Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby, 1 1/8 miles, Santa Anita, April 6, 2019
(100 Derby qualifying points for a win, 40 for second, 20 for third, 10 for fourth)
Winner: Roadster, by Quality Road
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
Owner: Speedway Stable LLC
Beyer Speed Figure: 98

Roadster and Game Winner are in. On the Kentucky Derby front Sunday morning, that literally was yesterday’s news for trainer Bob Baffert, who now has his sights set on Saturday, when he’ll attempt to get his third starter in the May 4 Derby if Improbable can run well enough in the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.

“Like Belichick would say,” Baffert said, mimicking Bill Belichick, the coach of the National Football League’s New England Patriots, “it’s on to Hot Springs.”

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Vekoma earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure when securing a spot in the Kentucky Derby with his 3 1/2-length victory Saturday in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and will return to light training here midweek, trainer George Weaver said Sunday.

“He is well and happy,” said Weaver, who left Sunday for South Florida but planned to return here within a few days.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – It was with a tempered enthusiasm gleaned from a lifelong existence in racing that Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott spoke about Tacitus and the Kentucky Derby the morning following the colt’s impressive victory in Saturday’s Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

Despite the fact Tacitus established himself as a leading contender for the $3 million Derby on May 4 by overcoming trouble on the first turn to win the Wood by 1 1/4 lengths, Mott knows there’s a ways to go between now and the first Saturday in May.

In the view of this corner, Game Winner was the favorite for the Kentucky Derby going into Saturday’s three major final prep races, even though he lost for the first time in his 3-year-old bow when nosed in the second division of the Rebel Stakes. And after Saturday’s preps, and despite the fact that he finished second yet again, in the view of this corner, Game Winner remains the favorite for the Derby, albeit a tepid one.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Tacitus displayed toughness as well as talent at Aqueduct on Saturday, overcoming significant trouble early on to win the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial and nail down his spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate in four weeks.

Tacitus outfinished a stubborn Tax by 1 1/4 lengths, with Haikal another 3 3/4 lengths back in third. All three horses accrued enough points to go on to the Kentucky Derby on May 4.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – In contrast to less predictable events that have occurred along the Kentucky Derby trail this year, form held up just fine Saturday, when the favored Vekoma sped to victory in the 95th running of the Grade 2, $1 million Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Improbable and Gray Attempt had major works for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby and Country House was committed to the race in Friday developments for the centerpiece of the upcoming Racing Festival of the South at Oaklawn Park.

The Racing Festival, which comprises six stakes worth a cumulative $3.6 million, runs from April 12-14. The Arkansas Derby – which carries points for the Kentucky Derby – will anchor the Saturday, April 13, card which also features the Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap and Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap.

ARCADIA, Calif. -- Omaha Beach, in his final drill for the Arkansas Derby next Saturday, looked sharp on Saturday morning at Santa Anita when working five furlongs in 1:00.60 under jockey Mike Smith, who rode him to victory in a division of the Rebel last month and has the mount in the Arkansas Derby.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The joy of seeing the best West Coast prospects for the Kentucky Derby on a card filled with stakes and top-class runners is overlaid by the turmoil that continues to surround Santa Anita. The Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby on Saturday leads to the Kentucky Derby. The path for Santa Anita is far more opaque.