Gray Attempt, Long Range Toddy advance on leaderboard as January Derby preps conclude

Jan 28, 2019 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Front-running Gray Attempt gutted out a victory in last Friday's $150,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park, thus earning 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and entering the Top 20 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

Just missing by a neck was Long Range Toddy, previously a prep winner in the Springboard Mile. He now ranks fourth on the leaderboard with 14 points.

Boldor and Six Shooter earned two points and one point, respectively, for finishing third and fourth in the one-mile Smarty Jones, the final Derby prep in January.

Serious movement on the leaderboard should occur during the course of Saturday, February 2, when three preps will be staged from coast to coast. The $350,000 Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream Park, the $250,000 Withers (G3) at Aqueduct, and the $150,000 Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita will award points of 10-4-2-1 to their respective top four finishers.

Among the leaderboard's Top 20 expected to be action in the three preps are Remsen (G2) winner Maximus Mischief (#10, 10 points) in the Holy Bull, Our Braintrust (#13, 4) in the Withers, and Sham victor Gray Attempt (#11, 10) and Mucho Gusto (#12, 4) in the Robert B. Lewis.

Looking further ahead in February, the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs will be held February 9, the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds and El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields on February 16, and the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn on February 18.

All but the Risen Star will have qualifying points of 10-4-2-1 up for grabs. The Risen Star kicks off the portion of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series where points of 50-20-10-5 will be offered.

(Coady Photography)