The $400,000-dollar, Grade 3 Lexington Stakes has, in years’ past, been a last chance for a 3-year-old prospect to garner enough points to gain a spot in the Kentucky Derby.

Not so this year. With just a maximum of 20 points up for grabs, the Winner of Saturday’s feature race at Keeneland will be woefully short of the cutoff to qualify for the May 3rd Run for the Roses.

But, with an evenly matched field of nine, this 1 1/16 miles contest could prove to be an interesting race to wager on.

Here’s a brief look at the field:

1. HARD AS LIFE [ML 30-1] Jockey: Sophie Doyle. Trainer: Michelle Nihei. Has yet to be tested on dirt. This son of GUN RUNNER has the pedigree but has yet to show the kind of potential to make him a Win contender.

2. BRACKET BUSTER [ML 20-1] Jockey: Manny Franco. Trainer: Victoria Oliver. Figures to be a longshot. Ran 5th last year in the Street Sense Stakes and hasn’t competed in the five months since then.

3. BULLARD [ML 9-2] Jockey: Umberto Rispoli. Trainer: Michael McCarthy. Has not raced since running 3rd in the San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita in early January. Won the G3 Bob Hope Stakes prior to that. If he gives his best effort here, he could contend.

4. ROLANDO [ML 6-1] Jockey: John Velazquez. Trainer: Fausto Gutierrez. His status for this race is iffy after he finished 4th in the Lafayette Stakes Monday at Keeneland.  Before that race, he recorded a Win in the six-furlong Hutcheson Stakes. His longest race was a mile, and he finished 3rd. Has the speed to lead, but can he sustain?

5. NATIVE RUNNER [ML 15-1] Jockey: Jose Ortiz. Trainer: Ken McPeek. Comes out of Starter Allowance and Maiden Wins at Fair Grounds and seems to be moving in an upward direction for his trainer. Worth a second look here.

6. GOSGER [ML 7-2] Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Trainer: Brendan Walsh. Won a Maiden race in a fast time in his second outing. This is his first attempt around two turns, but he appears to be bred for it. He is on the improve and is very much in the mix for a Win.

7. PRAETOR [ML 2-1] Jockey: Flavien Prat. Trainer: Chad Brown. Was an easy Winner of his lone 3-year-old start, an Allowance race at Gulfstream Park, and defeated a top Kentucky Derby contender- SOVEREIGNTY last year. A major player here.

8. HYPNUS [ML 6-1] Jockey: Luis Saez. Trainer: Ken McPeek. Ran 7th in both the Louisiana Derby and Risen Star Stakes. Takes on an easier challenge here, but the post position won’t help his cause.

9. TOUCHY [ML 8-1] Jockey: Joel Rosario. Trainer: Wesley Ward. Ran out of gas and finished 3rd in his only try around two turns- the Sunland Derby.  He finished 3rd in the Lafayette Stakes on Monday, so this would be a quick turnaround…if he runs.

The Lexington Stakes is listed as race 9 on a card of 11 with a scheduled Post Time of 5:20.

Best of luck however you play it.