Bourbonic, who had to drop down into the maiden claiming ranks to earn his diploma, had been a well-beaten second in his prior start in an allowance at Parx Racing, finishing four lengths in arrears of Market Maven. But he turned the tables on that rival Saturday, closing stoutly to nail stablemate Dynamic One at the wire while Market Maven, who led early, faded to eighth.

Bourbonic, a Bernardini colt, now has 100 points, which will easily land him in Louisville assuming his owner, Calumet Farm, wants to do so.

Dynamic One now has 40 points, which ties him with several others with the lowest score that would qualify for a spot if all runners go forward.

There are two races left on the Derby trail, both next weekend. The Arkansas Derby offers 100 points to the winner, with 40 to second, 20 for third, and 10 for fourth. The Lexington, at Keeneland, offers 20 points to the winner and correspondingly reduced amounts to the rest of the horses who hit the board.

The Santa Anita Derby, which also took place Saturday, also saw an upset winner, though nothing of the magnitude of Bourbonic’s stunner. There, the John Sadler-trained Rock Your World took control early and drew away to a four-length win over 4-5 favorite Medina Spirit.

Rock Your World, a son of Candy Ride who had no prior Derby points, earned 100 points and maintained his spotless, three-for-three record. Next stop for him will be the Kentucky Derby, his trainer said.

Likewise for runner-up Medina Spirit. The Bob Baffert trainee earned 40 points and now has 74 total, easily enough to make the field. Baffert also has the undefeated Concert Tour in position to make the field; he has 50 points.

Baffert will need a big effort from Hozier in the Arkansas Derby to send a trio to Kentucky. He was second – behind Concert Tour – in the Grade 2 Rebel and has 20 points. A one-two finish there would secure him a spot in Louisville, as well.

The weekend’s real throwdown, though, came in Keeneland’s Blue Grass Stakes. There, two-year-old champ Essential Quality ran down Highly Motivated late to win by a neck. Both runners look like the real deal; after a modest opening half-mile, they put down back-to-back sub-24 second quarters in the 1 1/8-mile test and finished more than five ahead of the rest.

Essential Quality, a son of Tapit trained by Brad Cox for Godolphin, has won all five of his career starts and has 140 points.

It was the best performance of Highly Motivated’s career to date. The Chad Brown trainee has two wins from five career starts with 50 points in the bank – enough to get him to Louisville.

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