Kentucky Derby 2020 Radar: Mailman Money delivers

The same connections behind 2019 Louisiana Derby (G2) winner By My Standards figure to be back in defense of their victory.

Allied Racing’s Mailman Money, with jockey Gabriel Saez up for trainer Bret Calhoun, ran his record to 2-for-2 on Sunday at Fair Grounds with a victory that has him on the 2020 Kentucky Derby Radar, which seeks to identify key prep players before they hit the trail.

Mailman Money follows in the footsteps of By My Standards, who was a bit slower to come around this time last year, breaking his maiden on Feb. 16, then going straight into his Louisiana Derby victory.

As with By My Standards, Mailman Money is a son of Goldencents found at an auction of 2-year-olds by bloodstock agent Josh Stevens. He’s also the agent who spotted another well-known colt for the same group, Mr. Money, who won a slew of Grade 3 events last season and just missed in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1).

Calhoun made his plans clear by entering Mailman Money as a main track-only contender in Sunday’s 1-mile, 70-yard allowance optional claiming event at Fair Grounds. Still, the colt got away as a 5-2 second choice in a field of eight once it came off the turf.

Mailman Money was in tight the first time by and floated three-wide into the turn before moving up to stalk moderate fractions of 24.92 and 49 seconds over a fast track. The pace may have move faster than it appeared, however, as early leader Kierkegaard faded to last, and Mailman Money proved perfectly positioned about a length and a half off him up the back stretch.

Saez and Mailman Money ranged up for the lead at the 3/4 pole and drew away to win by 5 3/4 lengths, stopping the clock in 1:44.15.

RELATED: More names to know on the Kentucky Derby Radar

This second-out effort followed a Nov. 30 debut at Churchill Downs where Mailman Money defeated Calhoun stablemate Digital by 3/4 of a length. Since then, Digital wheeled back to break his maiden at Fair Grounds, becoming another 3-year-old name to know for Calhoun this season.

Whereas Digital figures to be seen next in an allowance race for non-winners of two, Mailman Money looks primed to try the Feb. 15 Risen Star (G2) and March 21 Louisiana Derby (G2). A victory in either punches a return trip to Churchill Downs.

Now 4, By My Standards, by the way, has posted six local works, most recently breezing 5/8 of a mile in 1:00.80 last Thursday. He hasn’t run since shuffled back at the start of the Kentucky Derby on his way to finishing 11th.

“We’re not exactly sure yet where he’s going to show up,” Calhoun recently told Fair Grounds publicity. “I do know he’s training great right now and is doing everything we ask him to very easily. I think a return sometime in February is most likely for him.”