Horse Racing Roundup : War Upsets J.T.’s Pet, Runs Himself Right Into the Derby

War, a 16-1 longshot, took the lead at the final turn and was never headed in posting a 2 1/2-length victory Saturday in the $147,950 Lexington Stakes before a crowd of 24,295 at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

Odds-on favorite J.T.’s Pet, previously unbeaten in five starts as a 3-year-old, never threatened and finished a distant fourth, 12 1/2 lengths behind the winner.

“I don’t know if he was a little tired from his last race (a victory in the Jim Beam Stakes) or just didn’t care for the track,” said Eddie Delahoussaye, J.T.’s Pet’s jockey.

War, ridden by Herb McCauley, covered the 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:44 2/5. Candi’s Gold, ridden by Bill Shoemaker, finished 2 1/2 lengths back in second, and Momentus, with Alex Solis up, rallied to was third.

War, winning for the second time in seven starts this year, earned $96,843 for owner Tom Gentry and boosted his bankroll to $155,973. “You’ve got to go for the big one (the May 2 Kentucky Derby),” Gentry said.

Trainer Lynn Whiting said earlier this week that Saturday’s race would be J.T.’s Pet’s final prep for the Derby, but the colt’s status is now uncertain.

Very Subtle reaffirmed her credentials as one of the top 3-year-old fillies in the country when she won the $271,300 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., on a disqualification of Up the Apalachee.

Up the Apalachee, who had won 8 of 9 starts, led almost every step of the way in the Grade I event and was more than a length in front of Very Subtle, ridden by Chris McCarron, with less than an eighth of a mile to go.

But Mario Torres hit Up the Apalachee left-handed and she moved over in front of Very Subtle and was placed second for impeding McCarron’s horse.

Very Subtle, owned by the estate of Carl Grinstead and B. Rochelle, earned $162,780 for finishing in 1:42 2/5.

Local favorite Lost Code, a 3-year-old Maryland-bred colt, upset Kentucky Derby hopefuls Phantom Jet and Homebuilder to win the inaugural $350,000 Alabama Derby by a length at Birmingham, Ala.

Lost Code, an 8-1 shot in the 1 1/8-mile race, grabbed the lead from Homebuilder on the backstretch and held on to win in a time of 1:51 3/5 under Gene St. Leon. Lost Code is not a Triple Crown nominee.

Homebuilder was second; Phantom Jet finished third.

Pine Tree Lane, the only filly or mare in the field of seven, led from wire to wire and won the $172,500 Bold Ruler Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths over Love That Mac at Aqueduct in New York.

Pine Tree Lane, trained by Wayne Lukas, ran the six-furlong stake in 1:09.