/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/11087881/143897768.0.jpg)
Prior to the running of the Wood Memorial, Verrazano and Vyjack were already in a strong position to qualify for the 2013 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Normandy Invasion, however, was on the outside looking in and needed a top 2 finish at Aqueduct to feel secure about a spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday in Many. And finish in the top 2 is exactly what he did as a strong late run in the lane allowed Normandy Invasion to nip Vyjack for the show and earn a big 40 points towards Louisville.
Out in Southern California, the connections of Goldencents, Flashback and Super Ninety Nine were all looking for a minimum of a top three finish to feel secure about their Derby chances. Goldencents got the top prize by winning the Santa Anita Derby the 100 point prize. Flashback's second place effort puts him the field, but Super Ninety Nine is now in the spot 15 or 16 and could be in trouble depending preps shake out in the next couple of weeks.
UPDATED: With Flashback off the Derby trail, everybody moves up a spot and those connections with horses around the 30 point line can breathe just a bit easier.
Below are the current Kentucky Derby point standings:
Rank | Points | Horse | Trainer |
1 | 150 | Orb | Shug McGaughey III |
150 | Verrazano | Todd Pletcher | |
3 | 129 | Goldencents | Doug O'Neill |
4 | 110 | Revolutionary | Todd Pletcher |
5 | 100 | Lines of Battle | Aiden O'Brien |
6 | 70 | Vyjack | Rudy Rodriguez |
7 | 60 | Will Take Charge | D. Wayne Lukas |
8 | 50 | Itsmyluckyday | Eddie Plesa, Jr. |
50 | Govenor Charlie | Bob Baffert | |
50 | Black Onyx | Kelly Breen | |
11 | 44 | Normandy Invasion | Chad Brown |
12 | 42 | Mylute | Tom Amoss |
13 | 36 | Oxbow | D. Wayne Lukas |
14 | 30 | Uncaptured | Mark Casse |
30 | Super Ninety Nine | Bob Baffert | |
16 | 22 | Java's War | Ken McPeek |
17 | 20 | Merit Man | Bob Hess, Jr. |
20 | Den's Legacy | Bob Baffert | |
20 | Falling Sky | John Terranova II | |
20 | Departing | Al Stall, Jr. | |
20 | Code West | Bob Baffert | |
20 | West Hills Giant | John Terranova II | |
20 | Tiz a Minister | Paul Aguirre | |
24 | 14 | Golden Soul | Dallas Stewart |
25 | 13 | Dynamic Sky | Mark Casse |
26 | 11 | Speak Logistics | Eddie Plesa, Jr. |
27 | 10 | Overanalyze | Todd Pletcher |
10 | Power Broker | Bob Baffert | |
10 | Abraham | Todd Pletcher | |
10 | Giant Finish | Tony Dutrow | |
10 | Narvaez | Agustin Bzera | |
10 | Palace Malice | Todd Pletcher | |
10 | Elnaawi | Kiaran McLaughlin | |
10 | Mr. Palmer | William Mott | |
35 | 9 | Texas Bling | Danele Durham |
36 | 7 | Siete de Oros | Ramon Preciado |
37 | 6 | He's Had Enough | Doug O'Neill |
6 | Fear The Kitten | Mike Maker | |
39 | 5 | Shakin It Up | Bob Baffert |
5 | Tesseron | Josie Carroll | |
5 | Taken by the Storm | Ken McPeek | |
42 | 4 | Capo Bastone | Todd Pletcher |
4 | Escapefromreality | Dominick Schettino | |
4 | Frac Daddy | Ken McPeek | |
45 | 3 | Fortify | Mahmood Al Zarooni |