Adding to the confusion

Todd Pletcher has Polytrack figured out, taking the Lexington Stakes yesterday at Keeneland with 5-1 Behindatthebar, who is now three-for-four over synthetic footing. A week ago, Pletcher sent out the first two to finish in the Blue Grass Stakes. This puts him in the Kentucky Derby with three horses, none considered contenders before their wins at Keeneland.

Nowhere in the Lexington and now out of the Derby picture: Peruvian Tomcito, probably Salute the Sarge, whose trainer, Eric Guillot, said would have to win the Lexington to run in Louisville and the others who finished behind Behindatthebar.

It is difficult to recall a year in which a Derby was as muddled as this one a fortnight before the race but is becoming evident either that Big Brown is destined to bury this group or any horse in the inevitable field of 20 can win.

At Aqueduct …

There is no jockey at Aqueduct riding better or with more confidence of late than Channing Hill and Rajiv Maragh. Hill on Saturday rode three straight winners owned by Barry K. Schwartz and trained by Mike Hushion – Grasberg, P.R. Paul and Stalingrad. The streak came to an untimely end after the hat trick when Hill got no response from favored Golden Dawn in the Bed o’ Roses Handicap won by 7-1 Rite Moment, who was partnered by Maragh, his third winner on the day. Maragh rode the winners of the second and third races.

Meanwhile, at this early stage of the turf racing season, the course at Aqueduct is hard, dry and in need of water. Horses on Saturday raised dust at ever point of three races run over the lawn. Fortunately, the opening of Belmont Park is just around the corner.