Senior Investment wins three-horse photo finish

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Senior Investment's closing style aided him in catching West Coast and No Dozing in a three-horse photo finish in the Grade III $200,000 Lexington Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland.

With at least several rivals having difficult trips either by racing wide or getting jostled about during a congested running, Senior Investment found himself racing clear of traffic and saving ground for most of the race. That left him in a position to out-kick No Dozing through the lane and catch midstretch leader West Coast by a head on the wire.

Senior Investment managed the victory despite the Lexington being just 1 1/16 miles, a distance trainer Ken McPeek feels is less than his best, and with the short stretch that comes into play in 1 1/16-mile races at Keeneland, which begin and end at the 16th pole.

He finished like a horse who would appreciate the 1¼-mile distance of the Kentucky Derby, but barring a slew of defections his Derby participation is highly improbable with the race expected to overfill beyond the limit of 20 horses. He has 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, all earned in winning the Lexington, well below the customary threshold to gain entry when the race is oversubscribed.

"I think Churchill should add more points to this race immediately," McPeek quipped in the winner's circle.

The Lexington could more realistically serve as a prep for the Preakness or Belmont Stakes, although McPeek didn't commit to either after the Lexington.

The winner raced 1 1/16 miles on a fast track under Channing Hill in a slow 1:45.05, paying $24.20. He notched his third victory and his first stakes win in eight starts for owner Fern Circle Stables.

Both runner-up West Coast and third-place No Dozing, the 9-5 favorite, ran gamely to just miss, with West Coast having to circle wide after breaking from the outside post in a field of 10 and No Dozing encountering traffic and getting steadied when a rank Souper Tapit impeded him into the first turn.

Sports on 04/16/2017

Upcoming Events