Correll’s Corner : “Road to the Derby”—Thinning the herd

Posted On 31 Mar 2025

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview —-

TRINITY, Fla. – Trainer Brad Cox has two colts in the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby after Tappan Street won the Florida Derby on March 29 at Gulfstream Park in South Florida. Cox’s other horse is Final Gambit who won the Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 22 at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

Tappan Street, a son of Into Mischief, stalked the early pace of Madaket Road who set fractions of 23.37, 47.22 and 1:11.61 for six furlongs. Madaket Road was pressured by Neoequos and the pair came off the second turn in tandem, but Tappan Street was charging to their outside.

Tappan Street was in high gear and ran by that pair, with Sovereignty coming late to grab second. Neoequos edged Madaket Road for third and Disruptor was fifth. The final time for the mile-and-an-eighth race was 1:49.27.

Meanwhile in Hot Springs, Ark., Sandman picked up the pieces late in the Arkansas Derby after Cornucopian and Speed King set blistering fractions of 22.46, 45.31 and 1:10.37 for six furlongs.

The race quickly fell apart on the second turn as the closers swallowed up Speed King and set their sights on Cornucopian. Sandman, Coal Battle and Publisher came charging late with Sandman getting the best of the other two to win the race in 1:50.08. Publisher was second and Coal Battle was third. Cornucopian held for fourth.

Lonnie Briley, trainer of local favorite Coal Battle, said after the race that he had eased off the colt since the Rebel and that was a mistake and said that would not happen leading into the Kentucky Derby.

I’m changing my top 3-year-olds list to reflect how many Derby points each colt has and 50 usually is the cutoff line.

Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) 60 points and he needs one more tuneup.

Journalism (Curlin) (47.50) could use a few more points.

Barnes (Into Mischief) (18.75) definitely needs more points.

Rodriguez (Authentic) (21.25) needs more points.

Tiztastic (Tiz the Law) (119) won Louisiana Derby.

Tappan Street (Into Mischief) (110) won Florida Derby.

Sandman (Tapit) (129) won Arkansas Derby.

Sovereignty (Into Mischief) (110) was second in Florida Derby.

Coal Battle (Coal Front) (95) was third in Arkansas Derby.

Final Gambit (Not This Time) (100) won Jeff Ruby Steaks.

Chunk of Gold (Preservationist) (75) was second in Louisiana Derby.