Barely a week following his guidance of Percy’s Bar to an unexpected victory against the highly favored Zany in the Grade 1 Central Bank Ashland Stakes on April 3, conditioner Ben Colebrook orchestrated an even more astonishing outcome on April 11, as Trendsetter clinched a 32-1 longshot triumph in the $398,750 Grade 3 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes held at Keeneland.
“Someone needs to confirm this for me,” he remarked with a grin. “Such a result is entirely unanticipated.”
The general populace certainly didn’t foresee it. Trendsetter was listed as the seventh preference among the nine 3-year-olds competing in the Lexington. Following initial victories in his first two outings, Trendsetter had endured a series of five consecutive defeats, albeit with a few creditable finishes in smaller stakes events, notably a third-place performance in the Rushaway Stakes on March 21 at Turfway Park.
Neither Colebrook nor the owning entity, Midway Racing, had entered Trendsetter for the Triple Crown competition during the initial nomination period, which concluded at a cost of $600 this past winter, nor during the subsequent nomination window that ended last week with a fee of $6,000.
His Saturday performance, taking place on his familiar Keeneland course, elevated his capabilities significantly. He closed in on the front-runners from the fourth position around the second bend with an impressive burst of speed, ultimately extending his lead to secure a 2 1/4-length victory ahead of The Hell We Did, who finished second and is a paternal half-sibling to the 2024 Saudi Cup champion, Senor Buscador. The initial leader, Corona de Oro, who posted sectional times of :23.68, :47.92, and 1:12.12, managed to retain third place.
Trendsetter covered the 1 1/16 miles distance on a swift racing surface in 1:44.51, marking the most extended time for the event since Tawny Port completed it in 1:45.24 in 2022. His winning payout was $66.68.
“I believe there’s considerable advantage in training at Keeneland throughout the year and having an equine athlete that is familiar with and accustomed to this particular track,” Colebrook stated.
The rider, Kazushi Kimura, whose operations are typically located in California, seemed to err in judging the first finish line, which is utilized for 1 1/16-mile races at Keeneland, continuing to urge his mount towards the more conventional finish positioned further down the straight. This error proved inconsequential. Trendsetter triumphed with a significant margin of victory.
I Did I Did secured the fourth position, while the preferred entry, Confessional, came in fifth.
Despite the Lexington providing a restricted number of points as the concluding preparatory event within the Road to the Kentucky Derby series, awarding scores of 20-10-6-4-2 to its leading five contenders, it is improbable that any competitor will advance into the Derby roster. Even should Trendsetter be added to the Derby at an expense of $200,000, his 20 qualification points fall beneath the present cutoff for participation. Churchill Downs employs a system of preference based on qualifying points when the Derby exceeds its 20-horse capacity.
Trendsetter has the option to be supplemented into the Triple Crown for a sum of $150,000 prior to the second leg, the Preakness Stakes on May 16 at Laurel Park. The fee to do so before the Triple Crown’s third and concluding race, the Belmont Stakes, sponsored by NYRA Bets on June 6 at Saratoga Race Course, is $50,000.
The previous year’s victor of the Lexington, Gosger, secured a second-place finish in the 2025 Preakness, trailing Journalism.
“Numerous opportunities exist for 3-year-old horses, thus I anticipate we will likely forgo attempting the Preakness,” Colebrook commented regarding a potential Preakness attempt. “However, we will certainly discuss the matter.”
The Preakness might present an alternative for the second-place finisher, The Hell We Did, given that the Lexington marked his inaugural venture into a longer distance.
