SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - A heavy thunderstorm hit Saratoga at about 8 a.m. Saturday morning, dropping  .36 of an inch of rain and turning a fast main track into a mud pit, prompting the connections of Tiz the Law to postpone a scheduled workout in preparation for the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5.

The connections of Caracaro, however, went ahead with their planned work and the Travers runner-up went five furlongs in 1:01.88 under exercise rider J.J. Delgado in his first of two works for the Derby.

The Kentucky Derby will be run without fans this year for the first time in its history.

On Friday, Churchill Downs announced that it had canceled its plans to allow a limited number of ticketholders into the track on Derby Day, taking place this year on Sept. 5 because of the disruption caused by the coronavirus. The cancellation comes at a time when Kentucky has failed to show any meaningful progress in slowing the spread of the coronavirus, and at a time of general unrest in Churchill’s city, Louisville.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A final decision on his participation in the Kentucky Derby was to be made over the weekend, but Dr Post signaled his preparedness for the race with a solid five-furlong workout in 1:00.75 on Friday morning over Saratoga’s main track.

Tiz the Law and Art Collector have arrived at this point of their 3-year-old seasons by different avenues. New York-bred Tiz the Law, purchased as a yearling by Sackatoga Stable, was a Grade 1-winning juvenile. Art Collector, a Kentucky homebred for Bruce Lunsford, was a late developer.

However, both are unbeaten this year and are expected to be the top two choices in the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby. Both also share similar pedigree patterns.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Ny Traffic has improved with every start since launching his 3-year-old campaign with an easy allowance win at Gulfstream Park more than seven months ago. And trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is hoping that Ny Traffic – the “other” New York-bred in the field along with heavy favorite Tiz the Law – will have one more forward move in him on Kentucky Derby Day.

The last stop on the road is within sight. After 44 points-scoring races over 11 months, those desirous of running at Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5, and their rankings on the points list, are set. As of Wednesday, there were just 21 horses still under consideration for the Derby, with at least two of those not certain to run in the race, leading to the very real possibility that fewer than the maximum of 20 will enter, let alone run.

WHO'S HOT

With the points-scoring races now completed, the order of preference is known for the prospective field for the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5, and that will be the overriding factor on who moves onto the list. This week, Shirl’s Speight and Winning Impression are the two newcomers. Shirl’s Speight is a 30-1 shot on the line of Marty McGee of Daily Racing Form, with Winning Impression at 50-1, one of eight horses McGee has at that price.

Caracaro

Uncle Mo – Peace Time, by War Front Bred in Kentucky by SF Bloodstock ($95,000 Keeneland November weanling purchase by Global Thoroughbred)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With some two weeks to go before the 146th Kentucky Derby, fewer than half of the expected starters in the Sept. 5 race are on the grounds at Churchill Downs as travel plans begin to solidify for the balance of the field.

Listed, $155,000 Pegasus Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Monmouth Park, Aug. 15, 2020
(20 Derby qualifying points for first, 8 for second, 4 for third, 2 for fourth)

Winner: Pneumatic, by Uncle Mo
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joe Bravo
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC
Beyer Speed Figure: 99