While it is certainly the road less traveled, the synthetic path to the Kentucky Derby has proven quite effective the last several years, with at least one horse finishing in the top four in three of the last four Derbies.

In 2022, Rich Strike made three consecutive starts over Turfway Park’s synthetic surface – not winning any – before pulling off an 80-1 shocker in the Kentucky Derby. The following year Two Phil’s – who had plenty of dirt form – won the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway prior to finishing a strong second to Mage in the Run for the Roses.

Two California-breds are Kentucky Derby-dreaming following last Sunday’s $500,000 Sunland Park Derby.

Pavlovian and Express Kid, who finished a nose apart in the race, have both emerged from the Sunland Derby in good order and are bound for another Kentucky Derby points race, their respective trainers, Doug O’Neill and Justin Evans, said Monday.

Pavlovian picked up 20 points for his win at Sunland and sits ninth on the Kentucky Derby standings list administered by Churchill Downs. He was to arrive back at his Santa Anita base Wednesday, according to O’Neill.

The Phipps Stable may no longer operate with the size and scope it once did, but it still is very much an active participant in Thoroughbred racing. Its numbers may currently be the lightest they’ve been, but there is at least one colt who carries the hopes of getting this legendary stable back to the spring classics.

WHO'S HOT

Todd Pletcher. One week after winning the Grade 3 Holy Bull with Nearly, Pletcher won the Sam F. Davis with Renegade, who made a solid 3-year-old debut, closing on a Tampa Bay Downs track that favored forwardly placed runners. Pletcher will look to keep the momentum rolling Saturday with Courting in the Grade 2 Risen Star.

Golden Tempo

Colt by Curlin – Carrumba, by Bernardini

Bred in Kentucky by Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable

Nearly
Not This Time – Ib Prospecting, by Mineshaft
Bred in Florida by Wind Hill Farm ($350,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Centennial Farms)

WHO’S HOT

Nearly opens as the 10-1 favorite on the Derby Watch Top 20 after a dominant 5 3/4-length victory last Saturday in the Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park. He has now won three straight races after a head-scratching debut and will point to the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28.

Golden Tempo successfully stretched out from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles in a professional, if not overly fast, victory in the Grade 3 Lecomte on Jan. 17. The Risen Star on Feb. 14 should tell more.