Kentucky Derby Roundup: Coal Battle strikes again

The 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 68 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:

Coal Battle wins again in Rebel Stakes

For the first time since November, there’s a new name atop the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

Coal Battle, previously victorious in the Remington Springboard Mile S. and Smarty Jones S., added the 1 1/16-mile Rebel (G2) to his win tally on Sunday at Oaklawn Park. A well-timed pounce from fifth place carried the Lonnie Briley trainee to victory by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:43.01.

RELATED: Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Coal Battle

The Rebel awarded Kentucky Derby qualification points to the top five finishers on a 50-25-15-10-5 basis. With 70 points in total, Coal Battle has passed champion two-year-old male Citizen Bull (60 points) to lead the rankings.

Madaket Road (31 points, fifth place) set a fast pace in the Rebel before holding on for second place over Sandman (29 points, sixth place). Publisher (10 points, 27th place) and Tiztastic (19 points, 14th place) rounded out the top five.

California Burrito hangs on in John Battaglia Memorial

California Burrito refused to lose in Saturday’s John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park, a 1 1/16-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier worth 20-10-6-4-2 points.

The Tommy Drury Jr. trainee led at every call through splits of :24.50, :49.41, and 1:14.03 before turning back a challenge from Leonatus S. winner Baby Max to prevail by half a length in 1:45.98.

RELATED: Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: California Burrito

With 20 points, California Burrito currently ranks 13th on the Kentucky Derby qualification leaderboard. Baby Max sits 26th with 10 points. Maximum Promise (six points, 36th place), Banks (four points, not Triple Crown nominated), and Studlydoright (six points, 37th place) completed the John Battaglia Memorial top five.

Luxor Cafe tops Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard

Luxor Cafe climbed to the top of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with a determined victory in the Hyacinth S. racing a metric mile at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday.

After rallying to the front in the homestretch, Luxor Cafe tenaciously stemmed off a rally from the filly Promised Gene to prevail by half a length in 1:37.6.

The Hyacinth awarded points on a 30-15-9-6-3 basis. With 30 and 15 points to their credit, Luxor Cafe and Promised Gene sit 1-2 among Triple Crown nominees on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

Don in the Mood (nine points, not a Triple Crown nominee), Admire Daytona (six points, not a Triple Crown nominee), and Dragon (three points, sixth place in the standings) rounded out the Hyacinth top five.

Burnham Square, Sovereignty face off in Fountain of Youth

Eight horses will vie for 50-25-15-10-5 points in Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

The field is led by Burnham Square, winner of the Holy Bull (G3) over this track and distance, and Sovereignty, who dominated the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs last fall by five lengths.

Others in the field are Swale S. winner Gate to Wire, Ed Brown S. conqueror Keep It Easy, the undefeated allowance winner River Thames, the multiple stakes-placed Neoequos, and maiden winners Solid Left and McKellen.

Sacrosanct meets tougher competition in Gotham

Sacrosanct is unbeaten in four starts against New York-bred rivals, which includes three stakes wins. On Saturday, he’ll face non-state-restricted company in the one-mile Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct, worth 50-25-15-10-5 points.

He’ll face nine rivals: Simcoe S. winner Scorching, Damon Runyon S. hero Sand Devil, starter optional claiming winner My Mitole, allowance optional claiming winner Normandy Coast, Lecomte (G3) participant Calling Card, and the maiden victors Pagode, Flood Zone, Garamond, and McAfee. The latter is a half-brother to 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna.

Barnes, Rodriguez take aim at San Felipe

As of this writing, entries for Saturday’s San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita haven’t been drawn. But San Vicente (G2) winner Barnes and Robert B. Lewis (G3) runner-up Rodriguez are possible starters from the barn of six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert.

Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) winner Journalism is another horse expected to vie for the 50-25-15-10-5 points up for grabs.

European/Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby resumes

The first European/Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier of 2025 is Wednesday’s aptly named “European Road to the Kentucky Derby” Conditions S. at Kempton in England.

The one-mile Polytrack contest has drawn six horses: Hott Shott, Molveno, Olympus Point, Opera Ballo, Quai De Bethune, and Saddadd. However, none of the entrants are currently nominated to the Triple Crown.

Magnitude drops off the Derby trail

Unfortunately, Magnitude came out of his runaway win in the Risen Star (G2) with an ankle chip that required surgery. He’ll miss the Kentucky Derby and the rest of the Triple Crown.

Kentucky Derby contender workouts

Here are some of the latest workouts recorded by Road to the Kentucky Derby points earners:

Burnham Square: Five furlongs in 1:01.05 on Saturday at Palm Meadows.

Burning Glory: Four furlongs in :50.00 on Saturday at Payson Park.

Captain Cook: Half a mile in :48.70 on Monday at Belmont Park.

Chancer McPatrick: Four furlongs in :48.80 on Sunday at Payson Park.

Citizen Bull: Six furlongs in 1:13.00 on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Filoso: Six furlongs in 1:13.90 on Saturday at Palm Meadows.

First Resort: Four furlongs in :51.20 on Tuesday at Turfway Park.

Gaming: Five furlongs in :59.40 on Friday at Santa Anita.

Golden Afternoon: Four furlongs in :49.00 on Friday at Fair Grounds.

Hill Road: Half a mile in :49.60 on Saturday at Payson Park.

John Hancock: Four furlongs in :49.00 on Saturday at Payson Park.

Journalism: Five furlongs in 1:01.00 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Owen Almighty: Half a mile in :49.55 on Saturday at Palm Meadows.

Patch Adams: Five furlongs in 1:02.00 on Saturday at Payson Park.

Poster: Five furlongs in 1:02.40 on Monday at Turfway Park.

Rodriguez: Five furlongs in :59.60 on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Sovereignty: Five furlongs in 1:02.20 on Sunday at Payson Park.

Tappan Street: Four furlongs in :49.60 on Saturday at Payson Park.

Tip Top Thomas: Half a mile in :52.04 on Sunday at Palm Beach Downs.

American Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Coal Battle (70 points)
2. Citizen Bull (60 points)
3. Getaway Car (36 points)
4. Built (35 points)
5. Madaket Road (31 points)

European/Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Hotazhell (20 points)*
2. Wimbledon Hawkeye (13 points)*
3. Camille Pissarro (10 points)*
4. Rashabar (5 points)*
5. Delacroix (5 points)*

Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Luxor Cafe (30 points)
2. Myriad Love (20 points)*
3. Promised Gene (15 points)
4. Natural Rise (14 points)
5. Happy Man (10 points)

* Not currently nominated to the Triple Crown.