LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -Over the course of a week, trainer Todd Pletcher went from having no Kentucky Derby qualifier to having three.
The latest, however, likely won't be joining him at Churchill Downs.
Behindatthebar pulled in front of Samba Rooster down the stretch and won the $325,000 Lexington Stakes by a length on Saturday at Keeneland, picking up $201,500 - more than enough graded stakes earnings to qualify for next month's Derby.
Pletcher didn't rule out an appearance for his colt, but signaled it was doubtful the horse would join stablemates Monba and Cowboy Cal in the May 3 Run for the Roses. Those two finished first and second in the Blue Grass Stakes a week ago, also on Keeneland's Polytrack.
``I don't think it's a distance issue,'' Pletcher said. ``It's a question of whether he's a dirt horse or synthetic horse.''
Behindatthebar, which went off at 5-1 odds, paid $13.60, $7.60 and $5.20. Samba Rooster paid $17 and $9.20, and Riley Tucker $6.80 to show.
Behindatthebar used a late charge under David Flores, passing three horses down the stretch.
``When he passed those horses, he wanted to lug in and stay with the horses, but I just kind of let him gallop out,'' Flores said. ``Doesn't look like the distance is going to be a problem.''
Samba Rooster, trained by Bob Baffert, led from the quarter pole until Behindatthebar passed him in the final seconds. Samba Rooster wasn't eligible for the Derby because he hadn't been nominated, but he was able to play spoiler for some of the others.
``It was a good race, good horses,'' Baffert said. ``We knew it would take a long ball.''
Riley Tucker, trained by William Mott, finished third but needed to win the race to qualify for the Derby.
Besides Behindatthebar, the only horse to run in the Lexington that has sufficient graded stakes earnings to qualify for the Derby was Eric Guillot's Salute the Sarge. The horse finished seventh, though, and Guillot said he will now almost certainly stay home on Derby day.
``Today was the determining factor whether we try (the Derby) or not,'' Guillot said. ``We couldn't go to bed tonight not knowing whether he could or not.''
The race also dashed the Derby hopes of prominent trainer D. Wayne Lukas, whose final shot - Red Sandy - was 10th in the 11-horse field. Also among the beaten was 3-1 favorite Tomcito, who finished sixth.
