Kentucky Derby and Oaks Roundup: Feb. 28, 2022

The final weekend of February produced major developments on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Road to the Kentucky Oaks. But from some perspectives, it was the calm before the storm.

If you thought February was a busy month, just look ahead to March, when 10 Kentucky Derby and Oaks qualifiers will take place during the first week alone.

There’s a lot to cover, so let’s dive in and review the latest news and notes.

Changes on the leaderboard

Monumental upsets are relatively rare on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, but there was an exception at Oaklawn Park last Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile Rebel S. (G2) was supposed to go the way of Newgrange, but when the 4-5 favorite gave way down the homestretch, 75-1 longshot Un Ojo rallied up the rail to post a half-length victory.

Previously runner-up in the Withers S. (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Un Ojo has accumulated 54 Kentucky Derby qualification points, placing him second on the leaderboard and virtually assuring the son of Laoban a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate.

Coming home right behind Un Ojo in the Rebel was Ethereal Road, who overcame a wide trip and an early move to finish second. He debuts on the leaderboard in fourth place with 20 points, narrowly edging out Barber Road (18 points, fifth place), who rallied to finish third in the Rebel. Kavod, who set the Rebel pace before fading to fourth place, has amassed 7 points to slot in 19th place on the leaderboard.

On the work tab

Cabo Spirit: Worked five furlongs in 1:02.60 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Call Me Midnight: Turned in an easy half-mile workout on Saturday at Fair Grounds, completing the move in :51.20.

Classic Causeway: The Sam F. Davis S. (G3) winner returned to the work tab on Saturday at Palm Meadows, traveling four furlongs in :48.50.

Commandperformance: Breezed five furlongs in an easy 1:02.29 on Saturday at Palm Beach Downs.

Giant Game: Blazed five furlongs in :59.04 on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Gilded Age: Breezed half a mile in :49.20 on Friday at Payson Park, his first workout since finishing third in the Withers S. (G3).

Major General: Worked five furlongs in 1:02.29 on Saturday at Palm Beach Downs.

Mo Donegal: Clocked a half mile in :49.37 on Saturday at Palm Beach Downs.

Rattle N Roll: The Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner continued along the comeback trail with a swift five furlongs in :58.67 on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Shipsational: Fired off a bullet six-furlong workout on Sunday at Tampa Bay Downs, traversing the distance in 1:13.60.

Simplification: Clocked five furlongs in 1:02.66 on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

White Abarrio: Breezed three furlongs in :36.22 on Sunday at Gulfstream, his first timed move since dominating the Holy Bull S. (G3).

Road to the Kentucky Oaks

There’s a new name atop the Road to the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard. Secret Oath couldn’t have been much more impressive in the Honeybee S. (G3) on Saturday at Oaklawn Park, waiting and steadying behind rivals before unleashing a bold rail rally to draw off and dominate by 7 1/2 lengths.

Secret Oath has posted three straight blowout victories at Oaklawn, including a previous score in the Martha Washington S. on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Winning back-to-back qualifiers has rewarded Secret Oath with 60 qualification points, 10 more than any other filly on the leaderboard.

Distant Honeybee runner-up Ice Orchid debuted in seventh place on the leaderboard with 20 points, while Honeybee third-place finisher Yuugiri improved to 10th place with 14 points.

Looking ahead

Remember that busy first week in March we mentioned? Here’s the agenda for North American Kentucky Derby qualifiers:

• March 5: John Battaglia Memeorial S. at Turfway Park (10-4-2-1): Held over 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta, the John Battaglia has attracted 45 nominees, though it’s unclear which names will turn up in the final entries.
• March 5: Gotham S. (G3) at Aqueduct (50-20-10-5): The field for this one-mile heat is still in flux, but last year’s Nashua S. (G3) winner Rockefeller is expected to ship in and challenge from California.
• March 5: Fountain of Youth S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park (50-20-10-5): One of the strongest Derby preps of the year could draw Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner Rattle N Roll, Remsen S. (G2) hero Mo Donegal, and undefeated allowance winner Emmanuel to wage battle over 1 1/16 miles.
• March 5: San Felipe S. (G2) at Santa Anita (50-20-10-5): San Vicente S. (G2) winner Forbidden Kingdom and Robert B. Lewis S. (G3) runner-up Cabo Spirit are among the key names expected for this 1 1/16-mile qualifier.

In addition, there are two qualifiers from the European Road to the Kentucky Derby series:

• March 2: Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions S. at Kempton Park, Britain (20-8-4-2): A one-mile race on the Polytrack. None of the seven runners are Triple Crown-nominated as yet.
• March 4: Patton S. at Dundalk, Ireland (20-8-4-2): Run over one mile on the Dundalk Polytrack, the 10 early entrants include one of the two European Triple Crown nominees, Absolute Ruler.

Meanwhile, the upcoming Kentucky Oaks qualifiers are as follows:

• March 5: Cincinnati Trophy S. at Turfway Park (10-4-2-1): This one-mile Tapeta test has drawn 35 nominees, but expected starters are still unknown. One prominent nominee is Marissa’s Lady, a two-time stakes winner sprinting at Turfway.
• March 5: Busher Invitational S. at Aqueduct (50-20-10-5): Forward Gal S. (G3) runner-up Radio Days is expected to ship up from Florida to contest this one-turn mile. Busanda S. winner Magic Circle and Demoiselle S. (G2) runner-up Venti Valentine rank among the best of the locals.
• March 5: Davona Dale S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park (50-20-10-5): Forward Gal S. (G3) winner Girl With a Dream may lead the field for this one-mile heat.
• March 6: Santa Ysabel S. (G3) at Santa Anita (50-20-10-5): Chandelier S. (G2) heroine Ain’t Easy will kick off her 2022 campaign in this 1 1/16-mile event.