Kentucky Derby/Oaks Points, California's Stronghold, 'Ring' In

The points leaders, and thus the field, for the 150th Kentucky Derby are essentially set with just one points race, next Saturday’s LEXINGTON STAKES (G3), remaining. And should Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) winner HADES bounce back from a drab outing in the Florida Derby (G1) and win the Lexington, he would earn 20 points and bounce into the top 20.

SIERRA LEONE rumbled to victory in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) on April 6 and zoomed to the top of the points leaders’ heap while RESILIENCE popped up in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

Scroll to continue with content

Two horses from California had big efforts on the weekend to get into the Derby and Oaks, respectively.

STRONGHOLD, a son of Frank Stronach’s great stallion Ghostzapper, worked hard to get past Imagination, ridden by the sizzling Frankie Dettori, to win the Santa Anita Derby on April 6, picking up 100 points. Owned and bred by Eric and Sharon Waller, Stronghold is a nice story as he is the only foal of the Waller’s late mare Spectator, a daughter of Jimmy Creed.

Trained by Phil d’Amato, Stronghold (who won his maiden) posted an 89 Beyer Figure for 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.98.

The 20 points horses get into the Derby and the 20th horse could be the European invitee Bracken’s Laugh, who has 30 points thanks to his win in the Cardinal Stakes last weekend. However, the Zoffany colt is not expected to ship to the Derby.

The Kentucky Oaks (G1) allows 14 starters and WHERE’S MY RING (Twirling Candy) was very impressive when winning the Gazelle Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct on Saturday. The long-striding filly was a maiden before the race and had shipped from California where she was Grade 2-placed in her most recent outing.

KENTUCKY DERBY POINTS – EARNINGS – Last Weekend Action

(Top 20 Points leaders Get Into Derby, May 4)

1. Sierra Leone – 155 $871,250 1st Blue Grass (G1), KEE
2. Fierceness – 136 $1,646,100
3. Catching Freedom – 125 $802,000
4. Stronghold – 125 $742,800 1st Santa Anita Derby (G1), SA
5. Resilience – 110 $416,000 1st Wood Memorial (G2), AQU
6. Forever Young – 100 $1,769,919
7. Endlessly – 100 $658,000
8. Dornoch – 75 $472,375 4th Blue Grass (G1), KEE
9. Just a Touch – 75 $247,500 2nd Blue Grass (G1), KEE
10. Track Phantom – 70 $300,000
11. West Saratoga – 67 $363,640
12. Just Steel – 65 $628,295
13. Honor Marie – 65 $448,455
14. Domestic Product – 60 $260,500
15. Catalytic – 50 $186,000
16. Deterministic – 50 $180,000 8th Wood Memorial (G2), KEE
17. Society Man (g) – 50 $180,000 2nd Wood Memorial (G2), KEE
18. Mystik Dan – 46 $550,050
19. T O Password Jpn – $161,743 20. No More Time – 45 $194,380

*If a qualifying European horse accepts an invitation, it will take position 20*

Needs Lexington win Rank Pts. **Earnings Next race
Hades – 24th 30 $189,800 Saturday, Lexington (G3), KEE
Needs Lex win & dropouts Rank Pts. **Earnings Next race
Encino – 32nd 20 $87,536 Saturday, Lexington (G3), KEE
Liberal Arts – 33rd 19 $220,325
Lucky Jeremy – 34th 16 $119,200
Waiting for dropouts Rank Pts. **Earnings Saturday results
Grand Mo the First – 21st 40 $164,250
Common Defense – 22nd 37 $253,450
Epic Ride – 23rd 35 $198,315 3rd Blue Grass (G1), KEE

KENTUCKY OAKS POINTS – Top 14 by points in, then by earnings

Tarifa – 150 $420,000
Where’s My Ring – 125 $162,000 1st Gazelle (G3), AQU
Power Squeeze – 120 $300,870
Leslie’s Rose – 115 $377,850 1st Ashland (G1), KEE
Thorpedo Anna – 105 $471,800
Just F Y I – 90 $1,375,500 2nd Ashland (G1), KEE
Gin Gin – 66 $154,708 3rd Gazelle (G3), AQU
Jody’s Pride – 65 $540,000 7th Ashland (G1), KEE
Fiona’s Magic – 60 $166,010
Regulatory Risk – 55 $48,000 2nd Gazelle (G3), AQU
Tapit Jenallie – 54 $216,725
Everland – 54 $185,000
Lemon Muffin – 50 $228,750
Into Champagne – 50 $124,360

Waiting for dropouts Rank Pts. **Earnings Friday & Saturday results
Ways and Means – 15th 50 $108,000
Manama Gold * – 50 $90,000
Our Pretty Woman – 16th 50 $80,000
V V’s Dream – 17th 48 $410,105
Intricate – 18th 45 $308,455
Alpine Princess – 19th 35 $108,500
Kopion – 20th 35 $98,000 4th Santa Anita Oaks (G2), SA
Candied – 21st 34 $566,925 4th Ashland (G1), KEE