Date: 04/20/02

Proud Citizen the wire-to-wire winner of the Lexington Stakes.

Today was the final day of prep races for the Kentucky Derby, unless you count the Derby Trial which most don't anymore. The big race of the day was the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland which will have a big impact on the Kentucky Derby field because of the $325,000 purse and its grade 2 status. The outcome was not as expected as heavy favorite Ethan Man did not break well and never was in contention while second favorite Easyfromthegitgo had to steady on the first turn and never got back on track afterwards. Instead it was 8.30-1 outsider Proud Citizen who went to the front on the drying Keeneland surface and never looked back. He turned back a challenge from American Style around the final turn then drew away in the stretch to win by 3 1/4 lengths over a late rallying Crimson Hero and Easyfromthegitgo. This victory gave him $226,083 in graded earnings which will guarantee him a spot in the Derby if trainer D. Wayne Lukas decides to send him, which he most likely will.

In the Federico Tesio at Pimlico, not as much was at stake since it is no longer graded. Local hero Magic Weisner was the 0.90-1 favorite but he just couldn't catch the front running Smoked Em who led all the way to win by 2 lengths. Heir D'Twine rallied from last to get third place.

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 4   Smoked Em          Migliore         8.40    2.60  2.20
 5   Magic Weisner      Teator                   2.40  2.20
 2   Heir D'Twine       Dominguez                      3.00

Smoked Em, winner of the Federico Tesio Stakes.
Winning Time:  1:50.33

$2 Exacta 4-5            18.20
$2 Trifecta 4-5-2        53.80

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 2   Proud Citizen      Smith           18.60   10.00  5.60
 9   Crimson Hero       Bailey                   8.20  4.20
 3   Easyfromthegitgo   Meche                          3.00

Proud Citizen begins to draw away in the stretch of the Lexington Stakes.

Winning Time:  1:44.58

$2 Exacta 2-9           142 60
$2 Quinella 2-9          83.00
$2 Trifecta 2-9-3       577.60