Render Judgment is scheduled to make his next start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Blue Grass on April 5 at Keeneland, trainer Kenny McPeek said.

The son of Blame is one of two prospects McPeek currently has in play for the Kentucky Derby, a race he won last year with Mystik Dan. The other is Maximum Promise, who was third in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks last Saturday at Turfway Park.

“I think that’s about where we’re at,” McPeek said.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – A stall toy gave trainer Lonnie Briley a tip-off about how to proceed with Coal Battle on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

Briley has been closely monitoring the Rebel winner, to see if he should run him back in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby on Saturday or just train up to the Kentucky Derby. He said last week that Coal Battle gave him a clear sign to enter the Arkansas Derby.

“I thought he was going to rip his ball off the wall yesterday, playing with it,” Briley said. “He’s jumping out of his skin. He’s feeling so good right now.”

Led by the Kentucky-bred colt Luxor Cafe, 15 3-year-olds have been nominated for Saturday’s Fukuryu Stakes at Nayakama Racecourse, the final race of the Japanese qualifying series for the Kentucky Derby.

The Fukuryu Stakes is run at 1 1/8 miles, a distance that many of the nominees have already tried.

Luxor Cafe, by American Pharoah, has had five starts and has won his last three starts in a maiden race at a mile at Tokyo last November, an allowance race at 1 1/8 miles at Nayakama on Jan. 11, and the Hyacinth Stakes at a mile at Tokyo on Feb. 23.

Although Bullard may be nominated to the Santa Anita Derby, trainer Michael McCarthy said it would be “just to keep our options open.” Bullard is more likely to be trained toward the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes on April 12 at Keeneland.

Journalism, early favorite for the Kentucky Derby, worked in company Saturday with Kentucky Derby alumnus Endlessly. Both colts are trained by Michael McCarthy. Endlessly, a turf/synthetic specialist who finished ninth in the 2024 Derby, is training toward a spring comeback on turf.

“Endlessly is a pretty lackluster type work horse, so I needed something to pique his interest,” McCarthy said. “I put Journalism inside, just to get his attention. It was just a solid work, that’s all I was looking for. I don’t need to go fast. We know he’s fast.”

Barnes has slipped in popularity, partly based on a disappointing blinkers-off workout Sunday at Santa Anita. Barnes was outworked by Rodriguez, a stablemate he defeated by more than nine lengths while finishing second in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 1.

The tables turned in the workout. Barnes pressed Rodriguez from the outside, but Barnes could not get past his rival and pulled up soon after the finish while Rodriguez went another furlong. It was a puzzling work by Barnes, five furlongs in 1:00.

WHO’S HOT

Tiztastic delivered the performance of his career to win the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby and give trainer Steve Asmussen a shot at his first Kentucky Derby victory with his 27th Derby starter. Tiztastic, 3 for 8, will train into the Derby. Tiztastic rejoins Derby Watch at 25-1 by Daily Racing Form linemaker David Aragona.