Authentic
Into Mischief – Flawless, by Mr. Greeley
Bred in Kentucky by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds ($350,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by SF Bloodstock/Starlight West)

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Todd Pletcher has won the Tampa Bay Derby a record five times, but he doesn’t want to hear it.

“I’ve lost it more than that,” he deadpanned.

True, but c’mon. Pletcher will take a shot at extending his record to six when he sends out three starters here Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs in what was expected to be a capacity field of 12 3-year-olds for the 40th running of the Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby. Eighty-five qualifying points (50-20-10-5) toward the May 2 Kentucky Derby are at stake.

Breeder and consignor Gerry Dilger, known for his involvement with Kentucky Derby winners Nyquist and Always Dreaming, has died at age 61 following recent cardiac troubles.

Dilger, a native of County Clare, Ireland, came to the U.S. in 1978, and owned and operated Dromoland Farm in Kentucky. He and pinhooking partners Ted Campion and Pat Costello purchased Nyquist for $180,000 as a Keeneland November weanling and continued to raise the colt at Dromoland.

Nine new names are in the lineup for Pool 3 of the 2020 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens at noon Eastern on Friday for the customary three-day run.

Pool 3 coincides with the only futures pool toward the 2020 Kentucky Oaks, with an Oaks-Derby double future wager being offered for the third year.

A quiet Wednesday at Kempton Park in England could help determine a Kentucky Derby starter.

Kempton hosts the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes on Wednesday, the penultimate race in the European Road to the Kentucky Derby. Five were entered, none of whom are among the leaders so far in the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, which concludes with the Cardinal Conditions Stakes on April 2 at Chelmsford City.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While the last-place finish by Dennis’ Moment in Saturday’s Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park may have dealt a setback to Dale Romans in his bid to get to the Kentucky Derby, the trainer will jump right back in the Triple Crown fray when he ships up Attachment Rate for Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Chance It isn’t the only horse trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has on the Kentucky Derby trail at the moment. On Sunday, Joseph worked Ny Traffic and Disc Jockey, after which he said both would run in one of the upcoming Derby preps.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Tiz the Law, currently the top rated 3-year-old on Daily Racing Form’s Derby Watch, returned to the work tab for the first time in three weeks when breezing an easy half-mile in 50 seconds Monday morning at Palm Meadows with regular rider Manny Franco aboard. The work was the second for Tiz the Law since his convincing victory over Ete Indien in the Grade 3 Holy Bull on Feb. 1.

Florida Derby: News, contenders, and videos

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – As Seen On Tv, second in a four-way scramble for second – third-place overall – behind Ete Indien in the Fountain of Youth, will run in one of the final Derby preps worth 170 points, trainer Kelly Breen said.

“He got a good learning experience, had a couple things go against him that he might not have liked, being down inside and all,” Breen said. “We’re going to pick out one of the 100-point races and move forward.”

Dirt for Cheermeister?

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Maxfield continues to make steady progress in seeking to join the Kentucky Derby chase, although trainer Brendan Walsh keeps wondering – like everyone else – whether he has enough time.

“These next couple of weeks are very important, and we always want to do what’s right by the horse,” Walsh said early Monday, the day after Maxfield turned in his third breeze, a bullet half-mile in 48.40 seconds at the Palm Meadows training center. “He really is doing very well, but we’re just going to have to wait and see how he does before we make any firm decisions.”