Kentucky Derby Roundup: May 4, 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

After five weeks of silence, the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard experienced a major shakeup when Oaklawn Park hosted two divisions of the Arkansas Derby (G1) on Saturday. Five-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert sent out both winners, with the speedy Charlatan claiming the first division while Rebel (G2) winner Nadal cruised in the second.

Nadal now sits atop the qualification leaderboard with 150 points, surpassing the 122 points accumulated by Florida Derby (G1) winner Tiz the Law. Charlatan has debuted in fourth place with 100 points, one spot clear of Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner King Guillermo (90 points), who battled to a game runner-up effort in the second division of the Arkansas Derby.

Hopeful (G1) winner Basin also made a strong move on Saturday. By finishing second to Charlatan, he climbed to 50 points, sufficient to rank 10th on the leaderboard. Coming home just behind Basin was Gouverneur Morris, who has settled into 14th position with 34 points.

The only other runner to crack the leaderboard Top 20 on Saturday was Finnick the Fierce, whose third-place effort behind Nadal launched him into the final spot with 25 points.

On the Work Tab for the Kentucky Derby

Authentic: Aiming for a start in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), the undefeated Authentic clocked 5 furlongs in 1:00.40 on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Azul Coast: El Camino Real Derby winner has been in a holding pattern for a while, but posted a serious workout on Saturday at Santa Anita, clocking 6 furlongs in 1:13.60.

Cezanne: Sold for $3.65 million as a yearling, the unraced Cezanne sped through 5 furlongs in a bullet :59.80 on Thursday at Santa Anita.

Enforceable: On Wednesday, the Lecomte (G3) winner returned to the work tab for the first time since finishing fifth in the Louisiana Derby (G2), clocking 4 furlongs in :49.20 at the Casse Training Center.

Field Pass: Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner cruised 5 furlongs in 1:01.60 on Monday at Turfway Park.

Gold Street: Cruised through a half-mile in :50.60 on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Green Light Go: Breezed 5 furlongs in 1:01.60 on Thursday at Palm Meadows.

Honor A. P.: San Felipe (G2) runner-up clocked 5 furlongs in 1:00.00 on Saturday at Santa Anita, one of the fastest works of the morning.

Maxfield: Took another step toward his 3-year-old debut when working 6 furlongs in 1:13.20 at Keeneland on Saturday.

Mr. Big News: Upset winner of the Oaklawn S. returned to the work tab with an easy half-mile in :52.40 on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Mystic Guide: Exciting maiden winner clocked 4 furlongs in a bullet :48.60 on Tuesday at Fair Hill.

Ny Traffic: Louisiana Derby runner-up posted a fast workout on Sunday at Gulfstream, flying through a half-mile in :47.65.

Tiz the Law: Florida Derby winner fired off 5 furlongs in 1:01.45 on Saturday at Palm Meadows.

Looking Ahead towards the Kentucky Derby

Pending approval from county officials, Santa Anita is scheduled to resume racing on May 15, with the Santa Anita Derby slated to be run on June 6. The San Felipe one-two finishers Authentic and Honor A. P. are among the prospective starters for the 1 1/8-mile race, which will award 100 Kentucky Derby qualification points to the winner.

Also, the May 23 Matt Winn (G3) at Churchill Downs has been added to the Road to the Kentucky Derby schedule, offering points on a 10-4-2-1 basis to the top four finishers. Nominations for the 1 1/16-mile race close on May 11.

Races added to the Road to the Kentucky Derby can be bet online with TwinSpires.