The Road to the Kentucky Derby is done and the field is starting to take shape. (photo courtesy of Churchill Downs)
In this crazy year where the Kentucky Derby (G1) is being contested on the first Saturday of September, the prep races are in the books and the field is starting to take shape.
Pneumatic won Saturday’s Pegasus at Monmouth Park, the final Road to the Kentucky Derby points race, earning 20 points which moved the colt up to 11th in the Derby point standings among the horses still possible for the Run for the Roses.
Tiz the Law topped the Derby points standings with 372 and will be sent off as the betting favorite for the second jewel of this year’s Triple Crown. The Barclay Tagg trainee won the Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 20 and followed that up by winning the Travers (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 8 with a career best 109 Beyer Speed Figure.
The colt is currently the 6-5 betting favorite in early Kentucky Derby wagering at BUSR.
The filly Swiss Skydiver won Saturday’s Alabama (G1) and sits in 13th in the Derby points standings with 40 points thanks to her runner up finish in the Toyota Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland. Her trainer Ken McPeek mentioned the Derby before her Blue Grass run but said yesterday after the Alabama that she likely would be headed to the Kentucky Oaks (G1). He did not rule out a run in the Preakness Stakes (G1).
“I’m pretty sure it’s going to be Oaks,” McPeek said. “Peter and I will sit down and talk about it but we’re leaning pretty hard to the Oaks. Tiz the Law’s race here last week was ultra-impressive and if you hold the two against each other; I am not sure we want to be up against him yet. If she could win the Oaks and is still in good order, I think the Preakness would be a great race to win with the filly.”
2020 Alabama Stakes
Authentic finished second in the Derby point standings with 200. The Bob Baffert trainee has won four of his five career starts, taking the Haskell Invitational (G1) in his last outing at Monmouth Park on July 18.
Art Collector was third in the standings with 100 and likely will be the second choice in the betting on Derby Day. The Tom Drury trainee won the Blue Grass (G2) and Ellis Park Derby in his last two starts.
The list of Derby possibles released by Churchill Downs on Sunday has 26 contenders listed. The race is limited to 20 starters and while some are saying we might not get a full field, the temptation to run in this classic race likely will assure we still see a large field despite the overwhelming favorite in Tiz the Law.
Road to the Kentucky Derby Point Standings
| Rank | Horse | Points | Trainer | Non-Restricted
Stakes Earnings |
| 1. | Tiz the Law | 372 | Barclay Tagg | $1,972,400 |
| 2. | Authentic | 200 | Bob Baffert | $980,000 |
| 3. | Art Collector | 150 | Tommy Drury Jr. | $476,461 |
| 4. | Honor A. P. | 140 | John Shirreffs | $340,000 |
| 5. | Ny Traffic | 110 | Saffie Joseph Jr. | $472,820 |
| 6. | King Guillermo | 90 | Juan Carlos Avila | $317,050 |
| 7. | Thousand Words | 83 | Bob Baffert | $297,000 |
| 8. | Dr Post | 80 | Todd Pletcher | $331,035 |
| 9. | Max Player | 60 | Steve Asmussen | $337,500 |
| 10. | Caracaro | 60 | Gustavo Delgado | $205,000 |
| 11. | Pneumatic | 45 | Steve Asmussen | $169,250 |
| 12. | Enforceable | 43 | Mark Casse | $314,550 |
| 13. | Swiss Skydiver | 40 | Kenny McPeek | $901,820 |
| 14. | Rushie | 40 | Michael McCarthy | $108,000 |
| 15. | Major Fed | 38 | Greg Foley | $179,100 |
| 16. | Storm the Court | 36 | Peter Eurton | $1,273,851 |
| 17. | Attachment Rate | 35 | Dale Romans | $93,675 |
| 18. | Sole Volante | 30 | Patrick Biancone | $273,510 |
| 19. | Finnick the Fierce | 25 | Rey Hernandez | $121,700 |
| 20. | Winning Impression | 20 | Dallas Stewart | $54,822 |
| 21. | Jesus’ Team | 18 | Jose D’Angelo | $80,000 |
| 22. | Necker Island | 14 | Chris Hartman | $74,808 |
| 23. | Kiss Today Goodbye | 10 | J. Eric Kruljac | $12,000 |
| 24. | Shirl’s Speight | 0 | Roger Attfield | $55,896 |
| 25. | Happy Saver | 0 | Todd Pletcher | $0 |
| 26. | Money Moves | 0 | Todd Pletcher | $0 |
