Kentucky Derby Roundup: March 23, 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

The COVID-19-related postponement of the Kentucky Derby from May 2 to Sept. 5, coupled with the cancellation/postponement of many Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races, has thrown the Derby trail into disarray.

Nevertheless, it seems safe to assume Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Wells Bayou will qualify to the Run for the Roses without issue. By scoring a gate-to-wire victory in Fair Grounds’ signature race, Wells Bayou secured 100 Derby qualification points, bringing his total to 104 while jumping clearly to the top of the leaderboard.

Modernist (70 points), Ny Traffic (50 points), and Major Fed (30 points)—who finished third, second, and fourth in the Louisiana Derby—also occupy high rankings on the leaderboard. Modernist, who previously won the second division of the Risen Star (G2), sits in second place, while Ny Traffic has climbed to seventh and Major Fed has settled in 12th.

On the Work Tab

Ajaaweed: Aiming for a start in the Florida Derby (G1), Ajaaweed clocked a half-mile in :49.70 on Friday at Palm Meadows.

Anneau d’Or: Prepping for the Santa Anita Derby (G1), Anneau d’Or sped 6 furlongs in a bullet 1:12.20 on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.

Answer In: Third in the Southwest (G3), Answer In worked 4 furlongs in :48.40 on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

As Seen On Tv: Unable to run in the cancelled Sunland Derby (G3), As Seen On Tv instead breezed a half-mile in :49.05 on Friday at Palm Meadows. His new target is Saturday’s Florida Derby.

Attachment Rate: Third in the Gotham (G3), Attachment Rate worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.61 on Saturday at Gulfstream.

Authentic: On Saturday at Santa Anita, the San Felipe (G2) winner clocked 5 furlongs in 1:01.80 in preparation for the Santa Anita Derby.

Basin: Just nine days after finishing third in the Rebel (G2), Basin returned to the Oaklawn work tab with an easy half-mile in :52.40 over a muddy track on Monday.

Candy Tycoon: Aiming for the Florida Derby, Candy Tycoon clocked a quick half-mile in :49.04 on Saturday at Palm Beach Downs.

Eight Rings: The American Pharoah (G1) winner worked 6 furlongs in a bullet 1:11.00 on Sunday at Santa Anita. Though he hasn’t yet run in 2020, the postponement of the Kentucky Derby will buy him plenty of time to qualify for the race.

Gold Street: The Smarty Jones S. winner splashed 5 furlongs in 1:01.20 over a sloppy track at Oaklawn on Sunday.

Gouverneur Morris: Cruised 5 furlongs in 1:01.65 on Saturday at Palm Beach Downs, his final workout in advance of the Florida Derby.

Honor A. P.: In preparation for the Santa Anita Derby, the San Felipe runner-up clocked 5 furlongs in 1:00.00 on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Independence Hall: Breezed 4 furlongs on Sunday at Gulfstream, getting the distance in :48.31.

Mischevious Alex: The Gotham winner clocked 4 furlongs in :50.40 on Saturday at Palm Meadows.

Shoplifted: The Remington Springboard Mile winner joined stablemate Basin on the Monday work tab at Oaklawn, breezing 5 furlongs in 1:01.40 over a muddy track.

Storm the Court: The champion 2-year-old male of 2019 worked a half-mile in :49.00 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Texas Swing: The Tampa Bay Derby (G2) third-place runner worked a half-mile in :49.04 on Saturday at Palm Beach Downs.

Thousand Words: Turned in his first workout since finishing fourth in the San Felipe, cruising 5 furlongs in 1:00.20 on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Tiz the Law: Wrapped up his preparations for the Florida Derby by breezing 5 furlongs in an easy 1:02.65 on Sunday at Palm Meadows.

Looking Ahead

The UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan in Dubai was originally scheduled to be run this Saturday, but the race has been cancelled due to concerns about COVID-19, leaving a handful of Derby contenders (including Remsen [G2] winner Shotski) scrambling to revise their plans.

At least Saturday’s Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park is still on the agenda, though the purse has been cut from $1 million to $750,000. A large field is expected to contest the 1 1/8-mile race, led by graded stakes winners Tiz the Law, Ete Indien, and Independence Hall.