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The Fountain of Youth made news in part because of its insanely fast early pace. One week later all three of Saturday’s Derby points races – the Tampa Bay Derby, the Gotham at Aqueduct, and, yes, even the Jeff Ruby at Turfway – also featured wickedly fast early paces.
Haikal, with his victory in the Gotham Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct, earned 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, more than enough to secure a spot in the starting gate for the $3 million race at Churchill Downs on May 4.
Somelikeithotbrown was not error free in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park. Regardless, his class and speed propelled him to a 3 1/4-length victory, keeping him on the Kentucky Derby trail.
Haikal may have punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby with a furious late stretch run that carried him from last down the backside and past a trio of horses in the last sixteenth of a mile to a one-length victory in the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.
In this new feature, Andrew Beyer and his associates will answer selected readers' questions about Beyer Speed Figures. Questions of general interest will be preferred for publication. You may submit questions to askbeyer@drf.com or through the Beyer information page on the DRF website at drf.com/beyer.
Mike Trombetta would like nothing more than to return to Churchill Downs with a Kentucky Derby contender. He'll have a prime opportunity to do so Saturday when he sends out Win Win Win as the favorite in the Tampa Bay Derby, the annual showcase race at Tampa Bay Downs.
Trainer Mark Casse already has one talented 3-year-old targeted for the Kentucky Derby with Risen Star winner War of Will. And if dreams are made this Saturday, he could have more joining that colt, with Casse starting Dream Maker and Sir Winston in the Grade 2, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby and Skywire in the Grade 3, $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky. Although Dream Maker has perhaps the most potential of the trio, Skywire might also get a Derby chance if he performs well over Turfway's synthetic Polytrack surface and later in a stakes race on dirt. He the 3-1 second favorite in the Jeff Ruby.
Instagrand will make his highly anticipated 3-year-old debut in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday. The one-turn mile race offers 85 qualifying points (50-20-10-5) to its top four finishers to the May 4 Kentucky Derby.
Somelikeithotbrown was made the 8-5 morning-line favorite and Skywire the 3-1 second choice when 11 3-year-olds were entered Wednesday for Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.
Among the numerous impacts of the unprecedented suspension of racing at Santa Anita is that trainers of top Kentucky Derby prospects who were scheduled to run in the Grade 2, $500,000 San Felipe Stakes on Saturday are sorting through options while flying blind as to when racing will resume at Santa Anita.
