There are still several of these 170-point races to go in coming weeks, and someone may prove to be Epicenter’s equal in that time, but right now he’s the leader in the clubhouse, ticking all the boxes in terms of positional speed, Beyer figures, experience, and the physique and mind to handle what’s ahead.
Trainer Brian Lynch said that he wanted to sleep on the decision one more night but in all likelihood plans to call an audible that would re-direct Tampa Bay Derby winner Classic Causeway to the $1 million Florida Derby next Saturday at Gulfstream Park rather than to the Blue Grass at Keeneland the following week as originally intended.
Uno Ojo put in his final work for the Arkansas Derby on Saturday at Oaklawn Park, as the number of rivals the Rebel winner will face is starting to grow.
The undefeated filly Delicada won Saturday’s $280,580 Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan to secure a place in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 7, if she is nominated to the American Triple Crown as soon as Monday and the race is deemed a goal.
Crown Pride became the third Japan-based winner on the Dubai World Cup card, wearing down pacesetting Summer Is Tomorrow for a 2 3/4-length victory in the Group 2, $1 million UAE Derby.
Slow Down Andy could move into the fast lane on the road to the Kentucky Derby with the right kind of performance in Sunday's Grade 3, $500,000 Sunland Park Derby. The Southern California shipper figures to start as the favorite in the 1 1/8-mile race.
Forbidden Kingdom, unbeaten in two graded stakes this year, was pronounced on schedule for the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 9 on Friday, a day after working six furlongs in 1:14 at Santa Anita.
Four top Kentucky Derby prospects heretofore trained by Bob Baffert, including the highly regarded Messier, have been moved in advance of upcoming stakes, with the hope they can earn enough points in their next starts to run in the Derby on May 7, according to Tom Ryan, who oversees the wide-ranging partnership that owns the colts.
With a career-best 98 Beyer last time out, Epicenter heads into the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby on Saturday at Fair Grounds the unquestioned horse to beat among nine 3-year-olds looking to move on to the Kentucky Derby May 7 at Churchill Downs.
Jasper Great, 10th of 11 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar last November, is a projected starter in Saturday’s $280,580 Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan, the final qualifying race in that nation’s series for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 7.
