Kentucky Derby and Oaks Roundup: May 2, 2022

The month of May is underway, and the first Saturday of the month is rapidly approaching. You know what that means: the 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) are just around the corner.

The prep races are complete. The contenders are wrapping up their pre-race training regimens. The post position draw is imminent. Soon, a new name will enter the history books as the 148th winner of the Run for the Roses.

Let’s catch up on the latest news and notes:

Changes on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard

The final field for the Kentucky Derby is pretty much set. On Sunday, it was confirmed Withers S. (G3) winner and Wood Memorial (G2) runner-up Early Voting (50 points) will skip the race in favor of the Preakness S. (G1) three weeks from now. This allowed Louisiana Derby (G2) third-place finisher Pioneer of Medina (25 points) to secure a spot in the Kentucky Derby field.

Then on Monday morning, it was announced Rebel S. (G2) winner Un Ojo (54 points) was out of the Kentucky Derby. Coupled with the news Fountain of Youth S. (G2) runner-up In Due Time (24 points) is no longer under Derby consideration, these developments have allowed Rebel second-place finisher Ethereal Road (22 points) to squeeze into the Top 20.

Rich Strike (21 points, 21st place), Rattle N Roll (20 points, 22nd place), and Bye Bye Bobby (20 points, 23rd place) are others who could enter and rank on the also-eligible list.

On the work tab

Barber Road: Worked four furlongs in :48.80 on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Charge It: Traveled four furlongs in company with stablemate Pioneer of Medina on Saturday at Churchill Downs, posting splits of :12.20, :23.60, and :35.80 on the way to a final time of :47.40. The pair continued on strongly through five furlongs in :59.60 and six furlongs in 1:12.40.

Classic Causeway: Breezed six furlongs in 1:13.20 on Saturday at Churchill Downs. The Tampa Bay Derby (G2) hero worked in company with Sounion and posted fractions of :24.60, :36.60, and :48.60 before continuing on through seven furlongs in 1:27.

Crown Pride: Clocked a bullet half-mile in :46.40 on Wednesday at Churchill Downs, traveling in company with Southern Passage through splits of :11.60 and :23.20 before continuing on through five furlongs in 1:00.20 and six furlongs in 1:14.80.

Cyberknife: Blazed six furlongs in 1:11.20 on Saturday at Churchill Downs, working with fellow Kentucky Derby contender Zozos through fractions of :23.00, :34.60, :47.00, and :58.80. Cyberknife started the move a length behind his companion before advancing to hit the finish line on even terms.

Epicenter: Tackled a muddy Churchill Downs main track on Sunday to breeze five furlongs in 1:01.00, going in company with Alejandro. The Louisiana Derby winner posted splits of :12.60, :24.40, :36.20, and :48.40 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.80.

Happy Jack: Turned in a stiff one-mile workout on Saturday at Keeneland, completing the move in 1:39.60.

Messier: Fired off six furlongs in 1:11.60 on Friday at Santa Anita.

Mo Donegal: Took a half-mile spin at Churchill Downs on Saturday, getting the distance in :48.60 while traveling inside of stablemate My Prankster. The Wood Memorial winner galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.80.

Pioneer of Medina: Breezed half a mile in :47.40 on Saturday at Churchill Downs, matching the above-listed splits and gallop-out times of workmate Charge It.

Rattle N Roll: Clocked four furlongs in :48.80 on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Simplification: Produced a bullet five-furlong workout on Friday at Gulfstream Park, getting the distance in 1:00.44 over a muddy track. The first three furlongs elapsed in :37.00, and Simplification continued on through six furlongs in 1:12.80, seven furlongs in 1:25.20, and one mile in 1:38.60.

Smile Happy: Breezed half a mile in :48.00 on Saturday at Churchill Downs, chasing fellow Derby contender Tiz the Bomb from start to finish. The opening quarter-mile elapsed in :23.80.

Summer Is Tomorrow: In his first breeze at Churchill Downs, the UAE Derby (G2) runner-up went four furlongs in :49.20 on Monday. Summer Is Tomorrow started off with modest fractions of :13.60 and :25.80 before finishing strongly (final quarter-mile in :23.40) and galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.00.

Taiba: Fired off a quick six furlongs in 1:12.80 on Thursday at Santa Anita.

Tawny Port: Took things easy on Saturday at Churchill Downs, traveling five furlongs in 1:01.60 in company with his graded stakes-winning stablemate Shared Sense.

Tiz the Bomb: Worked four furlongs in :48.00 on Saturday at Churchill Downs, unexpectedly starting off in front of stablemate Smile Happy and staying there throughout. The opening quarter-mile went in :23.80.

White Abarrio: Traveled half a mile in :48.28 (:48.11 per Churchill Downs) on Saturday afternoon at Gulfstream Park, posting fractions of :12.66 and :24.24 before continuing on through five furlongs in 1:00.12 and one mile in 1:41.64.

Zandon: Breezed five furlongs in a swift 1:00.40 on Friday at Churchill Downs, posting easy early fractions of :12.80 and :25.00 before picking up the pace through three furlongs in :36.80. He continued on nicely after the completion of the initial move, galloping out seven furlongs in 1:26.40.

Zozos: Clocked six furlongs in 1:11.40 on Saturday at Churchill Downs, setting the pace in a joint workout with stablemate Cyberknife. The early fractions were swift—:23.00, :34.60, :47.00, and :58.80.

Road to the Kentucky Oaks updates

Post positions for Friday’s Kentucky Oaks (G1) will be drawn alongside the Derby on Monday, finalizing the expected 14-horse field for the $1.25 million prize.

The Top 14 cutoff remains unchanged from last week with Shahama (50 points) ranked as the 14th and final filly in the field. However, there was a notable change just outside the cutoff, with 15th-ranked Shotgun Hottie (41) withdrawing from consideration. This means Las Virgenes S. (G3) winner and Santa Anita Oaks (G2) runner-up Adare Manor (40 points) ranks on the bubble in 15th place, though the Daily Racing Form has reported she’ll skip the Oaks. Fantasy S. (G3) runner-up Beguine (40 points, 16th place) is next in line.

Looking ahead

The post position draws for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks are slated to take place from 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET on Monday afternoon at Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby draw specifically is slated to get underway at 2:30 p.m., and the entire event will be streamed live on www.KentuckyDerby.com.

The Kentucky Oaks will take place on Friday at 5:51 p.m., serving as the 11th race of the afternoon. Post time for the Kentucky Derby (the 12th race on Saturday) is scheduled for 6:57 p.m.

Stay tuned to TwinSpires Edge for more Kentucky Derby news and notes as the first Saturday in May approaches.