Kentucky Derby 2020 Radar: Independence Hall's prep set

Before Ete Indien's front-running victory Saturday in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), Gulfstream Park's final prep for the 2020 Kentucky Derby received another notable addition.

Independence Hall entered the Sam F. Davis 3-for-3 with a maiden win at Parx Racing, open-lengths victory in Aqueduct’s Nov. 3 Nashua Stakes (G3) and another score Jan. 1 in the Jerome Stakes.

The last of those wins earned him 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. The Sam F. Davis, in which he was chased down late by Sole Volante, added four more.

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Aron Wellman said Sunday that Independence Hall lost his tongue tie before the Sam F. Davis. His right-front shoe then fell off leaving the gate.

“That likely had more of an impact on his performance than the tongue tie did," Wellman said. "All credit to Sole Volente on the day; he beat us on the square. But, those are a couple things that certainly didn’t act in our horse’s favor. He did all the dirty work. He chased a very fast pace and he was the only one that was up there left standing at the wire.

“By all accounts, we were very pleased with his performance. Obviously, you never want to get beat, but it was a very good performance and I think we take a lot away from it, as well,” he added. “We never had an intention of having him peaking on Feb. 8. Our goal is to be peaking as the year progresses, and we’re hoping that the Florida Derby is one event along the way that sees him find his best form.”

Jose Ortiz is Independence Hall's regular rider. The horse could be in need of a new one if Ortiz, who broke his wrist last month in a pre-race incident at Gulfstream, isn't back in time.

Ete Indien is likely good on points exiting the Fountain of Youth. He totals 54 combined with his runner-up in the Holy Bull (G3), also at Gulfstream.

But neither Independence Hall nor Ete Indien are the likely Florida Derby favorite. That title belongs to Tiz the Law assuming the speedy New York-bred is ready to go in time for his target. The Daily Racing Form reported recently that the Barclay Tagg trainee is expected to breeze Sunday or Monday after a minor setback, pulling a shoe off, to delay a return to the work tab.

Tiz the Law has racked up 20 points and will need to at least hit the board in his final prep to comfortably assume a spot in the Kentucky Derby.

The 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby allots its points on a 100-40-20-10 scale to the top-four finishers.