexington Stakes. This Keeneland race is an accepted trial for Churchill Downs but Todd Pletcher rules his 20/1 winner out of the big one in May.

Pletcher said that Exhi would stick to less lofty targets and will not be taking on the same yard's red-hot Kentucky derby favorite Eskendereya. You can't help but think that were Exhi in a lesser yard, or even Pletcher's only hope, then he would get his day on the big stage. After all, there is only one Kentucky Derby. But Pletcher already has four likely runners in the race and maybe he feels a fifth would be just plain greedy!

Exhi was impressive in victory, making every yard of the running, to beat Jonathan Sheppard's Bushwacked, another who will not be going for the Derby.

Meanwhile news of Exhi's illustrious peer is that Eskendereya, and Pletcher' other Derby fancies (Mission Impazible, Discreetly Mine,  Rule), did fast work over five furlongs. The Churchill Downs favorite in the betting lines pleased his trainer.