Storming up the rail with ground-devouring strides, First Mission gamely battled pacesetter Arabian Lion through the stretch before edging ahead in the final sixteenth to win the $400,000 Stonestreet Lexington (G3) Saturday at Keeneland.
Godolphin's homebred Street Sense colt, who entered off his maiden victory March 18 at Fair Grounds, covered 1/16 miles in 1:43.74 to notch a game victory in his stakes debut while making his third career start.
The Lexington is the final race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and offered 40 qualifying points 20-8-6-4-2 basis to the first- through fifth-place finishers. The Derby is limited to the top-20 points earners and invitees that pass the entry box.
Ridden by Luis Saez for trainer Brad Cox, First Mission paid $6.38 to win. He tracked in third early as Arabian Lion posted early fractions of :24.12 and :48.01 for a half mile. Moving up to second at the seven-sixteenths pole, he took aim on the front-runner around the turn and into the stretch, was unfazed by some light brushing at the furlong marker, then battled on resolutely to win by a half-length.
Arabian Lion held for second, and Disarm was third. The latter, runner-up in the Twinspires Louisiana Derby (G2) in his previous start, moved to 18th on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard, thus ensuring him a place in the starting gate for the May 6 classic at Churchill Downs.
Kentucky-bred First Mission was produced by the Medagalia d'Oro mare Elude.
This story will be updated.
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