Dubai Sky and Firing Line gain on the 'Road to the Kentucky Derby'

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Louisville, KY (SportsNetwork.com) - Dubai Sky and Firing Line picked up the two wins from over the weekend that were available in the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" points system.

Dubai Sky, owned by Three Chimneys Farm and Besilu Stables, won Saturday's Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park to earn 50 points. Trained by Bill Mott, the colt needs to be supplemented into the Triple Crown.

Firing Line, trained by Simon Callaghan for Arnold Zetcher, destroyed the competition by 14 1/4 lengths in Sunday's Sunland Derby for 50 points. The colt now has 58 Kentucky Derby points to move into sixth-place on the leaderboard.

"The best thing he's got going for him is his mind, he's way beyond his only four race career right now, as far as where he is mentally," Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens said after winning the Sunland Derby.

Gotham Stakes winner El Kabeir leads the rankings with 75 points followed in the top 10 by Risen Star winner International Star (71), San Felipe champ Dortmund (70), Tampa Bay Derby winner Carpe Diem (64) and Rebel Stakes winner American Pharoah (60).

Fountain of Youth winner Itsaknockout (50) is seventh followed by Fountain of Youth runner-up Upstart (36), Spiral runner-up Conquest Typhoon (26) and Risen Star runner-up War Story (24).

Two major races are Saturday with 100 points available to the winning 3-year- olds. The Florida Derby and Louisiana Derby, at Gulfstream Park and Fair Grounds, will both be contested at 1 1/8 miles.

On the Dubai World Cup program Saturday will be the UAE Derby over 1 3/16 miles at Meydan Racecourse. The winning horse can also gain 100 points toward a place in the Run for the Roses. My Johnny Be Good, trained by Eoin Harty for Casner Racing, is the only United States-based horse in the event. He finished eighth in the Tampa Bay Derby on March 7, beaten nearly 30 lengths.

"In my opinion he was short a workout heading into that race and he ran like he was short," Harty said. "The schedule didn't go according to plan. He shipped over well and has been doing well since he got here. I've been here plenty of times so I know what works - or at least I think I do."