WHO’S HOT

Grade 3, $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks, 1 1/8 miles (synthetic), Turfway Park, March 9, 2019

 (20 Derby qualifying points for a win, 8 for second, 4 for third, 2 for fourth)

Winner: Somelikeithotbrown, by Big Brown

Trainer: Mike Maker

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Owner: Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable

Beyer Speed Figure: 83

Grade 2, $355,000 Tampa Bay Derby, 1 1/16 miles, Tampa Bay Downs, March 9, 2019

(50 Derby qualifying points for a win, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth)

Winner: Tacitus, by Tapit

Trainer: Bill Mott

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Owner: Juddmonte Farms

Beyer Speed Figure: 93

Grade 3, $300,900 Gotham Stakes, one mile, Aqueduct, March 9, 2019

(50 Derby qualifying points for a win, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth)

Winner: Haikal, by Daaher
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
Jockey: Rajiv Maragh
Owner: Shadwell Stable
Beyer Speed Figure: 95

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Mark Casse has had a hot hand with 3-year-olds this meet at Oaklawn Park, and he’ll attempt to add to his local stakes success Saturday with Our Braintrust in the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel.

Casse has won two-thirds of the local series for 3-year-old fillies this meet, courtesy of Power Gal, who captured the Martha Washington in February, and Chocolate Kisses, who won the Grade 3, $200,000 Honeybee here Saturday.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Bill Mott wouldn’t have been able to wipe the smile off his face if he tried. The Hall of Fame trainer was absolutely beaming in the aftermath of the Tampa Bay Derby, ecstatic with the way Tacitus had just become his latest chance to win a Kentucky Derby.

“I’ve left out of Tampa too many times shaking my head,” Mott said Sunday, less than 24 hours after Tacitus rolled to victory in the annual showcase event at Tampa Bay Downs.

The mutuel field, the 24th or “all others” option, closed as a lukewarm favorite over the Bob Baffert pair of Improbable and Game Winner after three days of betting into Pool 3 of the 2019 Kentucky Derby Future Wager. The pool opened Friday at noon Eastern and closed Sunday evening when coinciding with the only futures pool toward the 2019 Kentucky Oaks.

Having secured only 20 Kentucky Derby qualifying points in winning Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park, Somelikeithotbrown is below the customary threshold of around 30 points that is typically required to gain entrance to the May 4 race, though he will receive a chance to add to his total in the weeks ahead.

It remains to be seen how long it might continue, but it appears Gulfstream’s Fountain of Youth Stakes sparked a trend in Kentucky Derby prep races.

The Fountain of Youth made news in part because of its insanely fast early pace. One week later all three of Saturday’s Derby points races – the Tampa Bay Derby, the Gotham at Aqueduct, and, yes, even the Jeff Ruby at Turfway – also featured wickedly fast early paces.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Same time, next year.

In 2018, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin won the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct with Enticed. The horse would finish second in the Wood Memorial, but end up 14th in the Kentucky Derby and has not run since.

On Saturday McLaughlin again won the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct with Haikal. He hopes the similarities end there.

With his victory in the Gotham Haikal earned 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, more than enough to secure a spot in the starting gate for the $3 million race at Churchill Downs on May 4.