WHO’S HOT

The announcement Tuesday that the Kentucky Derby will be moved to Sept. 5 due to the coronavirus pandemic could lead to a new date for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby, according to Oaklawn Park president Lou Cella. The Arkansas Derby is currently scheduled for April 11.

Cella said Tuesday that Oaklawn has been in discussions with a number of factions to determine the best date for the 1 1/8-mile race that has been won by such horses as American Pharoah, Smarty Jones, and Sunny's Halo.

The news that Churchill Downs would delay the Kentucky Derby by four months to Sept. 5 owing to the coronavirus pandemic, and that the Preakness would be delayed, too, caused trainers of leading Derby and Triple Crown contenders to ponder how they’d proceed in coming months, while realizing the situation in regards to racing’s overall schedule remains fluid.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky Derby, the race whose name is synonymous with the first Saturday in May, has been re-scheduled for the first Saturday of September on Labor Day weekend, the race’s host, Churchill Downs, announced on Tuesday morning.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Brendan Walsh wishes trouble for no one. He’s not that kind of guy.

Still, Walsh couldn’t help but crack a smile when talking about how the chances of Maxfield making the Kentucky Derby field would be helped greatly by what appears to be an imminent postponement of the race.

“Absolutely, I’ve thought about that,” Walsh said. “I think about nothing else.”

:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2020: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Nadal won a dogfight of a Rebel on Saturday at Oaklawn Park and on Sunday, his trainer, Bob Baffert, was pleased with how the undefeated colt has emerged from the Grade 2, $1 million race.

Nadal withstood significant pace pressure for a three-quarter length win, picking up 50 points for the Kentucky Derby. The start was his first at two turns, his first on a wet track, and his first outside of his base of Southern California. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 96.

Grade 2, $1 million Rebel Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Oaklawn Park, March 14, 2020
(50 Derby qualifying points for a win, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth)
Winner: Nadal, by Blame
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Owners: George Bolton, Arthur Hoyeau, Barry Lipman, and Mark Mathiesen
Beyer Speed Figure: 96

Field Pass capped a big Saturday evening at Turfway Park for trainer Mike Maker, rallying for a neck victory over favored Invader in the Grade 3, $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks, the track's major Kentucky Derby prep.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Game. Set. Match.

Nadal cleared three important hurdles Saturday at Oaklawn Park when he won the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel Stakes. The undefeated colt won on a wet track for the first time. He won at two turns for the first time. And he picked up his first points for the Kentucky Derby.

Nadal also gave his trainer, Bob Baffert, an unprecedented seventh win in the Rebel.

Churchill Downs has stepped up its timetable for determining when – or if – to hold the Kentucky Derby this year in the wake of nationwide cancellations of large events due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to an alert the company posted on its website on Saturday.

The alert says that Churchill expects “to have an update about the Kentucky Derby and additional information on our spring meet in the coming week.” Earlier this week, the company had only said that it would make a decision about “postponing” the race “closer to the date.”