Road to the Kentucky Derby: Looking ahead to the 100-40-20-10 stretch run
There will be three big 100-40-20-10 point races on April 3, the penultimate weekend of the Road to the Kentucky Derby that began back on September 5 with the Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs.
However, it has taken as few as 20 points and as many as 40 to qualify, so it's difficult to predict what happens near the cut-off point of the top 18 to 20 horses in the standings. Life Is Good, the winner of the 50-20-10-5 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park on March 6, sustained an injury and has withdrawn from Kentucky Derby consideration.
Hot Rod Charlie locked up his entry into the Kentucky Derby, as did second-place finisher Midnight Bourbon and fourth-place finisher Proxy. The horse that crossed the finish line in third, O Besos, is still on the bubble with 25 points, and his team will nervously be eyeing the results of the next three weekends.
Who can make a move?
Spielberg, also in Baffert's stable, has 17 points and needs a top-three outing in the Florida Derby to get into the Kentucky Derby. It will take a good run, especially if favourite Greatest Honour takes care of business at Gulfstream Park.
An interesting story would be Keepmeinmind contending at the Blue Grass Stakes after a dismal sixth-place finish at the Rebel Stakes. It came after a 3½-month layoff following a win in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs on November 28. With 18 points, he'll need at least a third-place finish for his handlers to feel comfortable with his position in the standings.