Tom Pedulla offers five takeaways from a huge weekend of racing, from the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa to the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby to races that brought together the world’s best at Meydan Racecourse halfway around the world in Dubai.

RECORD ROMP: Two-year-old champion Fierceness had been training sharply ahead of Saturday’s Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, but no one could have anticipated the show he put on. He dominated the 1 1/8-mile race by a record 13 ½ lengths as he rebounded from a disappointing third-place effort in the Holy Bull Stakes in his 3-year-old debut. Empire Maker had held the previous mark for the largest winning margin in the last of Florida’s Derby preps. He ruled by 9 ¾ lengths in 2003. Owner Mike Repole’s Fierceness, geared down late by John Velazquez, took control of the Florida Derby around the first turn. In doing so, he established himself as the probable Kentucky Derby favorite. “From a talent perspective, he has it all,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Like everyone else in the Derby, you’ve got to hope you draw a good post, you get a good trip and you like Churchill Downs – all those things.”

BRIGHT FUTURE: Catalytic, making his stakes debut in the Florida Derby in only his third career start for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., overcame his lack of experience to be second and earn 50 Derby qualifying points. Joseph was very encouraged by the result. “I had a lot of respect for some of the other horses in the race and he ran a really good second,” Joseph said. “Nothing was going to beat the winner. We should improve a lot from this. Hopefully, he comes out well and we’ve got five weeks to keep dreaming.” Catalytic won his debut by 5 ½ lengths at Gulfstream last October. He took second in a March 8 allowance-optional claiming race at Tampa Bay Downs.

Keith Asmussen aboard Just Steel (Eclipse Sportswire)

STILL GOING STRONG: As a sweet sub-plot to Muth’s victory in the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby, 88-year-old Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas added to his legend when longshot Just Steel qualified for the Kentucky Derby. Just Steel’s second-place effort left him eighth on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 65 points, more than enough for the son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify to advance to the first Saturday in May. The time-defying Lukas owns victories in 14 Triple Crown races, including four Derbys. Jockey Keith Asmussen is optimistic about Just Steel’s chances with added distance in the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby, based on the performance at Oaklawn Park. “Loved where he was every step of the race and he really ran home,” Asmussen said. “I think more ground will help him a little bit.”

PACE MAKES RACE: Although Saudi Cup victor Senor Buscador mounted his usual late charge, there was no catching comfortable front-runner Laurel River in Saturday’s $12 million Dubai World Cup. Laurel River controlled the 1 ¼-mile race by a whopping 8 ½ lengths for the most commanding victory in the race’s history. Senor Buscador, with Junior Alvarado aboard, finished just behind Japan-based star Ushba Tesoro for second. “We were hoping there would be a little more pace in there,” said New Mexico-based trainer Todd Fincher. “But Laurel River is a nice horse and you’re not going to catch a horse like that if he gets loose. That’s what we’re up against. He’s got to have some pace to run at. It’s rare in a Grade 1 race that there is no pace, but I’m very proud of him.”

DERBY-BOUND: The UAE Derby has not produced a Kentucky Derby champion since its inception in 2000. Forever Young, this year’s undefeated winner, may have the quality to change that after his authoritative two-length victory assured his place at Churchill Downs with 100 qualifying points. Forever Young’s perfection through five starts includes a victory in the $1.5 million Saudi Derby after he swept his first three starts in Japan. Trainer Yoshito Yahagi dedicated the latest success to his father, who died hours before the UAE Derby. Yahagi is cautiously optimistic about his chances of providing Japan with a Kentucky Derby breakthrough. “Of course, it will be very difficult to manage the horse’s condition from Dubai to Kentucky,” he said of the challenging journey ahead. “But I really believe my team will be able to get him in good order.”