San Felipe win puts Authentic on top of Derby leaderboard

Mar 09, 2020 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

A fresh batch of 50-points-to-the-winner Road to the Kentucky Derby series preps on Saturday virtually ensured starting spots in the starting gate for a trio of prospects.

Authentic surged to the top of the leaderboard with a strong, wire-to-wire victory in the San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita for trainer Bob Baffert. The unbeaten colt now has 60 qualifying points.

San Felipe runner-up Honor A. P., who was making his first start since October, made a noteworthy first entrance onto the leaderboard, while current Top 10 candidates Storm the Court and Thousand Words both disappointed.

Mischevious Alex captured the one-mile Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct as the favorite to secure his first 50 points, with runner-up Untitled earning his first 20 points. Mischevious Alex might have his distance capabilities tested for the first time in next month's Wood Memorial (G2) over 1 1/8 miles.

King Guillermo registered a 49-1 upset of the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) over the favored Sole Volante. However, the winner is not currently nominated to the Triple Crown, and his 50 points will not be activated until he is so, presumably at a later date. Sole Volante boosted his point total from 10 to 30 after previously winning the Sam F. Davis (G3).

There are two point-scoring preps scheduled for this coming Saturday, Mar. 14, though the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) over Turfway Park's synthetic track will allot points of only 20-8-4-2 to the top four finishers.

The more anticipated prep is the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park, worth points of 50-20-10-5 to the top four. Among those pointing for the Rebel include Silver Prospector, Nadal, Basin, Three Technique, Wells Bayou, and No Parole.

(Benoit Photos)