Kentucky Derby Roundup: Mar. 1, 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 Leaderboard

Just as Ete Indien raced impressively to the finish line of the Fountain of Youth (G2), winning by 8 1/2 lengths, he also raced to first place on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. The 50 qualification points he earned on Saturday at Gulfstream Park boosted his total to 54 points, placing him four points clear of Risen Star (G2) second division winner Modernist.

Fountain of Youth runner-up Candy Tycoon picked up 20 points to debut in ninth place on the leaderboard, while fourth-place finisher Shotski advanced to 19 points (good for 10th place) with his fourth-place finish in the Fountain of Youth. As Seen On Tv, who split Candy Tycoon and Shotski in a tight battle for the minor awards, earned 10 points to debut in 22nd place.

Unfortunately, there was one defection over the weekend. Risen Star division one winner Mr. Monomoy (52 points) suffered a minor ankle injury that will send him to the sidelines for 60 days, removing him from consideration for the Kentucky Derby.

On the Work Tab

Ajaaweed: The Remsen (G2) runner-up clocked 5 furlongs in 1:01.80 on Saturday at Palm Meadows.

American Theorem: Continues to train forwardly for his sophomore debut, working 6 furlong in 1:12.20 on Friday at Santa Anita.

Authentic: Completed his preparations for the San Felipe (G2) by working 6 furlongs in 1:12.80 on Monday at Santa Anita.

Azul Coast: The El Camino Real Derby winner turned in a sharp workout on Saturday at Santa Anita, going a half-mile in :47.40.

Basin: Fired off 5 furlongs in :59.20 on Tuesday at Fair Grounds, the fastest time of the morning by a full 0.80 seconds. He then clocked 6 furlongs in 1:12 on Monday to continue his preparations for the Rebel (G2).

Chance It: Scratched from the Fountain of Youth (G2) due a wide post draw and will instead contest the Tampa Bay Derby (G2). To that end, he worked 4 furlongs in :47.28 on Monday at Gulfstream.

Charlatan: Fast maiden winner returned to the Santa Anita work tab on Tuesday, blazing a half-mile in a bullet :47.80. For good measure, he threw down 7 furlongs in 1:26.60 on Monday morning.

Eight Rings: Continues to train fast at Santa Anita, working 6 furlongs in 1:13.60 on Wednesday.

Finnick the Fierce: Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) runner-up blazed a half-mile in :46.60 on Thursday at Turfway Park (the fastest time of the morning by 2.2 seconds), suggesting a start in Turfway’s Jeff Ruby (G3) could be next on the agenda.

Gouverneur Morris: Fresh off an allowance victory at Tampa Bay Downs, the 2019 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) runner-up clocked a half-mile in :49.50 on Saturday at Palm Beach Downs.

Honor A. P.: Popular maiden winner wrapped up his serious preparations for the San Felipe by working 5 furlongs in 1:01.80 on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Independence Hall: Targeting the Florida Derby (G1), the Jerome S. winner worked five furlongs in a bullet 1:01 on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs.

Major Fed: Runner-up in the second division of the Risen Star, Major Fed burned up the Fair Grounds main track on Saturday, blazing 4 furlongs in :47.00. His time was easily the fastest of 107 morning workouts over the distance.

Maxfield: The exciting Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner got serious in his third workout of 2020, clocking 4 furlongs in a bullet :48.45 on Sunday at Palm Meadows.

Nadal: The San Vicente (G2) winner turned in a stamina-building workout on Monday at Santa Anita, going 7 furlongs in 1:25.20.

Ny Traffic: Third in the second division of the Risen Star, Ny Traffic clocked 4 furlongs in a quick :47.39 on Sunday at Gulfstream.

Sole Volante: In preparation for the Tampa Bay Derby, Sole Volante clocked 7 furlongs in 1:23 over the Palm Meadows turf course on Wednesday.

Spa City: Aiming for the Tampa Bay Derby, fast maiden winner Spa City clocked 5 furlongs in a bullet 1:00.85 on Friday at Palm Meadows.

Storm the Court: Prepping for a start in the San Felipe, the champion 2-year-old male of 2019 fired off 5 furlongs in a bullet :59.40 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Thousand Words: Worked 5 furlongs in a swift :59.80 on Monday at Santa Anita, completing his preparations for the San Felipe.

Tiz the Law: After missing some training time with a minor setback, the early Derby favorite returned to the work tab on Monday at Palm Meadows, clocking 4 furlongs in an easy :50.

Wrecking Crew: Stepped up to 6 furlongs in his most recent workout, going the distance in 1:13.40 on Wednesday at the San Luis Rey Training Center.

Looking Ahead

When the dust settles on Saturday night, the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard will bear little resemblance to its current form. Graded stakes winners Storm the Court, Authentic, and Thousand Words are set to square off in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe at Santa Anita. Sam F. Davis (G3) winner Sole Volante will wage battle against three-time stakes winner Chance It in the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby. Impressive maiden winners Attachment Rate and War Stopper will face runaway Swale (G3) winner Mischevious Alex in the 1-mile Gotham (G3).

The San Felipe, Tampa Bay Derby, and Gotham will all award 50 Kentucky Derby qualification points to their respective winners, and even the runners-up will be amply rewarded with 20 points apiece.