Kentucky Derby Roundup: Natural Rise wins the Cattleya Stakes

The Road to the Kentucky Derby is heating back up, and the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby is officially underway.

Those are the two main takeaways from this week’s action on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail. Let’s catch up on the latest news and notes:

Natural Rise wins Cattleya on Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby

The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby kicked off on Saturday with the Cattleya S. at Tokyo Racecourse.

A large field of 16 squared off over 1,600 meters (about one mile), and in a driving finish Natural Rise outkicked Clay King to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:36.4, just 0.2 off the juvenile track record.

Natural Rise was content to rate in midfield early on, but by sprinting his final 600 meters (about three furlongs) in :36.4, the son of Kizuna was able to reel in the leaders. T O Elvis, Snappy Dresser, and Kanreiski rounded out the top five, earning the minor portions of the 10-5-3-2-1 Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points up for grabs.

Kentucky Jockey Club draws deep field

Following a three-week hiatus, the primary Road to the Kentucky Derby resumes this Saturday with the running of the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs.

It’s been a decade and a half since Super Saver became the last Kentucky Jockey Club starter to win the Kentucky Derby, sweeping both races in 2009-10. But the Kentucky Jockey Club churns out Kentucky Derby starters with regularity (27 in the last 15 years), so it may be just a matter of time before the 1 1/16-mile race produces another Derby hero.

This year’s Kentucky Jockey Club field has come up strong. Jonathan’s Way, who won Churchill’s Iroquois (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, may start as the favorite while dropping in class off a seventh-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

Other Road to the Kentucky Derby alumni entered in the Kentucky Jockey Club include Street Sense (G3) runner-up Tiztastic, Breeders’ Futurity (G1) third-place finisher Filoso, and Breeders’ Futurity and Street Sense fourth-place finisher Dapper Moon.

Grey (G3) winner He’s Not Joking, Saratoga Special (G2) runner-up First Resort, and Bourbon (G2) third-place finisher Clock Tower add further depth to the field.

Kentucky Derby contender workouts

Nine Road to the Kentucky Derby points earners have recorded workouts during the last week:

Dapper Moon: In preparation for the Kentucky Jockey Club, Dapper Moon clocked half a mile in :48 on Friday at Churchill Downs.

Emerald Bay: The American Pharoah (G1) fourth-place finisher blazed five furlongs from the Santa Anita starting gate in :59.60 last Monday.

Filoso: Breezed half a mile in :48.20 on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Gaming: Coming off a runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Del Mar Futurity (G1) winner Gaming returned to the work tab with three furlongs in :36.60 at Santa Anita last Monday.

Getaway Car: The American Pharoah runner-up sped half a mile in :48.40 on Friday at Santa Anita.

Tiztastic: Getting ready for the Kentucky Jockey Club, Tiztastic worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 at Churchill Downs last Monday, followed by an easy half-mile in :50.40 this morning.

Jonathan’s Way: Clocked four furlongs in :48.60 on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Sandman: Since finishing third in the Street Sense, Sandman has shipped to Oaklawn Park, where he worked half a mile in :49.80 on Sunday.

Smoken Wicked: Coming off an 8 1/4-length victory in a seven-furlong $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Churchill Downs, Champagne (G1) fourth-place finisher Smoken Wicked clocked three furlongs in :37.80 on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Citizen Bull (40 points)
2. Gaming (15 points)
3. Getaway Car (11 points)
4. Chancer McPatrick (10 points)
5. East Avenue (10 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. Natural Rise (10 points)
2. Clay King (5 points)
3. T O Elvis (3 points)
4. Snappy Dresser (2 points)
5. Kanreiski (1 point)