His connections see no reason to force the pace of Enforceable's training, and so the most accomplished 3-year-old dirt-route horse stabled at Fair Grounds will have only two works between the Feb. 15 Risen Star and the March 21 Louisiana Derby.
It remains to be seen whether Oaklawn will split the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes that runs on March 14, but the track is open to running two divisions of the points race for the Kentucky Derby, said Jed Doro, vice president of racing for Oaklawn.
Despite the relative ease with which Mischevious Alex won the Grade 3 Swale Stakes last month at Gulfstream Park, his connections did not start booking rooms in Louisville for the first Saturday in May.
American Theorem, unraced since a second-place finish in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita last September, will have his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 14.
Two newcomers – Charlatan and Major Fed – and a returnee – Three Technique – are the fresh names on this week's Derby Watch top 20 list.
Two months out from the Kentucky Derby on May 2, no trainer holds a stronger hand with their 3-year-olds than does Bob Baffert, who has four members of the current Derby Watch top 20, two of whom are scheduled to run Saturday in the Grade 2, $400,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita.
Into Mischief, who claimed his first general sire title in 2019, is the sire of two classic-placed runners in the last two years. In Authentic, winner of the Grade 3 Sham Stakes by 7 3/4 lengths going a mile, he has another exciting prospect on this year's Kentucky Derby trail.
Todd Pletcher has won the Tampa Bay Derby a record five times, and he will take a shot at extending his record to six when he sends out three starters here Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs in what was expected to be a capacity field of 12 3-year-olds for the 40th running of the Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby.
Breeder and consignor Gerry Dilger, known for his involvement with Kentucky Derby winners Nyquist and Always Dreaming, has died at age 61 following recent cardiac troubles.
Nine new names are in the lineup for Pool 3 of the 2020 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens at noon Eastern on Friday for the customary three-day run. Pool 3 coincides with the only futures pool toward the 2020 Kentucky Oaks, with an Oaks-Derby double future wager being offered for the third year.
