Kentucky Derby Roundup: Apr. 13, 2020

Stay up to speed on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a weekly roundup of all the latest news and developments:

Changes on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard

Though it didn’t have an impact on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, an unofficial Kentucky Derby prep race took place on Saturday at Oaklawn Park. The $200,000 Oaklawn S. attracted 13 starters, including Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) winner Thousand Words (25 points, 16th place on the leaderboard), Remington Springboard Mile S. victor Shoplifted (13 points, 27th place), and Smarty Jones S. champion Gold Street (10 points, 33rd place).

But in the end, the three established class horses failed to contend for victory. All finished off the board, with 27-10 favorite Thousand Words compromised by a severe stumble at the start. Instead, it was the unheralded 46-1 shot Mr. Big News who produced a rally from off the pace to win by a half-length over fellow late runner Farmington Road, with Taishan rounding out the trifecta.

The top three finishers all secured free berths to the May 2 Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn, a precious commodity considering the 1 1/8-mile event is the only Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race currently left on the agenda.

On the Kentucky Derby Work Tab

Keeping an eye on workouts and the progression, or regression, of possible Derby starters is important.

Attachment Rate: Fired off a fast workout on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, going 5 furlongs in the near-bullet time of 1:00.60.

Anneau d’Or: Turned in a strong stamina-building workout on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields, traversing a full mile in 1:40.60.

By Your Side: The 2019 Sanford (G3) winner posted his first workout of the year on Wednesday, clocking 3 furlongs in :38.20 at Palm Meadows.

Field Pass: Clocked 5 furlongs in 1:02.00 on Saturday at Turfway Park.

Green Light Go: The Champagne (G1) runner-up sped 3 furlongs in :35.75 on Wednesday at Palm Meadows, his first workout since mid-March.

Gouverneur Morris: Under consideration for a start in the Arkansas Derby, the Florida Derby (G1) fourth-place finisher clocked 4 furlongs in :49.50 over the slow track at Palm Beach Downs on Saturday.

Maxfield: Shipped north to Keeneland and worked a half-mile in :49.20 on Friday, his first breeze since Mar. 14.

Silver Prospector: Breezed 5 furlongs in 1:02.20 on Saturday at Oaklawn.

Tiz the Law: Took things easy in his first workout since dominating the Florida Derby (G1), breezing a half-mile in :52.80 on Saturday at Palm Meadows.

Untitled: Turned in a fast workout at the Casse Training Center on Friday, recording 5 furlongs in :59.60.

Wells Bayou: Posted another solid half-mile workout on Monday at Oaklawn Park, clocking 4 furlongs in :48.40.

RELATED: Introduction to Workouts Part 2

Looking Ahead to the Kentucky Derby

A meeting will be held on Apr. 18 to discuss resuming racing at Santa Anita, which would open up the possibility of holding the Santa Anita Derby (G1) before the end of the month. In the meantime, everyone with a talented 3-year-old seems to be taking aim at the Mary 2 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, which figures to draw a large field thanks to its current monopoly on Kentucky Derby qualification points.