Correll’s Corner: Derby points races cancelled; additional points possible

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview —-

With the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby delayed until Sept. 5, it shines a new light on these rankings. Several of the points’ races for the Derby have been canceled: Sunland Derby, Wood Memorial, Blue Grass and Lexington.

There have been some suggestions that new points’ races be added, such as, the Preakness and Belmont, if they are run; Iowa Derby, Haskell Invitational and the Travers. It also would allow for some colts that have just broken their maiden to be considered. They would now have five months to prepare.

The Churchill Downs website has the points’ total for all 3-year-olds, so I’m not going to list them. I will list colts that I have seen and like even if they don’t have points. A lot can happen in five months.

The Louisiana Derby was run on March 21 at Fair Grounds. Wells Bayou, a son of Lookin At Lucky, won and he has 104 points. It was the first time in modern history that a Derby prep race was run at a mile-and-three-sixteenth inside the United States (UAE Derby is run at that distance). The first quarter was not that fast (23.56) and it got slower thereafter. The final time was 1:56.47. I was not impressed.

The colts that I like, so far, are:

Authentic (Into Mischief), 60 points.

Charlatan (Speightstown), no points.

Ete Indien (Summer Front), 54 points.

King Guillermo (Uncle Mo), 50 points.

Nadal (Blame), 50 points.

Tiz The Law (Constitution), 22 points.

Gouverneur Morris (Constitution), no points.

Thousands Words (Pioneerof The Nile) 25 points.

Honor A.P. (Honor Code), 20 points.

Mischevious Alex (Into Mischief), 50 points.

NY Traffic (Cross Traffic), 50 points.

Maxfield (Street Sense), 10 points). This guy was injured before the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and has been working his way back. He might have plenty of time now.