LEXINGTON, Ky. -- A group of racing companies that includes Churchill Downs, Keeneland, and the New York Racing Association are in discussions on a plan to prohibit the raceday use of furosemide in races for 2-year-olds and in stakes races, according to three officials with knowledge of the discussions.

Grade 3, $200,000 Lexington Stakes; 1 1/16 miles; Keeneland; April 20, 2019
(20 Derby qualifying points for a win, 8 for second, 4 for third, 2 for fourth)

Winner: Owendale, by Into Mischief

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Florent Geroux

Owner: Rupp Racing

Beyer Speed Figure: 98

Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Improbable in the Kentucky Derby on May 4 at Churchill Downs, according to Elliott Walden, the chief executive of co-owner WinStar Farm.

Jose Ortiz, Irad's brother, rode Improbable to a second-place finish in the Arkansas Derby on Saturday. Jose Ortiz has chosen to ride Tacitus, the Wood Memorial winner, in the Kentucky Derby.

Walden said Irad Ortiz was chosen because "he's a top rider, and we won a Belmont Stakes with him with Creator."

"It made sense," Walden said Monday. "He's an Eclipse Award-winning rider."

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The top three finishers in the Lexington Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland are all headed to Churchill Downs, but not necessarily to the Kentucky Derby.

In fact, Owendale, who earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure with his breakthrough triumph in the Grade 3 Lexington, won’t even be bothering with the May 4 Derby. The 20 points he earned mark his initial appearance on the Derby scoreboard and wouldn’t be enough to get him into the field. Brad Cox, who trains the Into Mischief colt for the Rupp Racing of Jim Rupp, said the May 19 Preakness is under serious consideration.

Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby, 1 1/8 miles, Oaklawn Park, April 13, 2019
(100 Derby qualifying points for a win, 40 for second, 20 for third, 10 for fourth)
Winner: Omaha Beach, by War Front
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Jockey: Mike Smith
Owner: Fox Hill Farms Inc.
Beyer Speed Figure: 101

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Omaha Beach emerged from his Saturday win in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in “great shape” and will soon head to Churchill Downs to begin preparations for the Kentucky Derby, trainer Richard Mandella said on Sunday.

Kentucky Derby 2019 point standings

Leaderboard for qualifying points to the 2019 Kentucky Derby, which will be run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Points are earned by the top four finishers in designated Kentucky Derby prep races.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – Maximum Security was back on the work tab Saturday for the first time since his wire-to-wire victory in the Grade 1 Florida Derby two weeks ago – although not in the manner one might expect from an undefeated 3-year-old considered to be among the leading candidates just three weeks down the road in the Kentucky Derby.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Tyler Gaffalione was smiling as he and War of Will walked back to the barn. If horses could smile, War of Will might have matched his rider.

"He had running on his mind today," Gaffalione said after Kentucky Derby candidate War of Will worked a sharp five furlongs from the gate in 59 seconds flat on Saturday morning at Keeneland. "He came back happy. He's real proud of himself."

Keeneland | Race 9 | Post Time 5:34 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

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