Tom Pedulla presents five key takeaways from the $400,000 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes at Keeneland Race Course, the last race of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve prep season, the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., and other major developments this weekend.

Fans enjoy the spring weekend at Keeneland. (Eclipse Sportswire)

PREAKNESS PREP: The Lexington Stakes marked the close of the Derby prep season, but it almost surely served as a springboard to the May 20 Preakness at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course for First Mission. The Godolphin homebred was an impressive winner in only his third start, making a courageous move up the rail for jockey Luis Saez to turn back Arabian Lion by half a length for trainer Brad Cox. “I think he answered a lot of questions [Saturday], so we’d certainly look hard at that,” Michael Banahan, director of bloodstock for Godolphin USA, said of a potential Preakness start. “We have a nice horse for down the road even if he doesn’t make one of the classics.”

SIGNIFICANT THIRD: Disarm’s third-place Lexington finish was good enough for six Derby qualifying points that advanced him into the expected 20-horse Derby field. He moved into 19th place on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 46 points for owner Ron Winchell and trainer Steve Asmussen. The connections will seriously consider the opening leg of the Triple Crown despite the quick three-week turnaround from the Lexington. “We’ll see how he comes out of this race,” Winchell said. “We’ve always thought that a mile and a quarter would be fine for him.” Disarm, a son of Gun Runner, is a Winchell homebred that has won once in five career starts.

PULSATING FINISH: The imposing presence of speedy Secret Oath and late-running Clairiere kept the Apple Blossom field to four starters. The expected showdown between two of racing’s brightest stars in the filly and mare division indeed materialized. Clairiere displayed tremendous resolve for jockey Joel Rosario in running down her rival by a neck in the 1 1/16-mile contest. “She really dug in there. I was able to get there on time,” Rosario said. “She always tries hard.” Clairiere and Rosario form a dynamic duo since Rosario is arguably the strongest rider in the game when it comes to finishing races. The determined Clairiere covered the distance in 1:43.36.

Probable Derby favorite Forte arrived at Churchill Downs. (Coady Photography)

GEARING UP: Three of trainer Todd Pletcher’s Kentucky Derby candidates completed the Florida portion of their preparations when Forte, Kingsbarns and Major Dude all drilled four furlongs on Friday at Palm Beach Downs in Delray Beach, Fla. Derby favorite Forte, working in company with 4-year-old Bright Future, coasted through his move in :50.28. “We just wanted to let him stretch his legs a little bit and not do too much. It looked like he was just kind of in an open gallop out there, doing really well,” Pletcher said. More was asked of undefeated Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby winner Kingsbarns and Major Dude. They worked together in :49.49, according to Daily Racing Form. “I thought they both went really well,” Pletcher said. Major Dude is on the Derby bubble and likely to make his next start on turf.

NO CATCHING HER: In Italian, a runner-up in the Maker’s Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf last November at Keeneland, returned there for a front-running three-length victory in the $600,000, Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes on Saturday. Confidently ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., the 5-year-old completed the mile and a sixteenth in 1:39.71 on a firm turf course in her season debut for owner Peter Brant. Trainer Chad Brown captured the prestigious Jenny Wiley for the fifth time in six years. That torrid stretch began with Sistercharlie (2018), Rushing Fall (2019-20) and Regal Glory last year. Brown, the nation’s preeminent turf trainer, has won the Jenny Wiley six times overall, beginning with Ball Dancing in 2015.