Tom Pedulla offers takeaways from two Grade 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve prep races Saturday, the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby and the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa, and other major developments on a big weekend of racing. Each 1 1/8-mile prep awarded the top five finishers Derby qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale.

PERFECT SCENARIO: Sandman, known for a powerful closing kick, has been waiting for a hot pace during the Kentucky Derby prep season. He got it in the Arkansas Derby, when highly-regarded Cornucopian and Speed King engaged in a taxing speed duel through an opening quarter in 22.46 seconds, a half-mile in 45.21, and three-quarters of a mile in 1:10.37 at Oaklawn Park. It was almost too good to be true for Mark Casse, Sandman’s trainer. “I couldn’t believe it, actually,” he said. “I said, ‘Well, they’ll have to be superstars to keep going.’ The farther they went, the more confident I was. The faster they went, the more I smiled.” He was beaming by the time Sandman rallied for a 2 ½-length victory against Publisher.

Tappan Street winning Florida Derby (Eclipse Sportswire)

RIGHT CALL: After Tappan Street finished second in the Feb. 1 Holy Bull Stakes, trainer Brad Cox made the difficult decision to skip the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes and target the Florida Derby, knowing the Into Mischief colt would need to finish first or second to be sure of a slot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate. His gamble paid off in a big way when Tappan Street held off Sovereignty by 1 1/4 lengths. “This is a step forward,” Cox said contentedly. “His numbers his first two starts were really good. I felt like the two-month lead-up to the Florida Derby would propel him forward.” Cox added, “I think he’s going to get a tremendous amount out of this.”

RICH MAIDEN: Arkansas Derby runner-up Publisher stands out among the more interesting 3-year-old prospects. When he fell short against Sandman, it dropped his record to 0-for-7 while not telling the whole story. He was fourth in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes and ranks 10th on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 60 points. His earnings on behalf of Gus King and the estate of Brereton Jones: $407,756. “I’m very pleased with the progression he’s made,” Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said. “I love the class of that horse. I mean, he is meant for a big day.” Asmussen, North America’s all-time leading trainer in victories, is still looking for his own big day in the Kentucky Derby.

ON TARGET: Journalism, the Kentucky Derby favorite in the most recent Future Wager, produced his last major workout for Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby when he drilled five furlongs at Santa Anita Park in 1:01 2/5  one week before the sternest test of his young career. The son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin produced the same time while working in company the week before. Trainer Michael McCarthy said of the latest breeze with jockey Umberto Rispoli aboard, “I let him run a little bit down the lane with a solid gallop out. He did everything we asked of him.” Journalism stamped himself as a prime contender for the run for the roses with an impressive 1 ¾-length victory in the DK Horse San Felipe Stakes March 1 at Santa Anita. 

White Abarrio winning Ghostzapper Stakes. (Eclipse Sportswire)

IN COMMAND: With a much bigger prize in mind, White Abarrio dominated the 1 1/16-mile Ghostzapper Stakes Presented by FanDuel TV by 5 ¼ lengths Saturday for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. The striking gray 6-year-old Race Day horse prevailed for the eighth time in 10 Gulfstream starts for C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber, and La Milagrosa Stable. “We got everything we wanted out of it. Now we’ve got 60 days to get him ready for the Met Mile [June 7 at Saratoga],” said Mark Cornett, C2’s racing manager. “It just worked out perfect. As you can see, crossing the wire he wasn’t fully extended, so we’ll save something for another day.” White Abarrio will be seeking his fifth Grade 1 triumph in the Met Mile following successes in the Florida Derby, Whitney Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Classic, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational, in that order.