The Derby Decimal Classifications: March 1

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

4

The number of Kentucky Derby (G1) starters sired so far by Kitten’s Joy, whose son Crossfirehurricane battled to a gallant victory in the Patton S. on Friday at Dundalk. The win secured Crossfirehurricane 20 qualification points on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, but Kitten’s Joy is renowned as a sire of turf horses, and none of his Derby starters have finished better than ninth. Crossfirehurricane isn’t nominated to the Triple Crown and appears more likely to pursue European classics than the Run for the Roses.

5

The number of horses entered in Wednesday’s Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition S. at Kempton, the penultimate leg of the European Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Aidan O’Brien-trained New World Tapestry is the field’s lone Triple Crown nominee.

8

The number of European Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points secured by Patton runner-up Choice of Mine, which places him second on the local leaderboard. Unlike his Joseph O’Brien-trained stablemate Crossfirehurricane, Choice of Mine is nominated to the Triple Crown.

8 1/2

The margin of victory, in lengths, recorded by Ete Indien in the Fountain of Youth (G2) on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The son of Summer Front crushed his rivals with authority and picked up 50 qualification points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, which puts him atop the leaderboard with a total of 54 points.

13

The number of 3-year-old males trainer Todd Pletcher saddled to win maiden special weight races during the first two months of 2020. His latest sensations are Roman Empire, who cruised by 8 3/4 lengths Thursday at Gulfstream, and I’ll Fight Dempsey, who won by 2 1/2 lengths over the same track Saturday.

20

The number of Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points secured by Pletcher’s Candy Tycoon for his second-place finish in the Fountain of Youth. Candy Tycoon currently sits ninth on the leaderboard, one place ahead of Remsen (G2) winner Shotski, who climbed to 19 points with his fourth-place finish in the Fountain of Youth.

61

The number of days remaining until the Kentucky Derby. That’s less than nine weeks, folks.