Owendale rallied to take charge entering the stretch and went on to win the US$200,000 Lexington Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths over Anothertwistafate at Keeneland on Saturday and earn 20 points toward the Kentucky Derby.
Though the bay colt is outside the points cutoff for the Derby, he earned his second win in three starts this year and first stakes triumph. Starting from the No. 8 post, Owendale made his way through the 10-horse field into the lead at the stretch and eventually drew clear in the Grade 3 race. It marked a big turnaround for the Brad Cox-trained horse after an eighth-place finish in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 16.
Ridden by Florent Geroux, Owendale covered 1 1/16 mile in 1:44.14.
Anothertwistafate was second while Sueno third.