Kentucky Derby roundup: April 12, 2021

Upsets reigned supreme in the final round of Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races. As the first Saturday in May marches closer, let’s review on the latest news and notes on the Derby trail.

Changes on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard

The Road to the Kentucky Derby wrapped up Saturday, with a pair of final prep races at Oaklawn Park and Keeneland. The results were not what bettors anticipated.

Keeneland’s 1 1/16-mile Lexington (G3) was first on the agenda. Proxy was a popular play, after he hit the board in a trio of Kentucky Derby prep races at Fair Grounds, but the Godolphin homebred could only rally belatedly to finish fourth and is in 21st place on the leaderboard, with 36 qualification points.

Street Sense S. winner King Fury (an 18-1 longshot) capitalized on a fast pace, rallied up the inside, split horses, seized command, and drew off to win by 2 3/4 lengths. The Kenny McPeek trainee stopped the clock in 1:43.50 over a sloppy track and picked up 20 qualification points, which places him 28th on the leaderboard. McPeek has indicated the well-bred son of Curlin will target the Derby if enough defections allow him to qualify.

The results of the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park were just as surprising. Bettors fully expected runaway Rebel (G2) winner Concert Tour (70 points, ninth place) to prevail and made the Bob Baffert trainee the 3-10 favorite. But after he pressed the pace and stuck his head in front at the eighth pole, Concert Tour surprisingly weakened, which allowed 12-1 longshot Super Stock (109 points, third place) to rally past and win by 2 1/2 lengths.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Super Stock reached the finish line in 1:50.92 to secure his first victory from four starts on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Pacesetter Caddo River (50 points, 13th place) tenaciously battled back to edge Concert Tour by a head for the runner-up spot, with Get Her Number (20 points, 26th place) another half-length back in fourth.

The Kentucky Derby is naturally the next-race goal for Super Stock, a son of Dialed In who will join stablemate Midnight Bourbon to become Asmussen’s 22nd and 23rd starters in the “Run for the Roses.”

On the work tab

Helium

He stepped up his game with a rapid five furlongs in :59.20 Saturday at Churchill Downs, his first workout since he arrived in Louisville.

Hot Rod Charlie

He turned in a straightforward, five-furlong workout Saturday at Santa Anita, where he got the distance in 1:01.20.

Known Agenda

He cruised an easy half-mile in :50.25 Friday at Palm Beach Downs, his first workout since his victory in the Florida Derby (G1).

Like the King

He took a spin over the Keeneland turf course Saturday and traversed six furlongs in 1:16.

Mandaloun

He blazed a bullet five furlongs in :58.80 Saturday at Churchill Downs, his second workout since a surprising sixth in the Louisiana Derby (G2).

Midnight Bourbon

He clocked a bullet five furlongs Sunday at Churchill Downs and stopped the timer in 1:00.40.

Sainthood

He clocked a half-mile in :48.60 Friday at Keeneland.

Soup and Sandwich

The Florida Derby runner-up shipped to Churchill Downs and returned to the work tab Sunday, with four furlongs in :48.80.

Looking ahead

With the Road to the Kentucky Derby complete, the next 2 1/2 weeks will see the Kentucky Derby field crystallize into its final form, as key contenders turn in pivotal workouts and bubble qualifiers await word on their qualification status.

Several horses ranked in the top 20 have not yet been confirmed for the Kentucky Derby, including Arkansas Derby second- and third-place finishers Caddo River and Concert Tour. This leaves the door open for horses on the outside looking in (Rombauer, Hidden Stash, Dream Shake, O Besos, etc.) to sneak into the field.

Enjoy the racing!