Much has changed on the recent road to Kentucky Derby 2020. Art Collector is suddenly one of the Derby favorites after a sharp victory in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on July 11. Chad Brown threw his hat in the ring with Peter Pan hero Country Grammer, and Bob Baffert won yet another Haskell with Authentic. Kentucky Derby Points Race Recaps Blue Grass Stakes (G2) Recap (7-11-20) – Winner: Art Collector Swiss Skydiver took on the males in this spot, and the talented early-pressing filly made her presence felt throughout. Shivaree went to the lead from the rail under Johnny V as expected, but Swiss Skydiver was right up there with him, and she took over after the opening half. She was still in front after six panels, but Art Collector tracked the pace intently from an inner post, and he confronted the filly turning for home. Those two

Speech and Paris Lights both became grade one winners in the most recent pair of Kentucky Oaks 2020 points races, and the former looks like a strong Oaks contender after her sharp victory over Venetian Harbor in the Ashland. Kentucky Oaks Points Race Recaps Ashland Stakes (G1) Recap (7-11-20) – Winner: Speech Venetian Harbor was the strong favorite and controlling speed vs. four opponents in this G1 at a mile and a sixteenth. I have liked her for qite some time but stamina was always the main issue. She got clear early but Speech tracked from the outside post and stayed within a length for much of the running. That stamina issue I mentioned came into play. Speech turned up the heat around the far turn, got to the front early stretch, and pulled clear to score by three lengths. Venetian Harbor was clearly second best and Envoutante raced in 3rd

A trio of Kentucky Oaks 2020 points races have run since I last checked in, and Shedaresthedevil was the most impressive winner of the three. Next up is the Ashland at Keeneland on July 11, and Venetian Harbor is going to be tough to catch in that one. Kentucky Oaks Points Race Recaps Delaware Oaks (G3) Recap (7-4-20) – Winner: Project Whiskey ($79.60) It was bombs away in this affair. Post time favorite Piece of My Heart had a slim early lead over Long Point Beach and Project Whiskey. Dream Marie made a wide early move and joined the crowd up front. Project Whiskey and Dream Marie battled in the lane and the former prevailed by a half-length. Princess Kadey rallied for the show and was followed by Piece of My Heart and Hopeful Growth. It was a big gap back to Comical, and Queen Bridget beat one home after a tardy

The Kentucky Derby 2020 point race calendar has picked up steam the last couple of weeks. Dean Martini upset the Ohio Derby late last month, and Uncle Chuck had some fire works of his own at Los Alamitos Race Course on the Fourth of July. Shared Sense threw his hat into the ring four days later in the Indiana Derby. Kentucky Derby Points Race Recaps Ohio Derby (G3) Recap (6-27-20) – Winner: Dean Martini ($31.20) This race was a tale of two trips, and Dean Martini enjoyed a dream journey from the inside post. The same cannot be said of my value top choice South Bend. Rowdy Yates, Lebda, and Dean Martini mixed it up early, and the latter backed off a bit from the inside post. Established and Storm the Court were up close as well. Dean Martini came through along the rail to grab the lead at the