The Derby Decimal Classifications: Jan. 27, 2020

A weekly, by-the-numbers review of the latest news and developments on the Road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby...

1 – The number of Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races held last week. 10-1 shot Gold Street stole the headlines with a gate-to-wire victory in the $150,000 Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park, where he defeated Three Technique by 2 3/4 lengths. Gold Street’s stablemates Shoplifted and Silver Prospector rounded out the top four.

2 – The number of maiden winners saddled by two-time Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The experienced Candy Tycoon romped by four lengths going 1 1/16 miles, while the heavily bet Market Analysis battled to victory on debut in a 7-furlong sprint.

3 – The number of Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races scheduled for next Saturday. They are the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct, the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park, and the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita.

5 – The number of horses Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has nominated to the Mar. 28 UAE Derby (G2) in Dubai, which offers 100 Kentucky Derby qualification points to the winner. O’Brien’s nominees are Year of the Tiger, Battle of Liege, Fort Myers, King of Athens, and New World Tapestry, the latter four all sons of popular stallion War Front.

5 – The number of workouts recorded by Champagne (G1) winner Tiz the Law in advance of the Holy Bull. Racing for Sackatoga Stable and trainer Barclay Tagg of Funny Cide fame, Tiz the Law clocked 4 furlongs in a bullet :48 Sunday at Palm Meadows and will be heavily favored to win his sophomore debut.

9 – On a scale of 1 to 10, the approximate measure of how excited I am about Fair Grounds allowance winner Blackberry Wine, a promising son of Oxbow who should only improve with maturity.

10 – The number of Kentucky Derby qualification points secured by Gold Street for his win in the Smarty Jones, which places him 12th on the current leaderboard.

12 – The total number of Derby qualification points accumulated by Remington Springboard Mile winner Shoplifted, who finished third in the Smarty Jones. He sits fourth on the leaderboard.

13 – The number of days remaining until newly crowned champion 2-year-old Storm the Court returns to action in the Feb. 9 San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita.

29 – The number of Japanese horses nominated to the UAE Derby, including undefeated Cattleya Sho winner Dieu du Vin and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) fifth-place finisher Full Flat.

101 – The approximate number of times I'll expound on the virtues of Dieu du Vin before his next race.

205 – The total number of horses nominated to the UAE Derby.

Uncountable – The number of handicappers wondering if eye-catching Santa Anita maiden winner Nadal can give Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his third Triple Crown sweep in six years.