Correll’s Corner: Contenders are showing up

Posted On 23 Mar 2025

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview —-

Contenders are showing up

TRINITY, Fla. – With the Jeff Ruby Steaks and the Louisiana Derby in the books, we’ve found out who some of the contenders and pretenders are for the Kentucky Derby on the “First Saturday in May.”

Final Gambit came from off the pace to take the Jeff Ruby on March 22 at TurfwayPark in Florence, Ky. The son of Not This Time is trained by Brad Cox and has 100 points and is safely in the starting gate for the race on May 3. Flying Mohawk, who was second, got 50 points and should be in the 20-horse field if his connections decide to go.

The Ruby is run over a synthetic surface, which in the past has shown to be a fairly productive move when heading to the dirt surface at Churchill Downs. Final Gambit was given a 96 Equibase speed figure for the race.

Meanwhile, Tiztastic also came from off the pace to win the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds in New Orleans and has 119 points for the Derby. Chunk of Gold was second and has 75 points to get into the big race.

Steve Asmussen trains Tiztastic and he said after the race the colt is crying for more distance. “We thought he’d run bigger in the Southwest. Since he didn’t run his race and he had trained so well here, we brought him back here, knowing he needed more distance. He’s stepping forward when he needs to. The horse has got a great mind about him. He ran a solid race but I think there’s more in him.”

Tiztastic received a 99 Equibase speed figure.

The Louisiana Derby is run at a mile-and-three-sixteenths and the final time was 1:56.20.

This week’s top 3-year-olds:

Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) won the Lewis.

Journalism (Curlin) won the San Felipe.

Barnes (Into Mischief) second in San Felipe.

Rodriguez (Authetic) third in San Felipe.

Sovereignty (Into Mischief) won the Fountain of Youth.

Coal Battle (Coal Front) won the Rebel at Oaklawn Park.

Tiztastic (Tiz the Law) won the Louisiana Derby.

American Promise (Justify) won the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs.

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