Handle on Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs set a record, according to race charts, as the track and the race returned to normalcy after two years of disruptions brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

Handle on the Derby, including all multi-race bets that ended in the race, was $168.8 million, up 9.9 percent compared to handle on the race last year and up 5.8 percent over the record set in 2019, according to the charts. (Daily Racing Form does not include bets made in parimutuel future wagers that Churchill holds in the run-up to the Derby.)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – As the field turned into the stretch, trainer Chad Brown had every right to believe he was finally going to get his first Kentucky Derby victory late Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs, as his Blue Grass winner Zandon loomed up in perfect striking position just behind the favored Epicenter. It was a scenario he had experienced twice before, with Normandy Invasion in 2013 and again with Good Magic five years later, both of whom also appeared poised to win the Derby a quarter-mile from the wire.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The 3-year-old filly New Year’s Eve came out of her impressive Friday win in the Edgewood Stakes in good shape, trainer Brendan Walsh said Saturday, but no plans have been made for the filly’s next start.  

New Year’s Eve, rallying strongly from the back of the Edgewood field, ran 1 1/16 miles over firm turf in 1:43.35, good for a 90 Beyer Speed Figure. No 3-year-old filly has earned a higher Beyer Figure on turf this year, though Spendarella hit the mark twice and Cairo Memories in one race.  

LOUISVILE, Ky. – Arrest Me Red appears unlikely to join trainer Wesley Ward's contingent heading to the renowned Royal Ascot meeting in England next month, but he will have his own Grade 1 engagement on this side of the pond.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Matareya, the Grade 2 Eight Belles winner, and Juju’s Map, a second-level allowance winner, both came out of their Friday victories at Churchill Downs in good order, trainer Brad Cox said Saturday morning, and both will be under consideration for the Grade 1, $500,000 Acorn Stakes on June 11 at Belmont Park.

Matareya improved her record to 3 for 3 in 2022 with a 2 1/4-length victory over the pacesetting Pretty Birdie in the Eight Belles. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Matareya ran seven furlongs in 1:21.86 and earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Fresh off his victory aboard Secret Oath in the Kentucky Oaks, jockey Luis Saez was set on Saturday at Churchill Downs to try and sweep both that race and the Kentucky Derby, a feat that has been accomplished twice in the past 12 years, but officially just once.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – There was no resting on their lilies Saturday morning for the Lukas camp. Less than 12 hours after Secret Oath gave him a record-tying fifth victory in the Kentucky Oaks, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas was on his stable pony in the dark, escorting sets to the track.

Lukas, 86, said that Secret Oath emerged from her two-length victory in the Oaks, which earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure, in good order.

Epicenter and Taiba were vying for favoritism in early Kentucky Derby betting as of 7:30 p.m. Friday.  

Epicenter and Taiba both were 5-1, while Messier and Mo Donegal were 7-1 and morning-line favorite Zandon was 8-1.

Wagers on the Kentucky Oaks-Kentucky Derby double will pay the following for a $1 bet.

Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath (No. 1, $10.80) with:

1 Mo Donegal – $51

2 Happy Jack – $622

3 Epicenter – $25

4 Summer Is Tomorrow – $511

5 Smile Happy – $97

6 Messier – $40

7 Crown Pride – $96

8 Charge It – $67

9 Tiz the Bomb – $238

10 Zandon – $36

11 Pioneer of Medina – $534

12 Taiba – $32

13 Simplification – $201

14 Barber Road – $329

15 White Abarrio – $79

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Remember yesterday when the meteorologists were telling us Churchill Downs could get more than 1 1/2 inches of rain? Yeah? No. We’ve had a couple passing showers but the main track remains fast, the turf firm with seven races in the books on Kentucky Oaks Day.

There’s still a chance for some rain over the next few hours but nothing like what was forecast; the storm cells are widely scattered and it’s hard to predict if any will pass over the track.