Bolt d'Oro, Enticed move to top of Derby point standings

Mar 13, 2018 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Bolt d'Oro (#1, 64 points) and Enticed (#2, 63) grabbed the top two spots while Quip (#5, 50) entered the top five in the Road to the Kentucky Derby point standings with victories last weekend.

Elevated to first on the controversial disqualification of McKinzie (#6, 40) in the San Felipe (G2), multiple Grade 1 winner Bolt d'Oro not only officially captured his season debut but cemented a spot in the Kentucky Derby field, enhancing his point total to 64 after the 50-point score.

The disqualification resulted in McKinzie receiving only an additional 20 Derby qualifying points, but his current total of 40 is above last year's cutoff threshold of 30. However, that level might skew higher this year if the winners of the European Road to the Kentucky Derby and Japan Road to the Derby series accept invitations, leaving 18 available slots for domestic qualifiers.

Enticed, a distant fourth in last month's Holy Bull (G2), rebounded nicely to take the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct and will now be pointed to the Wood Memorial (G2) as his final prep. Old Time Revival (#13, 20) briefly enters the top 20 with his second-place finish, while Holy Bull runner-up Free Drop Billy (#10, 24) earned 10 points for third. Firenze Fire (#9, 29) was a non-threatening fourth and his Derby chances appear to have slumped.

Quip took the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) in his season debut over Flameaway, who would currently be ranked eighth in the standings with 30 points if he were Triple Crown nominated, which he is expected to become later.

The lone prep this coming weekend is Saturday's Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park, featuring Solomini (#15, 14) and Combatant (#19, 12) among others.

(Benoit Photo)