Another Kentucky Oaks 2020 points race, and yet another victory for Swiss Skydiver. She sure is racking up the Oaks points after capturing her third straight graded route in the Santa Anita Oaks on June 6.   Kentucky Oaks Points Race Recaps Dogwood Stakes (G3) Recap (6-6-20) – Winner: Four Graces ($6.60) Four Graces dueled on the lead with Ain’t No Elmers in this extended sprint under the Twin Spires, and an unlucky Edgeway stalked the pace from the outside post while taking the overland route. Four Graces had plenty left and kept Edgeway at bay en route to a 2-1/2 length victory. The latter was clearly second best in a strong performance. The top two finishers ran well, but I doubt they are Oaks fillies. They are decent sprinters, and I would take Edgeway to turn the tables if they face each other again in a race like the Beaumont at

My longtime top ranked Kentucky Derby 2020 contender Honor A. P. solidified his status as a high quality sophomore with a strong off the pace victory over Authentic in the Santa Anita Derby on Saturday, June 6.     Kentucky Derby Points Race Recaps Santa Anita Derby (G1) Recap (6-6-20) – Winner: Honor A. P. ($6.40) There is a good chance that we saw the Kentucky Derby winner in this race. Honor A. P. has been my top ranked Derby contender for quite some time, and he put it all together in this race. Shooters Shoot got a slim early lead after post time favorite Authentic broke outward from the outside post. The latter recovered and chased outside, and Anneau d’Or chased in between rivals. The pace was solid and Honor A. P. was in midpack and outside under Mike Smith. He made a nice wide move and had all the

The Santa Anita Derby (G1) is the next Kentucky Derby 2020 points race, and it looks like a match race between San Felipe (G2) 1-2 finishers Authentic and Honor A. P. Authentic is the SA Derby target, and he is going to be tough to catch if they let him dictate terms again. Rushie and Shooters Shoot drew inner posts and might try to go after the aforementioned favorite early, and if that happens, Honor A. P. might be the major beneficiary. He could easily turn the tables on Authentic if the pace is contested at a mile and an eighth. Friar’s Road, Anneau d’Or, and Azul Coast round out the field. Check out my SA Derby video at the bottom of this post.  In other Triple Crown news, the top portion of my Derby list gets a bit of a shakeup following Nadal’s recent injury and retirement. Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Oaks 2020 points race series is back in action for the first time since the Fantasy Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park on May 1. Swiss Skydiver captured the last two Oaks points races (GP Oaks, Fantasy), and she is favored to make it three straight graded route wins against three opponents in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, June 6. Kentucky Oaks Points Race Preview Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks (6-6-20) SA 5 (G2 Santa Anita Oaks, 8.5f)Primary – #3 SPEECH, #1 Swiss SkydiverSecondary – #2 Merneith, #5 Regal BeautyWagers: #3 to win, Exacta 3-1 Comments: This race is down to four runners following the defection of Smiling Shirlee. #3 Speech (8-5) fired in all five outings and has earned some quality speed figures. Flavien Prat takes the call, she fired a local bullet for this May 23, and a tactical trip is expected. She ran

The Arkansas Derby has been split into two divisions, and exciting Kentucky Derby 2020 prospect Charlatan is the strong favorite to win the first division. Bob Baffert’s unbeaten colt looks like the one to catch from the inside post at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, May 2. The second division of the Arkansas Derby also features a Bob Baffert favorite. Nadal is a perfect 3-for-3, and he won the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park in March. He loves to mix it up on the pace, and won duels in all three races. He will likely face pace pressure again and figures to fight hard throughout.      Hot Prospects: Basquiat The Chad Brown trainee stalked the pace and won with something in reserve in his extended sprint debut at Gulfstream Park April 25. The son of American Pharaoh has plenty of promise and figures to stretch out in distance in the

Kentucky Derby 2020 Report (4-10-20) Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Kentucky Derby 2020 will no longer be run on the first Saturday in May. The new date for the Derby is Saturday, Sept. 5. More points races will be added to the schedule in the near future. Let’s recap the Florida Derby and preview the Oaklawn Stakes. The next big race for the sophomore set is the $200,000 Oaklawn Stakes at a mile and an eighth on Saturday, April 11. The top three finishers will receive automatic berths into the rescheduled Arkansas Derby (May 2). A baker’s dozen will line up, and the pace should be honest with Basin, Sir Rick, Taishan, and Gold Street vying for early position. Bob Baffert always seems to have a live California shipper in these big Oaklawn Park sophomore routes, and this race is no exception. His $1 million purchase Thousand Words is the 5-2 morning line favorite.