Kentucky Derby Roundup: Sandman, Tappan Street step forward

The 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 33 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:

Sandman capitalizes on fast pace in Arkansas Derby

Hot pace fractions of :22.46, :45.21, and 1:10.37 helped Sandman rally from eighth place and secure his first stakes win in the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park last Saturday.

Sandman launched a rally around the far turn and stayed on strongly despite weaving down the homestretch to prevail by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:50.08.

RELATED: Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Sandman

The Arkansas Derby awarded Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis to the top five finishers. Having previously placed in the Rebel (G2), Southwest (G3), and Street Sense (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Sandman has climbed to the top of the qualification leaderboard with 129 points.

The maiden Publisher (60 points, 10th place) outkicked Rebel winner Coal Battle (95 points, sixth place) to finish second in the Arkansas Derby, while Cornucopian (15 points, 36th place) and Brereton’s Baytown (10 points, not nominated to the Triple Crown) rounded out the top five.

Tappan Street holds off Sovereignty in Florida Derby

The 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby (G1) ended in a mild upset as Holy Bull (G3) runner-up Tappan Street pounced from a few lengths off the pace and held off stretch-running Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Sovereignty to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:49.27.

RELATED: Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Tappan Street

The lightly raced Tappan Street earned the lion’s share of the 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualification points up for grabs. He’s climbed to third place on the leaderboard with 110 points.

Sovereignty also boasts 110 points and ranks fourth due to a tiebreaker involving earnings in non-restricted stakes. Neoequos (40 points, 18th place), Madaket Road (46 points, 16th place), and Disruptor (10 points, 46th place) finished third through fifth in the Florida Derby.

Luxor Cafe impresses in Fukuryu S.

An eye-catching burst of speed down the Nakayama homestretch carried Luxor Cafe to victory in the Fukuryu S. racing 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles).

Luxor Cafe finished fastest of any horse in the field, clocking his final 600 meters (about three furlongs) in a swift :36.3 to dominate by five lengths in 1:52.1. Meisho Zuiun, Golden Cloud, Levant Univers, and Slazak rounded out the top five. 

RELATED: Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Luxor Cafe

The final leg of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby awarded points on a 40-20-12-8-4 split. Having previously picked up 30 points via a win in the Hyacinth, Luxor Cafe tops the final leaderboard with 70 points, 50 more than any other horse.

Grande steps up in Wood Memorial

A dozen horses have entered Saturday’s Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct, a 1 1/8-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier worth 100-50-25-15-10 points.

The field includes Withers S. winner Captain Cook, Gotham (G3) runner-up Sand Devil, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) third-place finisher Hill Road, Robert B. Lewis (G3) runner-up Rodriguez, Virginia Derby third-place finisher Omaha Omaha, and Gotham fourth-place and fifth-place finishers My Mitole and McAfee, all of whom have earned points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Tiger Twenty Four, Passion Rules, Bear Claw Necklace, Statesman, and the undefeated Grande complete the field. 

Citizen Bull, Journalism face off in Santa Anita Derby

A small but stellar field is expected to enter Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita, which carries a value of 100-50-25-15-10 points.

The lineup is led by champion two-year-old male Citizen Bull, Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) and San Felipe (G2) winner Journalism, and gallant San Vicente runner-up Barnes. All three rank among the current favorites for the Kentucky Derby.

Impressive maiden winner Baeza, a half-brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, is another expected starter.

Chancer McPatrick takes aim at Blue Grass

Last year’s Hopeful (G1) and Champagne (G1) winner Chancer McPatrick, fresh off a runner-up finish in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), leads the expected field for Saturday's Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland.

Note: Keeneland's Friday card has been pushed to Monday, and Saturday's racing will take place on Tuesday due to severe weather forecast for this upcoming weekend. 

Other high-profile names targeting the 100-50-25-15-10 points on the table include Tampa Bay Derby winner Owen Almighty, Breeders’ Futurity (G1) conqueror East Avenue, Holy Bull (G3) winner Burnham Square, Fountain of Youth runner-up River Thames, Sunland Park Derby second-place finisher Caldera, and Virginia Derby runner-up Render Judgment.

Flood Zone travels abroad for UAE Derby

The field hasn't yet been finalized for Saturday’s UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan in Dubai, the last leg of the European/Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby.

However, the prospective field is led by Flood Zone, a U.S. raider shipping in off a victory in the Gotham (G3) on the primary Road to the Kentucky Derby. Among his expected challengers are four horses from Japan: Don in the Mood, third behind Luxor Cafe in the Hyacinth; Admire Daytona and Dragon, who finished fourth and fifth in the Hyacinth; and Shin Forever, runner-up in last month’s Saudi Derby (G3).

Kentucky Derby contender workouts

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

American Promise: Five furlongs in :59.80 on Tuesday at Oaklawn.

Burnham Square: Five furlongs in :59.60 on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Captain Cook: Four furlongs in :49.00 on Wednesday over the Belmont Park training track.

Chancer McPatrick: Half a mile in :48.80 on Saturday at Payson Park.

Citizen Bull: Five furlongs in a bullet :58.40 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

East Avenue: Half a mile in :47.00 on Saturday at Keeneland.

Hill Road: Four furlongs in :48.80 on Saturday at Payson Park.

Journalism: Five furlongs in 1:01.40 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Owen Almighty: Five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.75 on Saturday at Palm Meadows.

Render Judgment: Five furlongs in 1:02.20 on Saturday at Keeneland.

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

American Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Sandman (129 points)
2. Tiztastic (119 points)
3. Tappan Street (110 points)
4. Sovereignty (110 points)
5. Final Gambit (100 points)

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

1. Hotazhell (20 points)*
2. Opera Ballo (20 points)*
3. Titanium Emperor (20 points)*
4. Wimbledon Hawkeye (13 points)*
5. Camille Pissarro (10 points)*

Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Luxor Cafe (70 points)
2. Myriad Love (20 points)*
3. Meisho Zuiun (20 points)*
4. Promised Gene (15 points)
5. Natural Rise (14 points)

* Not currently nominated to the Triple Crown.