Kentucky Derby Roundup: March 30, 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

With his runaway victory in the Florida Derby (G1), early Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite Tiz the Law has vaulted to the top of the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 122 points, which should lock up a spot in the Churchill Downs starting gate for the three-time graded stakes winner.

Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Ete Indien didn’t fare quite so well while weakening to finish third in the Florida Derby, but the 20 points he secured boosted his total to 74 points, placing him third on the leaderboard. The surprise Florida Derby runner-up Shivaree picked up 40 points to debut in 11th place, while fourth-place finish Gouverneur Morris advanced to 24th with a total of 14 points to his credit.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, Herrschaft emerged as a new player on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby with his upset victory in the Fukuryu S. at Nakayama Racecourse. Previously fifth in the Hyacinth S., the son of Will Take Charge led all the way to win the 1 1/8-mile Fukuryu by 2 1/2 lengths, in the process picking up 40 Kentucky Derby qualification points.

However, Herrschaft is not currently nominated to the Triple Crown, which means Hyacinth winner Cafe Pharoah (30 points) remains technically atop the leaderboard. This will change should Herrschaft’s connections supplement their colt to the Triple Crown series, and the postponement of the second nomination deadline from Mar. 30 to an undetermined date in the future will give them plenty of time to consider this possibility.

On the Road to the Kentucky Derby Work Tab

American Theorem: After getting burned up dueling through fast fractions in the Rebel (G2), last year’s American Pharoah (G1) runner-up returned to the Santa Anita work tab with a bullet half-mile in :59.20 on Saturday.

Anneau d’Or: Clocked 6 furlongs in 1:13.00 on Saturday at Santa Anita, but with the suspension of racing at Santa Anita, it’s unclear where the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up will head next.

Answer In: Clocked a half-mile in :48.40 on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

Authentic: The suspension of racing at Santa Anita has thrown off plans for Authentic, but the undefeated San Felipe (G2) winner nevertheless worked 6 furlongs in 1:12.40 on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Attachment Rate: On Sunday at Gulfstream, Attachment Rate fired off a sharp 5 furlongs in 1:00.36.

Azul Coast: Sped 6 furlongs in 1:12.60 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Basin: Clocked 5 furlongs in 1:01.60 on Monday at Oaklawn.

Blackberry Wine: Runaway Oaklawn maiden winner fired off a half-mile in :48.00 on Saturday at Oaklawn.

Charlatan: Brilliant and undefeated colt worked 4 furlongs in :48.00 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Gold Street: Over a good track at Oaklawn, the Smarty Jones S. winner breezed 5 furlongs in 1:01.00 on Sunday.

Hieronymus: A two-time stakes winner on grass, this Godolphin homebred returned to the work tab with a bullet half-mile in :47.60 on Thursday at Keeneland.

Honor A. P.: Sped 5 furlongs in 1:00.20 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Nadal: Turned in a casual half-mile in :49.60 on Monday at Santa Anita.

Shoplifted: Breezed 5 furlongs in 1:01.60 on Monday at Oaklawn.

Silver Prospector: Joined stablemate Gold Street on the Sunday work tab at Oaklawn, recording 5 furlongs in 1:02.60 over a good track.

Storm the Court: Cruised a half-mile in :49.60 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Texas Swing: Fired off 5 furlongs in a bullet 1:00.98 on Saturday at Palm Beach Downs.

Thousand Words: Turned in a stiff workout on Saturday at Santa Anita, going 7 furlongs in 1:25.60.

Looking Ahead towards the Kentucky Derby

The suspension of racing at Santa Anita has left the status of the Apr. 4 Santa Anita Derby (G1) in doubt. As things stand, the only Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race still on the agenda is the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park, which has been delayed from Apr. 11 to May 2.

Should racing resume at Santa Anita in the near future, it’s possible the Santa Anita Derby will be rescheduled on short notice. In the meantime, it looks like we’ll be heading into a quiet spell on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.