Kentucky Derby Roundup: John Hancock takes the Sam F. Davis

The 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 82 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:

John Hancock battles to Sam F. Davis victory

A trio of participants from the Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs last Saturday rank in the top 20 on the latest Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

John Hancock, a debut winner at Tampa, brought his record to 2-for-2 with a tenacious victory in the Sam F. Davis. The Brad Cox trainee led at every call of the 1 1/16-mile race and claimed the winner’s portion of the 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby points up for grabs by the top five finishers. He joins the leaderboard in seventh place.

RELATED: Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: John Hancock

Owen Almighty, runner-up in the Iroquois (G3) last fall, took second place again and has accumulated 15 points, good enough for 13th place on the leaderboard. Remsen (G2) conqueror Poster closed late for third place and boasts 16 points, ranking 11th.

Camp Hale and Very Bold rounded out the Sam F. Davis top five.

East Avenue, Jonathan’s Way return in Risen Star

The first leg of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series is Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds, the first qualifier of the season worth 50-25-15-10-5 points to the top five finishers.

A strong field has turned out. Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner East Avenue and Iroquois (G3) 1-3 finishers Jonathan’s Way and Giocoso are making their three-year-old debuts. Gun Runner S. 1-2-3 finishers Built, Magnitude, and Render Judgment lead the local team. The undefeated Vassimo and two-time stakes winner Jolly Samurai add further depth to the lineup.

American Promise, Chunk of Gold, Seattle Road, Septarian, and Vamos Carlitos complete the field.

Getaway Car among nine in Sunland Park Derby entries

Getaway Car, a top-four finisher in the American Pharoah (G1), Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), and Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), leads a nine-horse field entered in Sunday’s Sunland Park Derby at Sunland Park.

The 1 1/16-mile race awards Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis to the top five finishers.

Getaway Car is joined in the entries by American Pharoah third-place finisher McKinzie Street; Riley Allison Derby 1-2-3 finishers Take Charge Tom, Remember Big Jim, and Smash It; the multiple stakes-placed Touchy; and Caldera, Itsmybirthday, and Spenard.

Citizen Bull leads 373 Triple Crown nominees

The 2025 Triple Crown has attracted 373 early nominations. Reigning champion two-year-old male Citizen Bull, fresh off a season-opening win in the Robert B. Lewis (G3), leads the charge.

The 373 total improves upon the 346 tally from 2024 and includes a record 69 horses based in Japan, up from 47 last year.

Brisnet Past Performances for the Triple Crown nominees can be viewed here.

Kentucky Derby contender workouts

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

Admiral Dennis: Fresh off an allowance optional claiming win, Gun Runner S. fourth-place finisher Admiral Dennis worked half a mile in :50.20 on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Built: Traveled four furlongs in :50.00 on Sunday at Fair Grounds.

Chancer McPatrick: The Hopeful (G1) and Champagne (G1) winner breezed three furlongs in :37.80 at Payson Park on Feb. 2. He then worked four furlongs over the same track in :49.40 on Sunday.

Coal Battle: Returning to Oaklawn Park after a trio of workouts at Delta Downs, Remington Springboard Mile S. and Smarty Jones S. winner Coal Battle clocked five furlongs in 1:02.60 last Monday.

East Avenue: Worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Filoso: Breeders’ Futurity third-place finisher Filoso breezed half a mile in :48.15 on Friday at Palm Meadows.

First Resort: The Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) winner traveled five furlongs in 1:02.40 at Turfway Park last Monday.

Getaway Car: Clocked five furlongs in :59.40 on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Giocoso: Breezed half a mile in :49.20 on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Hill Road: In his first workout since finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Hill Road clocked three furlongs in a near-bullet :37.00 at Payson Park last Monday.

Jonathan’s Way: Sped four furlongs in a fast :47.80 on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Journalism: The Los Alamitos Futurity winner turned in a quick five-furlong workout on Sunday at Santa Anita, getting the distance in :59.80.

Magnitude: Went four furlongs in :50.80 on Sunday at Fair Grounds.

McKinzie Street: Prepping for the Sunland Park Derby, McKinzie Street blazed five furlongs in a bullet :58.20 on Tuesday at Turf Paradise.

Mo Plex: Champagne third-place finisher Mo Plex turned in his first workout of the year last Monday, going three furlongs in a bullet :36.61 at Belmont Park. He followed up with half a mile in :52.60 over the same track on Sunday.

Patch Adams: Back on the work tab for the first time since finishing fourth in the Southwest (G3), Patch Adams clocked half a mile in :50.00 on Saturday at Payson Park.

Render Judgment: Traversed five furlongs in 1:00.80 on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Sandman: The Southwest runner-up got back in action with five furlongs in 1:01.40 on Sunday at Oaklawn.

Sovereignty: Gearing up for his three-year-old debut, Sovereignty worked four furlongs in :49.60 on Friday at Payson Park.

Speed King: The Southwest winner returned to the work tab with an easy five furlongs in 1:04.00 on Saturday at Oaklawn.

Tip Top Thomas: Runner-up in the Champagne last fall, Tip Top Thomas continued prepping for his first start since then when breezing four furlongs in :49.80 on Saturday at Palm Beach Downs.

Tiztastic: In his first timed exercise since finishing third in the Southwest, Tiztastic clocked half a mile in :50.60 at Oaklawn last Monday.

American Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Citizen Bull (60 points)
2. Speed King (25 points)
3. Coal Battle (20 points)
4. Burnham Square (20 points)
5. Disco Time (20 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. Myriad Love (20 points)
2. Natural Rise (14 points)
3. Happy Man (10 points)
4. Soldier Field (6 points)
5. Clay King (5 points)