Kentucky Derby Roundup: Jerome, Smarty Jones kick off 2025

The first two Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers of 2025 are coming up on Saturday at Aqueduct and Oaklawn Park.

Let’s catch up on the latest Kentucky Derby (G1) news and notes as 2024 winds down:

Studlydoright leads Jerome field

Aqueduct’s Road to the Kentucky Derby continues on Saturday with the $150,000 Jerome S., a one-mile contest worth 10-5-3-2-1 points to the top five finishers.

Eight horses have entered, but only one has previously earned Kentucky Derby qualification points. Studlydoright, winner of the one-mile Nashua S. at Aqueduct, earned two points when finishing fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Remsen (G2). Cutting back to one mile should help this son of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist rebound.

Other prominent contenders include Clarendon S. winner Mansetti and allowance optional claiming winners Cyclone State and Omaha Omaha. Rounding out the field are the maiden winner Georgia Magic plus Enduring Spirit, Ican, and McAfee, who exit top-four finishes in various types of allowance races. McAfee is a half-brother to 2024 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Thorpedo Anna.

Coal Battle seeks more points in Smarty Jones

The first of four Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers taking place at Oaklawn Park is Saturday’s $250,000 Smarty Jones S. An eight-horse field will race 1 1/16 miles in search of 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualification points.

The field is led by Coal Battle, who made headlines when rallying in the nick of time to win the Dec. 13 Remington Springboard Mile S. on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. If Coal Battle can add the Smarty Jones to his record, he’ll have 20 qualification points, vaulting him to second place on the leaderboard.

RELATED: Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Coal Battle

But some talented rivals have lined up to face Coal Battle. Kale’s Angel impressed in the 5 1/2-furlong Advent S. at Oaklawn, romping by 5 3/4 lengths, and is a danger while stretching out in distance. Hot Property and Mo Quality exit fast maiden victories, and Optical has shown notable finishing speed while winning two of his last four starts.

Stakes competitor Hot Gunner, maiden claiming winner Curvino, and maiden Bon Temps complete the lineup.

Smoken Wicked romps in Louisiana Futurity

Champagne (G1) fourth-place finisher Smoken Wicked continued his domination of sprints for Louisiana-breds when winning Sunday’s Louisiana Futurity by five lengths.

The speedy colt settled in third place early on, then took over and drew off under basically no urging from jockey Colby Hernandez. Even so, he completed six furlongs in a snappy 1:09.58. Perhaps we’ll see Smoken Wicked give the Road to the Kentucky Derby another try this winter.

Kentucky Derby contender workouts

Here are the latest workouts recorded by Road to the Kentucky Derby points earners:

Citizen Bull: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) hero Citizen Bull turned in a serious workout on Saturday at Santa Anita, traveling five furlongs in a near-bullet :59.40.

Coal Battle: Just 10 days after winning the Remington Springboard Mile, Coal Battle returned to the work tab with half a mile in :49.40 at Oaklawn Park last Monday.

Dominant Spirit: Third in the Remington Springboard Mile, Dominant Spirit got back to serious training with half a mile in :49.40 on Friday at Sam Houston.

Dr Ruben M: Since finishing fourth in the Remington Springboard Mile, Dr Ruben M has returned to Santa Anita, where he worked half a mile in :49.40 on Sunday.

Ferocious: In his first work since finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Breeders’ Futurity (G1) runner-up Ferocious breezed three furlongs in :36.66 on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

First Resort: The Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) winner worked four furlongs in :49.20 on Friday at Turfway Park.

Gaming: In his first timed exercise since finishing a subpar third in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up Gaming worked an easy five furlongs in 1:02.60 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Giocoso: The Iroquois (G3) third-place finisher has been busy at Fair Grounds, breezing four furlongs in :50.20 on Tuesday followed by the same distance in :51.40 on Saturday.

McKinzie Street: The American Pharoah (G1) third-place finisher worked a slow half-mile in :51.40 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Mellencamp: The Los Alamitos Futurity fifth-place finisher sped half a mile in :48.20 on Friday at Santa Anita.

Owen Almighty: Runner-up in the Iroquois, Owen Almighty clocked five furlongs over a muddy Palm Meadows surface in 1:02.30 on Saturday.

Poster: The Remsen (G2) conqueror breezed an easy half-mile in :50.20 on Friday at Turfway Park.

Rank: Fourth in the Los Alamitos Futurity, Rank worked five furlongs from the Santa Anita starting gate in 1:00.00 on Sunday.

Sovereignty: After taking nearly two months off from serious training, Street Sense (G3) winner Sovereignty rejoined the work tab with a modest three furlongs in :38.00 on Tuesday at Payson Park.

Speed King: Narrowly beaten when second in the Remington Springboard Mile, Speed King returned to the work tab with half a mile in :49.00 on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

Studlydoright: The Remsen fourth-place finisher returned to serious training with six furlongs in 1:16.60 at Laurel Park last Monday.

Tiztastic: The Street Sense runner-up and Kentucky Jockey Club third-place finisher breezed five furlongs in 1:02.00 on Sunday at Fair Grounds.

Tux: Since finishing third in the Remsen, Tux has shipped from New York to Florida, where he clocked three furlongs in :37.40 on Tuesday at Payson Park.

American Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Citizen Bull (40 points)
2. Gaming (18 points)
3. Getaway Car (16 points)
4. Jonathan’s Way (15 points)
5. Chancer McPatrick (10 points)

European-Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Hotazhell (20 points)
2. Wimbledon Hawkeye (13 points)
3. Camille Pissarro (10 points)
4. Rashabar (5 points)
5. Delacroix (5 points)

Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Myriad Love (20 points)
2. Natural Rise (14 points)
3. Happy Man (10 points)
4. Soldier Field (6 points)
5. Clay King (5 points)