Journalism and Sovereignty came through with winning runs over the weekend, shaking up the latest usracing.com Kentucky Derby Contenders Top 10 in a big way.
Journalism caught favorite Barnes in the stretch, won the San Felipe Stakes (G2), and moved up one notch to No. 2 in the Top 10.
Citizen Bull. Benoit Photo.
Citizen Bull New No. 1; Journalism, Sovereignty Move to 2-3
Sovereignty delivered an eye-catching last-to-first rally, won the Fountain of Youth Stakes, and advanced four spots to No. 3.
While Barnes dropped from No. 1 to No. 3, Citizen Bull moves up a spot to take over the top spot for six-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer Bob Baffert, who also trains Barnes.
Journalism and Sovereignty were making their 3-year-olds debuts, and both soared into the top 5 on the Kentucky Derby Contenders leaderboard. At the same time, Barnes moved onto the leaderboard at No. 21 with his first points.
Citizen Bull, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner and 2-year-old champion, won the Robert B. Lewis (G3) in his 3-year-old debut, and has won 4-of-5 with the Santa Anita Derby (G1) his final start before heading to Churchill Downs for the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1).
River Thames, who led the Fountain of Youth until caught just before the wire by Sovereignty, makes his first appearance in the Top 10 at No. 6. The effort gives two-time Derby winning trainer Todd Pletcher a Derby prospect ranked 13th on the points leaderboard.
There’s one Derby prep on Saturday (March 8), the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2), offering 50-25-15-10-5 points to the top five finishers.
The most intriguing horse in the 1 1/16-mile race is Chancer McPatrick, a two-time Grade 1 winner in 2024 who returns for the first time since running sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. A “tiny flake’’ in an ankle was discovered, surgery was needed, but the colt has worked steadily since late January, most recently going 4 furlongs in 48.80 seconds at Payson Park on March 1.
Flood Zone, a 3 ¾-length winner of the Gotham Stakes (G3) on Saturday, did not crack the Top 10 for trainer Brad Cox but becomes another colt on the road to the Derby after earning 50 qualifying points.
Burnham Square, winner of the Holy Bull Stakes (G3), finished fourth in the Fountain of Youth as the favorite and dropped out of the Top 10.
Jockeys are listed from the horse’s most recent race.
Kentucky Derby Contenders Top 10
Worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.60 on March 1 at Santa Anita … It was the front-running colt’s third work since winning the Robert B. Lewis on Feb. 1 … With Derby ticket already punched, a solid effort in his final prep is all that’s needed to get him to Churchill Downs … BC Juvenile winner was voted 2-year-old male champion … Pedigree: Into Mischief-No Joke, by Distorted Humor … Next start: Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita, April 5 … Derby points: 60 (2nd) … Derby future wager odds: 9-1 (pool 4).
Caught Barnes from off the pace and won San Felipe by 1 ¾ lengths … Beyer Speed Figure of 108 matches best by 3-year-old in 2025 … Also won Los Alamitos Futurity in stakes debut in December … Colt has now beaten several of Baffert’s top Derby prospects … Pedigree: Curlin-Mopotism, by Uncle Mo … Next start: Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita, April 5 … Derby points: 47½ (5th) … Derby future wager odds: 19-1.
Even in defeat, Barnes ran a solid race in his first two-turn try … Earned first Derby points to move into contention with one more prep likely … Pedigree: Into Mischief-All American Dream, by American Pharoah … Next start: Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita, April 5 … Derby points: 18 ¾ (21st)… Derby future wager odds: 8-1.
A rousing 3-year-old debut – a well-timed rally from last to first to nose out River Thames in the Fountain of Youth … Looks like a serious Derby threat for Hall of Famer Bill Mott … Pedigree: Into Mischief-Crowned, by Bernardini … Next start: Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park, March 29 … Derby points: 60 (3rd) … Derby future wager odds: 17-1.
His Rebel run to win is one of top prep performances so far … $70,000 purchase is 5-for-5 over dirt tracks for 72-year-old trainer with first Derby contender … Pedigree: Coal Front-Wolfblade, by Midshipman … Next start: Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn Park, March 29 … Derby points: 70 (1st) … Derby future wager odds: 58-1.
Looked like a winner until nailed at the wire by Sovereignty in the Fountain of Youth … Still a big effort to put Pletcher in Derby contention … First time in the Top 10 with two prior victories before narrow defeat … Purchased for $200,000 at the Saratoga yearling sale … Owners: CHC Stable, WinStar Farms … Pedigree: Maclean’s Music- Proportionality, by Discreet Cat … Next start: Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park, March 29 … Derby points: 25 (13th) … Derby future wager odds: 38-1.
Held on gamely to edge Caldera in Sunland Park … With 7-3-2-0 resume and enough qualifying points to make the Derby field, there may or may not be one more prep … … Ownership group, SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, et al, also owns Citizen Bull … Pedigree: Curlin-Surrender Now, by Morning Line … Next start: TBD … Derby points: 36 (6th) … Derby future wager odds: 50-1.
Yet another deep closer who made massive runs for third in the Rebel and second in the Southwest … Already has three starts over Churchill Downs, including third in the Street Sense … Pedigree: Tapit-Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor … Next start: Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn Park, March 29 … Derby points: 29 (10th) … Derby future wager odds: 16-1.
Continues to train in New York, and seems to be warming to the task … Skipped Gotham after Withers win to prepare for a final prep in the Wood Memorial at the Big A on April 5 … First start was for Norm Casse before being sold to Vinnie Viola’s St Elias Stable at a dispersal sale after the death of John Hendrickson … Pedigree: Practical Joke-Pow Wow Wow, by Indian Charlie … Next start: Wood Memorial, Aqueduct, April 5 … Derby points: 20 (17th) … Derby future wager odds: 35-1.
After surgery to repair a “tiny flake” in an ankle, two-time Grade 1 winner is ready for 3-year-old debut … Six steady workouts at 3 and 4 furlongs since late January, most recently 4 furlongs in 48.80 seconds on March 1 at Payson Park … Won Hopeful and Champagne, then finished sixth in the BC Juvenile back in November … Pedigree: McKinzie-Bernadreamy, by Bernardini … Next start: Tampa Bay Derby, Tampa Bay Downs, March 8 … Derby points: 10 (29th) … Derby future wager odds: 23-1.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
