Journalism cruises in the San Felipe. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Road to the Roses Continues with Eight Weeks Remaining
Derby Dispatch/Edited
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With just eight weeks remaining until the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I), two major contenders took a step forward last Saturday with impressive 3-year-old debuts. Sovereignty surged past River Thames in the Fountain of Youth (GII) at Gulfstream Park, while Journalism ran down heavy 2-5 favorite Barnes in the San Felipe (GII) at Santa Anita and stamped themselves as serious players on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Meanwhile, at Aqueduct, Flood Zone sprang a 17-1 upset in the one-mile Gotham (GIII) and earned him a chance to likely stretch out around two turns in his next start, according to trainer Brad Cox.
This Saturday, the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series shifts to Tampa Bay Downs for the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (GIII), a race that has produced Kentucky Derby winners Super Saver (2010) and Street Sense (2007).
Following the Tampa Bay Derby, only nine opportunities remain to garner qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Upcoming Road To Kentucky Derby Races
March 15 (seven weeks out) – $500,000 Virginia Derby, 1 1/8 miles, Colonial Downs (Top 5 points: 50-25-15-10-5): Known possible starters (with trainer): American Promise (Wayne Lukas); Gaming (Bob Baffert); Omaha Omaha (Michael Gorham); Rapture (Brad Cox); Test Score (Graham Motion)
March 22 (six weeks out) – $1 million Louisiana Derby (GII), 1 3/16 miles, Fair Grounds (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10): Known possible starters (with trainer): Baby Max (Kelsey Danner); Built (Wayne Catalano); Caldera (Wayne Lukas);Chunk of Gold (Ethan West); East Avenue (Brendan Walsh): Instant Replay (Brad Cox); John Hancock (Brad Cox);Yinzer (Steve Asmussen)
March 22 (six weeks out) – $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII), 1 1/8 miles (Tapeta), Turfway Park (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10): Known possible starters (with trainer): Baby Max (Kelsey Danner); California Burrito (Tom Drury Jr.); Charlie’s to Blame (Peter Eurton); Flying Mohawk (Whit Beckman)
March 29 (five weeks out) – $1 million Florida Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Gulfstream Park (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10): Known possible starters (with trainer): Disruptor (Todd Pletcher); Flood Zone (Brad Cox); Grande (Todd Pletcher); Neoequos (Saffie Joseph Jr.); River Thames (Todd Pletcher); Sovereignty (Bill Mott); Tappan Street (Brad Cox)
March 29 (five weeks out) – $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Oaklawn (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10): Known possible starters (with trainer): Coal Battle (Lonnie Briley); Getaway Car (Bob Baffert); Instant Replay (Brad Cox); Sandman (Mark Casse); Speed King (Ron Moquett)
Inside the Kentucky Derby Podcast
April 5 (four weeks out) – $1.25 million Blue Grass (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Keeneland (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10): Known possible starters (with trainer): Burnham Square (Ian Wilkes); Disruptor (Todd Pletcher); East Avenue (Brendan Walsh); Grande (Todd Pletcher); Poster (Eoin Harty); River Thames (Todd Pletcher); Sovereignty (Bill Mott)
April 5 (four weeks out) – $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Santa Anita (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10): Known possible starters (with trainer): Baeza (John Shirreffs); Barnes (Bob Baffert); Citizen Bull (Bob Baffert); Getaway Car (Bob Baffert); Journalism (Michael McCarthy)
April 5 (four weeks out) – $750,000 Wood Memorial (GII), 1 1/8 miles, Aqueduct (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10): Known possible starters (with trainer): Captain Cook (Rick Dutrow Jr.); Disruptor (Todd Pletcher); Flood Zone (Brad Cox); Getaway Car (Bob Baffert); Grande (Todd Pletcher); Poster (Eoin Harty); Sand Devil (Linda Rice); Sovereignty (Bill Mott)
April 12 (three weeks out) – $400,000 Lexington (GIII), 1 1/16 miles, Keeneland (Top 5 points: 20-10-6-4-2)
Note: The possible fields for upcoming Kentucky Derby Championship Series races are fluid as owners and trainers vie for points. Known possible horses mentioned to be under consideration for each race are based on published news reports and other sources. Horses listed in italics are possible for multiple races.
ROAD TO KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD – Here are the Top 20 horses on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard:
| Position | Horse | Trainer | Resume | Possible Next Start | Points |
| 1 | Coal Battle | Lonnie Briley | 1st – Rebel1st – Springboard Mile | March 29 Arkansas Derby or May 3 Kentucky Derby | 70 |
| 2 | Citizen Bull | Bob Baffert | 1st – Robert B. Lewis1st – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile1st – American Pharoah | April 5 Santa Anita Derby | 60 |
| 3 | Sovereignty | Bill Mott | 1st – Fountain of Youth1st – Street Sense | March 29 Florida Derby or April 5 Blue Grass or April 5 Wood Memorial | 60 |
| 4 | Flood Zone | Brad Cox | 1st – Gotham | March 29 Florida Derby or April 5 Wood Memorial or April 5 UAE Derby | 50 |
| 5 | Journalism | Michael McCarthy | 1st – San Felipe1st – Los Al Futurity | April 5 Santa Anita Derby | 47.5 |
| 6 | Getaway Car | Bob Baffert | 1st – Sunland Derby2nd – Los Al Futurity2nd – American Pharoah4th – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile | TBA | 36 |
| 7 | Built | Wayne Catalano | 1st – Gun Runner2nd – Lecomte3rd – Risen Star | March 29 Louisiana Derby | 35 |
| 8 | Madaket Road | Bob Baffert | 2nd – Rebel3rd – Robert B. Lewis | TBA | 31 |
| 9 | Burnham Square | Ian Wilkes | 1st – Holy Bull4th – Fountain of Youth | April 5 Blue Grass | 30 |
| 10 | Sandman | Mark Casse | 2nd – Southwest3rd – Rebel3rd – Street Sense5th – Iroquois | March 29 Arkansas Derby | 29 |
| 11 | Speed King | Ron Moquett | 1st – Southwest2nd – Springboard Mile | March 29 Arkansas Derby | 25 |
| 12 | Chunk of Gold | Ethan West | 2nd – Risen Star | March 22 Louisiana Derby | 25 |
| 13 | River Thames | Todd Pletcher | 2nd – Fountain of Youth | March 29 Florida Derby or April 5 Blue Grass or April 5 Wood Memorial | 25 |
| 14 | Sand Devil | Linda Rice | 2nd – Gotham | April 5 Wood Memorial | 25 |
| 15 | Rodriguez | Bob Baffert | 2nd – Robert B. Lewis3rd – San Felipe | TBA | 21.25 |
| 16 | Disco Time | Brad Cox | 1st – Lecomte | TBA | 20 |
| 17 | Captain Cook | Rick Dutrow Jr. | 1st – Withers | April 5 Wood Memorial | 20 |
| 18 | John Hancock | Brad Cox | 1st – Sam F. Davis | March 22 Louisiana Derby | 20 |
| 19 | California Burrito | Tom Drury Jr. | 1st – John Battaglia Memorial | March 22 Jeff Ruby Steaks | 20 |
| 20 | Tiztastic | Steve Asmussen | 2nd – Street Sense 3rd – Southwest3rd – Kentucky Jockey Club5th – Rebel | TBA | 19 |
