Takeaways from this week on the 2020 Kentucky Derby trail

Two 2020 Kentucky Derby preps this past week paid out 34 points, with this a rundown of what we learned from the Jerome Stakes and Sham Stakes (G3).

The favorites scored

Both of these preps featured fields of just six, and there's little knowing the quality of competition our winners defeated. However, both move forward with their first points at short odds:

Jerome: Independence Hall (1-9)

Sham: Authentic (6-5)

To add, in a third one-mile race for 3-year-olds, favored Chance It (6-5) prevailed in Gulfstream Park's Mucho Macho Man, setting himself up for the Derby trail.

All three will need to prove they can go longer, and there were things at which to pick, such as Independence Hall's pre-race behavior and Authentic's greenness in the stretch. But it's early enough to discount the negatives, as there's no doubt each need including on any early Kentucky Derby contender list.

As for what's next, Independence Hall is likely to resurface at Tampa Bay Downs in the Sam F. Davis (G3). Bob Baffert said only that Authentic will run in a March prep, "whatever it is." And Chance It is probable for the Holy Bull (G3), continuing down Gulfstream's trail.

Baffert reloads for 2020

Last year, Baffert was poised to become the second trainer to win the Kentucky Derby six times, joining Ben Jones, by sending Grade 1 winners Improbable, Game Winner and Roadster to the starting gate at Churchill Downs.

The Sham winner Authentic joins Thousand Words, Eight Rings, and High Velocity as horses that are already on the Derby leaderboard and will have further chances at qualifying.

Baffert also saddled Azul Coast, a debut winner who finished second in the Sham by 7 3/4 lengths.

"He’s better than that," Baffert said. "He got a little sick on me after Los Alamitos. He lost some time, lost some weight, but he ran second because he’s a class horse. He’ll move up after that.”

It's worth further noting Chance It, a Florida-bred who made the Mucho Macho Man his fourth victory from six starts already. With a strong foundation against Florida-breds locally, he defeated more open competition on Saturday. But the narrow runner-up, As Seen on Tv, was also a state-bred. Chance It's stock is moving up, but how far?

Another to note is Tizamagician, who finally broke through to break his maiden in his sixth career race on New Year's Day. He looked good doing it for trainer Richard Mandella, who likewise got Omaha Beach to the winner's circle only after several tries last year. Look for this one to pop up in a stakes race soon, perhaps the Feb. 1 Robert B. Lewis (G3).