Tipsheet: The 2026 Lexington Stakes

A well-matched field of 11 three-year-olds will run 1 1/16 miles on the dirt at Keeneland in Saturday’s $400,000 Lexington (G3). The final stop on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series will reward the top five across the line with qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale. 

Lexington Stakes Picks

• #10 Confessional
• #1 Corona de Oro
• #2 Exhibition Only
• #4 Enforced Agenda 

Lexington Stakes Wagers

• $30 win #10 Confessional
• $5 trifecta key 10 with 1,2,4

Lexington Stakes Contenders

#1 CORONA DE ORO (6-1): Dallas Stewart trainee has improved his Brisnet Speed rating in each lifetime run to date, capped by a strong maiden win in his route debut last time out. The $160,000 juvenile purchase gets a nice slot on the fence for his second run on the course and will be in range at the top of the lane with Brian Hernandez, Jr. in the stirrups. 

#2 EXHIBITION ONLY (10-1): Rudy Rodriguez pupil has moved forward quite a bit since having blinkers added three back and was last seen checking in fourth in the Gotham (G3). The Complexity colt will run two turns on the dirt for the first time and will be in the hunt from the break with regular pilot Ruben Silvera on board. 

#3 DECISIVE WIN (15-1): Second timer from the barn of Doug O’Neill dueled on the front before tiring late in a loaded sprint field at Santa Anita in his unveiling. The $600,000 Nyquist colt will appreciate the added ground and has the look of a decent prospect going forward, and his recent six-furlong drill was rapid, as well. Antonio Fresu coming in to ride is another positive. 

#4 ENFORCED AGENDA (10-1): St Elias homebred was a good debut winner and came home third in the Jerome S. in his second lifetime appearance. The George Weaver trainee has been working steadily in advance of his graded debut, and the son of Liam’s Map has exotics appeal against this group with Javier Castellano in the stirrups. 

#5 MISTER T (30-1): Indiana-bred colt is three-for-three on the dirt since moving to the main oval following his grassy debut. The son of Sahara Sky has been dominant in both route races in advance of his graded bow, but the dark bay will face a major class hike while facing this cast. Mitchell Murrill retains the ride. 

#6 RAMBLIN (20-1): Ghostzapper colt has run on the grass in eight straight and will try his luck on the dirt as a longshot in the group. The former claimer was a non-factor in his first run with stakes foes last time out and would be a surprise in this one with Mario Gutierrez aboard. 

#7 THE HELL WE DID (8-1): Half-brother to 2024 Saudi Cup (G1) winner Senor Buscador has been sharp sprinting against lesser leading up to his first route attempt on the big class hike for Todd Fincher. The Authentic colt is surely talented and bred to be a good one, and he also got a five-furlong drill over the surface, as well. Luis Saez will guide the interesting sophomore. 

#8 TRENDSETTER (20-1): Ben Colebrook pupil has faced stakes winners in six straight endeavors and fits well in the field. The gelded son of Modernist is two-for-three on the main strip in his lifetime and comes off of a solid third in the Rushaway S. at Turfway Park, which was his initial two-turn try. He will do his best work from off the pace with Kimura staying in the silks. 

#9 EZUM (2-1): First of two from the Brad Cox shedrow failed at first asking at Gulfstream Park prior to annihilating maiden runners by 19 lengths at Colonial Downs in his second offering. The gray son of Essential Quality will face much tougher opposition on this day, however, and he is a difficult read in his third lifetime attempt with Flavien Prat riding. 

#10 CONFESSIONAL (7-2): Virginia Derby third has faced some very good ones this season and returns to the venue where he was a debut maiden winner in October. The $160,000 yearling buy showed good improvement with the blinkers going back on most recently, and I feel that he will get a fine trip after stalking the early tempo with Irad in the silks. 

#11 I DID I DID (10-1): Mike Maker trainee was a close second in an allowance tilt on the Colonial Downs strip in his latest sighting and draws widest in the field. The bay son of Curlin has been inconsistent to this stage of his development, and he will need to take a huge step forward to upset this field, too. Juan Hernandez will take the reins.