Gulfstream: G3 Holy Bull Winner Hades Confirmed for Lexington Stakes

By David Joseph —-

April 7, 2024

G3 Holy Bull Winner Hades Confirmed for Lexington Stakes

Orseno: ‘We’re Going All Out’ to Make Kentucky Derby Field

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – D. J. Stable LLC and Robert Cotran’s Hades, who has been entered in Saturday’s Lexington (G3) at Keeneland, will run in the 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds in a quest to earn a spot in the 20-horse field for the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1), trainer Joe Orseno confirmed Sunday.

“We’re going all out to get into the Derby,” Orseno said. “If he wins, he’s in.”

Hades, who sits outside the Top 20 with 30 qualifying points, would clinch a stall in the Churchill Downs starting gate with a victory in the Lexington, which offers 20 points to the winner.

The 3-year-old gelding had earned 25 Derby points with his front-running victory in the Feb. 3 Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park while winning his third career race without defeat. The Florida-bred son of Awesome Slew, who finished 3 ½ lengths clear of third-place finisher Fierceness in the Holy Bull, was no match for the 2023 2-year-old male champion in the March 30 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream, picking up only 5 Derby points with a fifth-place finish behind the victorious Todd Pletcher trainee.

Hades experienced early bumping and fell back to last in the nine-horse Florida Derby field before making a wide run to finish a well-beaten fifth. Orseno will add blinkers on Hades for the Lexington.

“I actually wanted to put blinkers on him before, but he kept winning,” Orseno said. “He’ll wear blinkers in the Lexington.”

Jose Ortiz is scheduled to ride Hades for the first time in the Lexington, in which he will face Brad Cox-trained Encino, who is coming off a victory in the March 2 John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park, and Robbie Medina-trained Liberal Arts, who won the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs last year and is coming off an off-the-board finish in the Arkansas Derby (G1), in a 10-horse field.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information, please email david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com, visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.