Encino wins Lexington Stakes in final Kentucky Derby qualifier. He'll need a defection to make race

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Encino won the $400,000 Lexington Stakes by three-quarters of a length at Keeneland on Saturday, the final chance to qualify for next month’s Kentucky Derby.

Ridden by Florent Geroux, Encino led all the way in running 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.93. He paid $8.62, $3.94 and $3.42.

The Wine Steward returned $3.32 and $2.88, while Ireland-bred Dilger was another 8 1/4 lengths back in third and paid $9.42 to show.

Trained by Brad Cox, Encino earned 20 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby on May 4, giving him a total of 40. That ties him with Grand Mo the First for 21st on the list, but Encino owns the tiebreaker based on his higher earnings. He would need a defection to get into the 20-horse Derby field.

Cox already has two Derby qualifiers in Catching Freedom and Just a Touch.

Hades came in with 30 qualifying points and a victory would have guaranteed him a spot in the Derby. He finished seventh.