Kentucky Derby Roundup: Tiztastic, Final Gambit post upsets
Final Gambit wins the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media / Credit to Christine Hayden)
March 24th, 2025
The 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 40 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:
Tiztastic surprises in Louisiana Derby
There’s a new name atop the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.
After earning Kentucky Derby qualification points with top-five finishes in the Street Sense (G3), Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), Southwest (G3), and Rebel (G2), Tiztastic secured a breakthrough victory in Saturday’s 1 3/16-mile $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds, worth 100-50-25-15-10 points to the top five finishers.
Overlooked as the 7-1 fifth choice in a 10-horse field, Tiztastic produced a career-best effort in the Louisiana Derby. The Steve Asmussen trainee rated nearly 10 lengths behind fast splits of :22.99 and :46.84 set by Sam F. Davis S. winner John Hancock before rallying down the homestretch to score by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:56.20. He now owns 119 Kentucky Derby qualification points, more than any other horse.
Chunk of Gold, runner-up in last month’s Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds, rallied for second place again and ranks third on Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 75 points. Instant Replay (25 points, 24th place) closed for third place in the Louisiana Derby, followed by John Hancock (35 points, 15th place) and Built (45 points, 13th place).
Final Gambit rallies late in Jeff Ruby Steaks
A last-to-first rally carried Final Gambit to a 15-1 upset win in Saturday’s $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park.
The 1 1/8-mile Tapeta contest awarded 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby points. Making his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut off a Turfway maiden win, Flying Gambit proved much the best for trainer Brad Cox, storming home from behind fractions of :22.97, :47.91, and 1:12.84 to win by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:50.10.
Final Gambit joins the Kentucky Derby leaderboard in second place with 100 points. Flying Mohawk, the deep-closing Jeff Ruby runner-up, earned 50 points to gain 10th place on the leaderboard and will reportedly target the Kentucky Derby.
Maximum Promise (33 points, 16th place), Poster (31 points, 18th place), and Giocoso (13 points, 36th place) rounded out the Jeff Ruby top five.
Coal Battle seeks fifth straight win in Arkansas Derby
After winning four stakes in a row, including the Remington Springboard Mile S., Smarty Jones S., and Rebel (G2) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Coal Battle is among the favorites to win Saturday’s $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) over 1 1/8 miles at Oaklawn Park.
Worth 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby points, the Arkansas Derby has drawn a promising nine-horse field. Southwest (G3) 1-2 finishers Speed King and Sandman, Road to the Kentucky Derby alumni Publisher, Brereton's Baytown, and Monet’s Magic, Oaklawn allowance optional claiming 1-2 finishers Bestfriend Rocket and First Division, and powerful Oaklawn maiden winner Cornucopian complete the lineup.
Sovereignty leads Florida Derby field
Sovereignty, the second choice in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 5 after winning the Street Sense (G3) and Fountain of Youth (G2) in succession, leads the field for Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. The 1 1/8-mile race is worth 100-50-25-15-10 points.
The stretch-running Sovereignty is joined in the entries by Fountain of Youth third-place finisher Neoequos, Rebel runner-up Madaket Road, Holy Bull (G3) second-place finisher Tappan Street, runaway Gulfstream maiden winner Disruptor, the stakes-experienced quartet of Cool Intentions, Smoken Boy, Indecisiveness, and Enterdadragon, and Gulfstream allowance optional claiming runner-up Jimmy’s Dailys.
Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby wraps up with Fukuryu
The four-race Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby series concludes on Saturday with the running of the Fukuryu S. Held over 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles), the Fukuryu is worth 40-20-12-8-4 points.
Entries for the Fukuryu haven’t yet been finalized, but the early entries are led by Luxor Cafe, who sits atop the current Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 30 points after winning last month’s Hyacinth S.
Other Triple Crown nominees in the prospective field include Berber Compass, Coche Deli, Danon Vestal, Golden Cloud, Isana, Olive Green, and Yamanin Bouclier.
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 1:00.70 on Friday at Palm Meadows.
Camp Hale: Five furlongs in 1:01.75 on Friday at Palm Meadows.
Captain Cook: Four furlongs in a bullet :47.50 on Tuesday over the Belmont Park training track.
Chancer McPatrick: Four furlongs in :49.20 on Saturday at Payson Park.
Citizen Bull: Five furlongs in :59.80 on Sunday at Santa Anita.
Coal Battle: Three furlongs in :37.40 on Sunday at Oaklawn.
East Avenue: Five furlongs in :59.80 on Saturday at Fair Grounds.
Gaming: Half a mile in a bullet :46.80 on Sunday at Santa Anita.
Hill Road: Four furlongs in :49.20 on Saturday at Payson Park.
Journalism: Five furlongs in 1:01.40 on Saturday at Santa Anita.
Madaket Road: Five furlongs in 1:00.80 on Saturday at Santa Anita.
Owen Almighty: Half a mile in :49.25 on Saturday at Palm Meadows.
Rodriguez: Six furlongs in 1:13.20 on Sunday at Santa Anita.
Sandman: Five furlongs in 1:03.20 on Wednesday at Oaklawn.
Sovereignty: Four furlongs in :50.20 on Saturday at Payson Park.
Speed King: Half a mile in a bullet :47.80 on Thursday at Oaklawn.
Tappan Street: Five furlongs in 1:01.80 on Saturday at Payson Park.
Tip Top Thomas: Five furlongs in 1:01.16 on Friday at Palm Beach Downs.
American Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five
1. Tiztastic (119 points)
2. Final Gambit (100 points)
3. Chunk of Gold (75 points)
4. Coal Battle (70 points)
5. Owen Almighty (65 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 (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.
