The chances of Maxfield making the Kentucky Derby field would be helped greatly by what appears to be an imminent postponement of the race. Maxfield worked on Saturday as he prepares for his first start of the year, either in the Blue Grass or Lexington at Keeneland.
Nadal won a dogfight of a Rebel on Saturday at Oaklawn Park and on Sunday, his trainer, Bob Baffert, was pleased with how the undefeated colt has emerged from the Grade 2, $1 million race.
Road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby: Rebel Stakes analysis.
Field Pass capped a big Saturday evening at Turfway Park for trainer Mike Maker, rallying for a neck victory over favored Invader in the Grade 3, $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks, the track's major Kentucky Derby prep.
Nadal cleared three important hurdles Saturday at Oaklawn Park when he won the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel Stakes. The undefeated colt won on a wet track for the first time. He won at two turns for the first time. And he picked up his first points for the Kentucky Derby.
Churchill Downs has stepped up its timetable for determining when – or if – to hold the Kentucky Derby this year in the wake of nationwide cancellations of large events due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to an alert the company posted on its website on Saturday.
Road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby: Gotham analysis
Like everyone else, trainer Mark Hennig doesn't know what impact the coronavirus outbreak will have on the immediate future of the racing industry or the status of this year's Kentucky Derby. What he does know for certain is that he has a horse in Americanus who has earned himself a shot at an upcoming Derby prep, although he does not know just where that race will be.
Road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby: Tampa Bay Derby analysis.
The Grade 2, $1 million Rebel on Saturday at Oaklawn Park is a pivotal race for Derby Watch members Nadal and Basin.
