2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby

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The 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby is a series of races through which horses qualified for the 2024 Kentucky Derby, which was held on May 4. The field for the Derby was limited to 20 horses, with up to four 'also eligibles' in case of a late withdrawal from the field. There were three separate paths for horses to take to qualify for the Derby: the main Road consisting of races in North America (plus one in Dubai), the Japan Road consisting of four races in Japan, and the European road consisting of seven races in England, Ireland and France. The top five finishers in the specified races received points, with higher points awarded in the major prep races in March and April. Earnings in non-restricted stakes races acted as a tie breaker.

For 2024, there are several changes in the Road to the Kentucky Derby. In the 2023 Road to the Kentucky Derby, there were of 37 races, with 22 races for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and 15 races for the Kentucky Derby Championship Season. In 2024, the following changes were introduced:[a]

  • Second-place points in all qualifying races have been increased to create added separation from second and third-place finishers
  • Third- and fourth-place points in races that award 100 points to winner have been decreased from 100-40-30-20-10 to 100-50-25-15-10
  • The Grade III Street Sense Stakes, held on October 29 at Churchill Downs was added to the Early Prep Season
  • The Grade III Sham Stakes was included in the original list of events, but Santa Anita Park did not schedule the event in 2024
  • Santa Anita Park decreased the distance of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes from 1+1⁄16 miles to one mile
  • The El Camino Real Derby was removed from the Early Prep Season
  • For the Sunland Park Derby at Sunland Park, the qualification points were decreased from 50-20-15-10-5 to 20-10-6-4-2 and the distance of the event was decreased from 1+1⁄8 to 1+1⁄16 miles

Standings

The following table shows the points earned in the eligible races for the main series.[2] Entrants that have been nominated are ranked in the standings.[3]

As of May 1, 2024
Rank[2] Horse Points Earnings[b] Trainer Owner Ref
1 Sierra Leone 155 $871,250 Chad C. Brown Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Westerburg, Brook T. Smith & Peter Brant [4]
2 Fierceness 136 $1,646,100 Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable [5]
3 Catching Freedom 125 $802,000 Brad H. Cox Albaugh Family Stables [6]
4 Stronghold 125 $742,800 Philip D'Amato Eric M. & Sharon Waller [7]
5 Resilience 110 $416,000 William I. Mott Emily Bushnell & Ric Waldman [8]
6 Forever Young (JPN) 100 $1,769,919 Yoshito Yahagi Susumu Fujita [9]
7 Endlessly 100 $658,000 Michael McCarthy Amerman Racing [10]
bypassing[c] Timberlake 81 $1,132,500 Brad H. Cox WinStar Farm & Siena Farm [12]
8 Dornoch 75 $472,375 Danny Gargan West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing & Pine Racing Stables [4]
9 Just a Touch 75 $247,500 Brad H. Cox Qatar Racing, Resolute Racing & Marc Detampel [13]
10 Track Phantom 70 $300,000 Steven M. Asmussen L and N Racing, Clark O. Brewster, Jerry Caroom & Breeze Easy [14]
11 West Saratoga 67 $363,640 Larry Demeritte Harry L. Veruchi [15]
12 Just Steel 65 $628,295 D. Wayne Lukas BC Stables [6]
13 Honor Marie[d] 65 $448,455 Whitworth D. Beckman Ribble Farms, Michael H. Eiserman, Earl I. Silver, Kenneth E. & Daniel Fishbein [16]
14 Domestic Product 60 $260,500 Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables [17]
15 Catalytic 50 $186,000 Saffie Joseph Jr. Tami Bobo, Julie Davies & George G. Isaacs [18]
bypassing[e] Deterministic 50 $180,000 Christophe Clement St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, C. Steven Duncker & Vicarage Stable [13]
16 Society Man[f] 50 $141,875 Danny Gargan West Racing, Dean & Patti Reeves, Carl & Yurie Pascarella & GMP Stables [21]
17 Mystik Dan 46 $550,050 Kenneth G. McPeek Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing & Daniel Hamby [6]
injured[g] No More Time 45 $194,380 Jose D'Angelo Morplay Racing [23]
18–scratched[h] Encino 40 $323,880 Brad H. Cox Godolphin Racing [25]
19 Grand Mo the First 40 $164,250 Victor Barboza Jr. Granpollo Stables [26]
bypassing[27] Common Defense 37 $253,450 Kenneth G. McPeek David A. Bernsen, Michael & Tony Holmes & Norevale Farm [28]
20 T O Password (JPN)[i] Japan $120,474 Daisuke Takayanagi Tomoya Ozasa
21[j] Epic Ride 35 $198,654 John Ennis Welch Racing [25]
bypassing Hades 30 $193,550 Joseph Orseno D. J. Stable & Robert Cotran [17]
bypassing Uncle Heavy 30 $167,500 Robert E. Reid Jr. Michael Milam [29]
bypassing El Grande O 30 $151,000 Linda Rice Barry K. Schwartz [30]
bypassing Seize the Grey 27 $113,163 D. Wayne Lukas MyRacehorse [15]
bypassing Le Dom Bro[k] 25 $131,000 Eniel Cordero Vicente Stella Stables [31]
not nominated[3] E J Won the Cup 25 $126,000 Doug F. O'Neill Superfecta King Stable [32]
bypassing Pandagate 25 $100,206 Christophe Clement Adelphi Racing Club, Madaket Stables, Corms Racing Stable & On The Rise [9]
bypassing Tuscan Gold 25 $100,000 Chad C. Brown William H. Lawrence, Walmac Farm & Stonestreet Stables [33]
bypassing Protective 25 $75,000 Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable [21]
injured[34] Locked 19 $538,050 Todd A. Pletcher Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Walmac Farm [35]
bypassing Liberal Arts 19 $262,825 Robert Medina Evan & Stephen Ferraro [15]
bypassing Curlin's Kaos 19 $64,400 Antonio Garcia Zephyr Racing & Alfred Pais [36]
bypassing Mc Vay 19 $48,500 John Shirreffs C R K Stable [37]
bypassing Informed Patriot 18 $225,140 Steven M. Asmussen J. Kirk Robison & Judy Robison [38]
bypassing Northern Flame 18 $143,800 Kenneth G. McPeek John C. Oxley, Harold Lerner & AWC Stables [35]
bypassing Lucky Jeremy 16 $124,200 William Morey Jeremy Ramsland [36]
bypassing Scatify 16 $42,000 John W. Sadler West Point Thoroughbreds [37]
bypassing The Wine Steward 15 $276,010 Michael J. Maker Paradise Farms & David Staudacher [35]
bypassing Mendelssohn Bay 15 $164,366 Bhupat Seemar Suited & Booted Racing Syndicate [9]
not nominated[3] Frankie's Empire 15 $163,100 Michael Yates Frank DeLuca [31]
bypassing Lonesome Boy 15 $94,314 Hugo Padilla Pat Chinn & Mullan Chinn [21]
bypassing Triple Espresso 15 $76,600 Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable & St. Elias Stables [10]
bypassing Conquest Warrior 15 $46,500 Claude R. McGaughey III Courtlandt Farms [18]
22[l] Mugatu 14 $30,107 Jeff Engler Average Joe Racing Stables & Dan Wells [25]
bypassing Nash 13 $164,000 Brad H. Cox Godolphin Racing [14]
injured[39] Drum Roll Please 13 $112,500 Brad H. Cox Gold Square [4]
bypassing Agate Road 10 $214,750 Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable & St. Elias Stables [23]
bypassing Otto the Conqueror 10 $207,500 Steven M. Asmussen Three Chimneys Farm [40]
bypassing Alotaluck 10 $180,360 Ty Garrett Eleanor Martin [36]
bypassing Dancing Groom 10 $88,902 Antonio Sano Eduardo Soto [12]
not nominated[3] Woodcourt 10 $79,275 Cipriano Contreras Contreras Stable [41]
bypassing Maximus Meridius 10 $48,000 Robert Reid Jr. LC Racing, Cash is King & Robert Reid Jr. [13]
bypassing Navy Seal 10 $42,668 Aidan O'Brien Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor [9]
bypassing Tapalo 10 $35,000 John W. Sadler Saratoga Glen Farm [32]
bypassing Real Macho 10 $30,000 Rohan Crichton Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Rohan Crichton, Daniel L. Walters & Dennis Smith [31]
bypassing Good Money 10 $30,000 Chad C. Brown Calumet Farm [26]
not nominated[3] Risk It 8 $83,838 Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds & Three Chimneys Farm [15]
bypassing Moonlight 7 $59,000 Todd A. Pletcher Town and Country Racing & Madaket Stables [38]
bypassing Lat Long 6 $36,500 Kenneth G. McPeek Walking L Thoroughbreds [42]
bypassing Lightline 6 $31,500 Brad H. Cox Albaugh Family Stables [29]
not nominated[3] Dilger (IRE) 6 $29,400 Saffie Joseph Jr. Michael J. Ryan [43]
bypassing Blue Eyed George 6 $27,740 Michael McCarthy BG Stables [25]
not nominated[3] Glengarry 5 $332,025 Doug Anderson Aaron Kennedy, Toby Joseph & Doug Anderson [40]
not nominated[3] General Partner 5 $140,000 Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables [12]
bypassing Real Men Violin 5 $82,050 Kenneth G. McPeek Tilted Shamrock Stables [16]
bypassing Dimatic 5 $78,750 Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds [41]
bypassing Awesome Road 5 $60,008 Brad H. Cox Albaugh Family Stables [16]
bypassing Khanate 5 $28,000 Todd A. Pletcher Calumet Farm [30]
inactive[m] Snead 5 $20,000 Brendan Walsh Imagine Racing & Margaret Fauber [14]
bypassing Capital Idea 5 $12,000 Christophe Clement Reeves Thoroughbred Racing [13]
bypassing Heartened 5 $10,500 Todd A. Pletcher St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven C. Duncker & Vicarage Stable [26]
bypassing Inveigled 4 $72,250 Jane Cibelli Mark B. Grier [17]
bypassing Footprint 4 $63,600 Kenneth G. McPeek Greg McDonald [14]
bypassing Elysian Meadows 4 $32,500 William I. Mott Team Penney Racing [23]
bypassing Secret Chat 4 $27,120 Roderick Rodriguez Gelfenstein Farm [43]
bypassing Gettysburg Address 4 $26,200 Brad H. Cox WinStar Farm & Siena Farm [38]
bypassing Deposition 4 $22,500 Uriah St. Louis Uriah St. Louis [29]
injured[n] Ethan Energy 4 $8,000 Brad H. Cox Stonestreet Stables [42]
not nominated[3] Magic Grant 3 $134,250 Eddie Milligan Jr. Willis Horton Racing [40]
bypassing Be You 3 $66,500 Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable [44]
not nominated[3] Generous Tipper 3 $57,750 Kenneth G. McPeek Walking L Thoroughbreds [35]
inactive[o] Stretch Ride 3 $39,025 Dale L. Romans West Point Thoroughbreds [16]
not nominated[3] Gold Sweep 2 $149,300 Steven M. Asmussen Mike McCarty [12]
not nominated[3] Raging Torrent 2 $80,000 Doug F. O'Neill Great Friends Stables & Mark Davis [44]
bypassing Fulmineo 2 $61,000 Arnaud Delacour Starlight Racing & Mark B. Grier [23]
not nominated[3] Third Street 2 $25,380 Shawn H. Davis Shawn H. Davis & Bill Carnes [40]
inactive[p] Regalo 2 $10,000 Brittany Russell Harry Papaleo [30]
bypassing Moonlit Sonata 2 $8,000 Tim Yakteen Soma Racing Stable [37]
inactive[q] Ode to Balius 2 $6,160 Concepcion Torres Arnaldo Monge [25]
bypassing Tizzy Indy 2 $4,000 J. Keith Desormeaux Calumet Farm [42]
not nominated[3] Sweet Soddy J 1 $165,250 Raymond Ginter Jr. Built Wright Stables [30]
euthanized[45] Where's Chris 1 $110,500 Richard E. Dutrow Jr. Nice Guys Stable [4]
inactive[r] Air Cav 1 $33,500 Brad H. Cox Calumet Farm [12]
not nominated[3] Rothschild 1 $26,500 Tim Yakteen SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Dianne Bashor, Robert E. Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan & Tom Ryan [44]
not nominated[3] My Buddy Mel 1 $24,000 Danny Pish Heider Racing Stables, Duffy's Racing Stable & Striking Stables [40]
not nominated[3] Ace of Clubs 1 $19,500 Doug F. O'Neill RJ Racing, Fritz Brothers Racing, Pappas Horse Racing & Pablo A. Suarez [7]
inactive[s] Edified 1 $16,797 Steven M. Asmussen Courtlandt Farms [15]

Legend:
  Qualified for the Derby
  Also eligible
  Scratched
  Injured/Bypassing/Inactive/Not nominated

Prep season

Initial prep events

Note: 1st=10 points; 2nd=5 points; 3rd=3 points; 4th=2 points; 5th=1 point (except the Breeders' Cup Juvenile: 1st=30 points; 2nd=15 points; 3rd=9 points; 4th=6 points; 5th=3 points)

Race Distance Purse Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Iroquois 1 mile $300,000 Churchill Downs Sep 16 2023 West Saratoga Risk It Liberal Arts Seize the Grey Edified [15]
Champagne 1 mile $500,000 Aqueduct Oct 7 2023 Timberlake General Partner Dancing Groom Gold Sweep Air Cav [12]
American Pharoah 1+1⁄16 miles $301,500 Santa Anita Oct 7 2023 Muth[t] Wine Me Up[t] Be You Raging Torrent Rothschild [44]
Breeders' Futurity 1+1⁄16 miles $580,750 Keeneland Oct 7 2023 Locked The Wine Steward Generous Tipper Northern Flame West Saratoga [35]
Street Sense 1+1⁄16 miles $199,000 Churchill Downs Oct 29 2023 Liberal Arts Moonlight Informed Patriot Gettysburg Address Northern Flame [38]
Breeders' Cup Juvenile 1+1⁄16 miles $2,000,000 Santa Anita Nov 3 2023 Fierceness Muth[u] Locked Timberlake Prince of Monaco[u] [5]
Kentucky Jockey Club 1+1⁄16 miles $400,000 Churchill Downs Nov 25 2023 Honor Marie Real Men Violin Stretch Ride Risk It Awesome Road [16]
Remsen 1+1⁄8 miles $250,000 Aqueduct Dec 2 2023 Dornoch Sierra Leone Drum Roll Please Moonlight Where's Chris [4]
Springboard Mile 1 mile $300,000 Remington Dec 15 2023 Otto the Conqueror Glengarry Magic Grant Third Street My Buddy Mel [40]
Los Alamitos Futurity 1+1⁄16 miles $200,000 Los Alamitos Dec 16 2023 Wynstock[v] Stronghold Coach Prime[v] Wine Me Up[v] Ace of Clubs [7]
Gun Runner Stakes 1+1⁄16 miles $98,000 Fair Grounds Dec 23 2023 Track Phantom Snead Nash Footprint Risk It [14]
Smarty Jones 1 mile $300,000 Oaklawn Jan 1 2024 Catching Freedom Just Steel Informed Patriot Gettysburg Address Mystik Dan [6]
Jerome 1 mile $145,500 Aqueduct Jan 6 2024 Drum Roll Please El Grande O Khanate Regalo Sweet Soddy J [30]
Sham 1 mile $100,000 Santa Anita Jan 7 2024 Race not scheduled[w]

Select prep events

Note: 1st=20 points; 2nd=10 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points

Race Distance Purse Grade Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Lecomte 1+1⁄16 miles $194,000 3 Fair Grounds Jan 20 2024 Track Phantom Nash Lat Long Ethan Energy Tizzy Indy [42]
Southwest 1+1⁄16 miles $800,000 3 Oaklawn Feb 3 2024[x] Mystik Dan Just Steel Liberal Arts Awesome Road Common Defense [28]
Holy Bull 1+1⁄16 miles $260,000 3 Gulfstream Feb 3 2024 Hades Domestic Product Fierceness Inveigled Dancing Groom [17]
Robert B. Lewis[y] 1 mile $201,000 3 Santa Anita Feb 3 2024 Nysos[z] Wine Me Up[z] Scatify Mc Vay Moonlit Sonata [37]
Withers 1+1⁄8 miles $250,000 3 Aqueduct Feb 3 2024 Uncle Heavy El Grande O Lightline Deposition Khanate [29]
Sam F. Davis Stakes 1+1⁄16 miles $200,000 3 Tampa Bay Feb 10 2024 No More Time Agate Road West Saratoga Elysian Meadows Fulmineo [23]
Sunland Park Derby[aa] 1+1⁄16 miles $400,000 3 Sunland Park Feb 18 2024 Stronghold Alotaluck Lucky Jeremy Curlin's Kaos Informed Patriot [36]
John Battaglia Memorial 1+1⁄16 miles $142,500 Turfway Mar 2 2024 Encino Epic Ride Blue Eyed George Mugatu Ode to Balius [25]

Championship series events

First leg of series

Note: 1st=50 points; 2nd=25 points; 3rd=15 points; 4th=10 points; 5th=5 points

Race Distance Purse Grade Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Risen Star 1+1⁄8 miles $400,000 2 Fair Grounds Feb 17 2024 Sierra Leone Track Phantom Catching Freedom Resilience Honor Marie [8]
Rebel 1+1⁄16 miles $1,250,000 2 Oaklawn Feb 24 2024 Timberlake Common Defense Northern Flame Woodcourt Dimatic [41]
Fountain of Youth 1+1⁄16 miles $400,000 2 Gulfstream Mar 2 2024 Dornoch Le Dom Bro Frankie's Empire Real Macho Dancing Groom [31]
Gotham 1 mile $300,000 3 Aqueduct Mar 2 2024 Deterministic Just a Touch El Grande O Maximus Meridius Capital Idea [13]
San Felipe 1+1⁄16 miles $294,000 2 Santa Anita Mar 3 2024[ab] Imagination[ac] Wine Me Up[ac] Mc Vay Scatify — [51]
Tampa Bay Derby[ad] 1+1⁄16 miles $350,000 2 Tampa Bay Mar 9 2024 Domestic Product No More Time Grand Mo the First Good Money Heartened [26]

Second leg of series

These races are the major preps for the Kentucky Derby, and are thus weighted more heavily.
Note: 1st=100 points; 2nd=50 points; 3rd=25 points; 4th=15 points; 5th=10 points

Race Distance Purse Grade Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Louisiana Derby 1+3⁄16 miles $1,000,000 2 Fair Grounds Mar 23 2024 Catching Freedom Honor Marie Tuscan Gold Track Phantom Common Defense [33]
Jeff Ruby 1+1⁄8 miles $700,000 3 Turfway Mar 23 2024 Endlessly West Saratoga Seize the Grey Triple Espresso Lucky Jeremy [10]
UAE Derby 1,900 metres
(~1+3⁄16 miles) 		$1,000,000 2 Meydan Mar 30 2024 Forever Young Auto Bahn[ae] Pandagate Mendelssohn Bay Navy Seal [9]
Florida Derby 1+1⁄8 miles $1,000,000 1 Gulfstream Mar 30 2024 Fierceness Catalytic Grand Mo The First Conquest Warrior Hades [18]
Arkansas Derby 1+1⁄8 miles $1,500,000 1 Oaklawn Park Mar 30 2024 Muth[af] Just Steel Mystik Dan Timberlake Informed Patriot [53]
Blue Grass Stakes 1+1⁄8 miles $995,782 1 Keeneland Apr 6 2024 Sierra Leone Just a Touch Epic Ride Dornoch Mugatu [54]
Santa Anita Derby 1+1⁄8 miles $750,000 1 Santa Anita Apr 6 2024 Stronghold Imagination[ag] E J Won the Cup Curlin's Kaos Tapalo [32]
Wood Memorial 1+1⁄8 miles $750,000 2 Aqueduct Apr 6 2024 Resilience Society Man Protective Lonesome Boy Uncle Heavy [21]

"Wild Card" events

Note: 1st=20 points; 2nd=10 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points

Race Distance Purse Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Lexington 1+1⁄8 miles $365,500 Keeneland Apr 13 2024 Encino The Wine Steward Dilger (IRE) Secret Chat Footprint [43]

European Road to the Kentucky Derby

The European Road to the Kentucky Derby is designed on a similar basis to the Japan Road and is intended to provide a place in the Derby starting gate to the top finisher in the series. If the connections of that horse decline the invitation, their place is offered to the second-place finisher and so on. If neither of the top four accept, this place in the starting gate reverts to the horses on the main road to the Derby.

The series consists of seven races – four run on the turf in late 2023 when the horses are age two, plus three races run on a synthetic surface in early 2024.

Race Distance Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Beresford Stakes 1 mile The Curragh Sep 23 2023 Deepone Chief Little Rock Grosvenor Square Navy Seal Stromberg [55]
Royal Lodge Stakes 1 mile Newmarket Sep 30 2023 Ghostwriter Al Musmak Capulet Macduff Son [56]
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère 1,400 metres
(about 7 furlongs) 		Longchamp Oct 1 2023 Rosallion Unquestionable Beauvatier Henry Adams Zabiari [57]
Kameko Futurity Trophy 1 mile Doncaster Oct 28 2023 Ancient Wisdom Devil's Point God's Window Deira Mile Dancing Gemini [58]
European Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes 1 mile Kempton Park Feb 21 2024 Notable Speech Cuban Tiger Solomon Arctic Thunder Blown Away [59]
Patton Stakes[ah] 1 mile Dundalk Mar 1 2024 Bergamasco Nerano Navy Seal — — [60]
Cardinal Stakes 1 mile Chelmsford City Apr 6 2024 Bracken's Laugh Orne Capulet Under The Sun Bergamasco [61]

Note:

  • the four races in 2023 for two-year-olds: 1st=10 points; 2nd=5 points; 3rd=3 points; 4th=2 points; 5th=1 point
  • the first two races in 2024: 1st=20 points; 2nd=10 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points
  • The Cardinal Condition Stakes: 1st=30 points; 2nd=15 points; 3rd=9 points; 4th=6 points 5th=3 points
Qualification Table

The top four horses (colored brown within the standings) are eligible to participate in the Kentucky Derby provided the horse is nominated.

Rank Horse Points Eligible
Earnings 		Trainer Owner Ref
not nominated Bracken's Laugh 30 $7,577 Richard Hughes Bernardine & Sean Mulryan
not nominated Bergamasco 23 $0 Jack Davison JPD Partnership
not nominated Notable Speech 20 $0 Charlie Appleby Godolphin
not nominated Orne 15 $141,212 John & Thady Gosden Al Shaqab Racing
not nominated Capulet 12 $46,909 Aiden O'Brien Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor
not nominated Rosallion 10 $204,855 Richard Hannon Shiekh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum
not nominated Ancient Wisdom 10 $202,894 Charlie Appleby Godolphin
not nominated Deepone 10 $91,103 Paddy Tworney Vimal Khosla
not nominated Ghostwriter 10 $86,506 Clive Cox J. C. Smith
not nominated Nerano 10 $0 Joseph O'Brien R & S Racing
not nominated Cuban Tiger 10 $0 Karl Burke Shiekh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum
1 Navy Seal 8 $12,688 Aiden O'Brien Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor

Notes:

  • brown highlight – qualified
  • grey highlight – did not qualify

Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby

The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby is intended to provide a place in the Derby starting gate to the top finisher in the series. If the connections of that horse decline the invitation, their place is offered to the second-place finisher and so on through the top five finishers.

Race Distance Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Cattleya Stakes 1,600 metres
(~1 mile) 		Tokyo Racecourse Nov 25 Amante Bianco George Tesoro Unquenchable Star Turn ƒ More Than Once [62]
Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun 1,600 metres
(~1 mile) 		Kawasaki Racecourse Dec 13 Forever Young Aigle Noir Saint Honore Nasty Weather Satono Phoenix [63][64]
Hyacinth 1,600 metres
(~1 mile) 		Tokyo Racecourse Feb 18 Ramjet Unquenchable Habire Logi Adelaide Chikappa [65]
Fukuryu 1,800 metres
(~1+1⁄8 miles) 		Nakayama Racecourse Mar 23 T O Password Arare Tabashiru Amber Doll La Oracion Sunrise Soleil [66]

Note:
ƒ Filly
Cattleya Sho: 1st=10 points; 2nd=5 points; 3rd=3 points; 4th=2 points; 5th=1 point
Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun: 1st=20 points; 2nd=10 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points
Hyacinth: 1st=30 points; 2nd=15 points; 3rd=9 points; 4th=6 points; 5th=3 points
Fukuyru : 1st=40 points; 2nd=20 points; 3rd=12 points; 4th=8 points; 5th=4 points

Qualification Table

The top five horses (colored brown within the standings) are eligible to participate in the Kentucky Derby provided the horse is nominated.

Rank Horse Points Eligible
Earnings 		Trainer Owner Ref
1 T O Password 40 $120,474 Daisuke Takayanagi Tomoya Ozasa qualified
2 Ramjet 30 $273,343 Shozo Sasaki Koji Maeda
3 Forever Young 20 $569,451 Yoshito Yahagi Susumu Fujita
4 Arare Tabashiru 20 $168,430 Yasuhiro Nemoto Mitsuhiro Fukuda
not nominated Unquenchable 18 $140,848 Mizuki Takayanagi Godolphin Racing
not nominated Amber Doll 12 $73,941 Tatsuya Yoshioka Yoshizawa Holdings Co. Ltd.
5 Aigle Noir 10 $422,168 Hidetaka Otonashi Shadai Race Horse Co.
6 Amante Bianco 10 $224,966 Keisuke Miyata Silk Racing Co. Ltd.
7 Habire 9 $91,421 Ryo Takei Shinichi Koga
not nominated La Oracion 8 $121,858 Makoto Saito DMM Dream Club Co. Ltd.

Notes:

  • brown highlight – qualified
  • grey highlight – did not qualify

Controversy

Owner Amr Zedan of Grade 1 Arkansas Derby winner Muth, on April 3, filed a temporary injunction that would require Churchill Downs to allow his horse into the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby (G1) field. Muth is trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who is suspended from entering and racing horses at tracks owned by Churchill Downs. The suspension was extended last summer. On April 18, Jefferson Circuit Judge Mitch Perry denied Zedan's temporary injunction motion after three hearings to schedule matters and hear arguments.[67] Perry's ruling was appealed to the Kentucky Court of Appeals on April 24, but the order was upheld.[68]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ See the following list[1] for details
  2. ^ Earnings from non-restricted stakes prior to the running of the Kentucky Derby serve as a tie-breaker.
  3. ^ Connections of Timberlake have declared that the horse will bypass the Kentucky Derby[11]
  4. ^ Honor Marie was originally owned by Legion Racing who sold the horse to Ribble Farms. After winning the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, in 2024 additional part-owners were added.
  5. ^ Connections of Deterministic have decided that the horse will bypass the Kentucky Derby[19]
  6. ^ Originally, Society Man was owned by West Racing, Danny Gargan & GMP Stables, but after the Wood Memorial, Danny Gargan sold his part and West Racing also sold a partial interest to form a new partnership[20]
  7. ^ No More Time after a workout on April 14 suffered an injury and x-rays revealed a condylar fracture of the left front leg[22]
  8. ^ Encino drew into the starting field but was scratched after training on April 30 when he was considered "off", and "diagnosed with a soft tissue strain that will require 30 days off".[24]
  9. ^ T O Password accepted as Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier
  10. ^ Epic Ride entered the Kentucky Derby field as an also eligible, but after the scratching of Encino enters the Kentucky Derby as a starter
  11. ^ Originally Le Dom Bro was not nominated for the Triple Crown, but after his placing in the Fountain Of The Youth Stakes connections paid the late payment fee for nomination to the Triple Crown
  12. ^ Mugatu entered the Kentucky Derby field as an also eligible
  13. ^ Off the Derby Trail[2]
  14. ^ Off the Derby Trail[2]
  15. ^ Off the Derby Trail[2]
  16. ^ Off the Derby Trail[2]
  17. ^ Off the Derby Trail[2]
  18. ^ Off the Derby Trail[2]
  19. ^ Off the Derby Trail[2]
  20. ^ a b Horse trained by an individual suspended from the 2024 Kentucky Derby does not receive any qualification points. Muth and Wine Me Up are trained by Bob Baffert who is suspended by Churchill Downs Inc. through 2024.[46]
  21. ^ a b Horse trained by an individual suspended from the 2024 Kentucky Derby does not receive any qualification points. Muth and Prince of Monaco are trained by Bob Baffert who is suspended by Churchill Downs Inc. through 2024.[46]
  22. ^ a b c Horse trained by an individual suspended from the 2024 Kentucky Derby does not receive any qualification points. Wynstock, Coach Prime and Wine Me Up are trained by Bob Baffert who is suspended by Churchill Downs Inc. through 2024.[46]
  23. ^ Originally the Sham Stakes was on the list of qualification event on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, but later Santa Anita Park announced their stakes schedule for the 2023–24 winter season and they did not schedule the Sham Stakes in 2024[47]
  24. ^ Originally the Southwest Stakes was scheduled for January 27, 2024 but due to a cancellation of racing from January 19–21 at Oaklawn Park, the administration of the track moved all events back one week.[48]
  25. ^ In 2024 the distance of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes was decreased from 1+1⁄16 miles to one mile[47]
  26. ^ a b Horse trained by an individual suspended from the 2024 Kentucky Derby does not receive any qualification points. Nysos and Wine Me Up are trained by Bob Baffert who is suspended by Churchill Downs Inc. through 2024.[46]
  27. ^ In 2024 the distance of the Sunland Park Derby was decreased from 1+1⁄8 miles to 1+1⁄16 miles[49]
  28. ^ Originally, the San Felipe Stakes was scheduled to be held on March 2, 2024, but due to expected inclement weather forecasted for that day the track's administration moved the day's meeting to Sunday, March 3, 2024[50]
  29. ^ a b Horse trained by an individual suspended from the 2024 Kentucky Derby does not receive any qualification points. Imagination and Wine Me Up are trained by Bob Baffert who is suspended by Churchill Downs Inc. through 2024.[46]
  30. ^ The Tampa Bay Derby was held with limited betting due to failure of the totalisator system[52]
  31. ^ As a four-year-old Southern Hemisphere bred, Auto Bahn is ineligible to enter the Kentucky Derby. Thus he was not awarded any qualification points
  32. ^ Horse trained by an individual suspended from the 2024 Kentucky Derby does not receive any qualification points. Muth is trained by Bob Baffert who is suspended by Churchill Downs Inc. through 2024.[46]
  33. ^ Horse trained by an individual suspended from the 2024 Kentucky Derby does not receive any qualification points. Imagination is trained by Bob Baffert who is suspended by Churchill Downs Inc. through 2024.[46]
  34. ^ There were only three starters in the Patton Stakes

References

  1. ^ "2023/24 Kentucky Derby Prep Races" (PDF). Churchill Downs Inc. October 8, 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard" (PDF). www.kentuckyderby.com. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "2024 Triple Crown Nominations". TheTripleCrown.com. BloodHorse. February 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e "2023 Remsen Stakes - Grade 2 (race 9)". Equibase. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b "2023 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance - Grade 1 (race 8)". Equibase. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d "2024 Smarty Jones Stakes Listed (race 9)". Equibase. 1 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "2023 Los Alamitos Futurity - Grade 2 (race 9)". Equibase. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  8. ^ a b "2024 Risen Star Stakes Grade 2 (race 14)". Equibase. 17 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d e "2024 UAE Derby (Group 2)". Racing Post. 30 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  10. ^ a b c "2024 Jeff Ruby Steaks Grade 3 - (race 12)". Equibase. 23 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  11. ^ Collins, Sean (2 April 2024). "Timberlake Declared Out of Kentucky Derby; Timberlake finished fourth March 30 in the Arkansas Derby (G1)". Bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d e f "2023 Champagne Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  13. ^ a b c d e "2024 Gotham Stakes Grade 3 (race 10)". Equibase. 2 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d e "2023 Gun Runner Stakes Black Type (race 12)". Equibase. 23 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "2023 Iroquois Stakes Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  16. ^ a b c d e "2023 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes - Grade 2 (race 11)". Equibase. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  17. ^ a b c d "2024 Holy Bull Stakes Stakes Grade 3 (race 12)". Equibase. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  18. ^ a b c "2024 Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa Grade 1 - (race 14)". Equibase. 30 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  19. ^ Perez, Joe (21 April 2024). "Clement Confirms Deterministic Out of Kentucky Derby; The $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes might be a logical next race". Bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  20. ^ Grening, David (11 April 2024). "Society Man gets new owners ahead of Kentucky Derby". drf.com. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  21. ^ a b c d "2024 Wood Memorial S. Presented by Resorts World Casino Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 6 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  22. ^ Grening, David (14 April 2024). "No More Time hurt during workout, will miss Kentucky Derby". drf.com. Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  23. ^ a b c d e "2024 Sam F. Davis Stakes Grade 3 (race 10)". Equibase. 10 February 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  24. ^ Grening, David (30 April 2024). "Injury Forces Encino Out of Derby; Epic Ride In; Trainer Brad Cox said his trainee was "off after training" at Churchill Downs". Bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  25. ^ a b c d e f "2024 John Battaglia Memorial Listed (race 6)". Equibase. 2 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  26. ^ a b c d "2024 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 9 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  27. ^ Free, Brad (24 April 2024). "Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for April 24, 2024". drf.com. Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 25 April 2024. Common Defense, the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes runner-up who would have been first into the field with one more defection, reportedly missed a workout and will not enter.
  28. ^ a b "2024 Southwest Stakes Stakes Grade 3 (race 11)". Equibase. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  29. ^ a b c d "2024 Withers Stakes Grade 3 (race 9)". Equibase. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  30. ^ a b c d e "2024 Jerome Stakes Black Type (race 3)". Equibase. 6 January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  31. ^ a b c d "2024 Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes Grade 2 (race 14)". Equibase. 2 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  32. ^ a b c "2024 Santa Anita Derby Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 6 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  33. ^ a b "2024 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby Grade 2 - (race 12)". Equibase. 23 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  34. ^ King, Byron (8 March 2024). "Over' for Locked Due to Knee Injury; He won the Breeders' Futurity (G1) last fall and was third in the BC Juvenile (G1)". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  35. ^ a b c d e "2023 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  36. ^ a b c d "2024 Sunland Park Derby Grade 3 (race 9)". Equibase. 18 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  37. ^ a b c d "2024 Robert B. Lewis Stakes Grade 3 (race 5)". Equibase. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  38. ^ a b c d "2023 Street Sense Stakes Grade 3 – (race 10)". Equibase. 29 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  39. ^ "Jerome Winner Drum Roll Please Off Derby Trail". Thoroughbred Daily News. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  40. ^ a b c d e f "2023 Remington Springboard Mile Stakes - Listed (race 9)". Equibase. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  41. ^ a b c "2024 Rebel Stakes Grade 2 (race 11)". Equibase. 24 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  42. ^ a b c d "2024 Lecomte Stakes Grade 3 (race 13)". Equibase. 20 January 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  43. ^ a b c "2024 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  44. ^ a b c d "2023 American Pharoah Stakes Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  45. ^ Grening, Dacid. "Where's Chris, Constitutionlawyer die after Belmont training accident". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  46. ^ a b c d e f g Willman, Mike (7 October 2023). "Muth Beats Baffert Stablemate Wine Me Up In American Pharoah". Paulick Report. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  47. ^ a b "Stakes (2023-24)". santaanita.com. Santa Anita Park. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  48. ^ Collins, Sean (18 January 2024). "Southwest Moves to Feb. 3 as Oaklawn Navigates Weather The Fifth Season Stakes will run Jan. 27 as all Southwest Day stakes move to Feb. 3". Bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  49. ^ "Sunland Park Derby (Gr. 3)". Equibase. 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  50. ^ "Santa Anita Postpones Big Cap, Other Stakes to March 3 Races originally intended for the March 3 program will take place March 4". Bloodhorse.com. Santa Anita Park. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  51. ^ "2024 DK Horse San Felipe Stakes Grade 2 (race 6)". Equibase. 3 March 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  52. ^ King, Byron (9 March 2024). "Tote Problems Tarnish Tampa Bay Derby Card Final race canceled; wagering halted on Tampa Bay Derby (G3) with payouts in limbo". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  53. ^ "2024 Arkansas Derby Grade 1 - (race 12)". Equibase. 30 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  54. ^ "2024 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 6 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  55. ^ "Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford Stakes (Group 2)". racingpost.com. 23 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  56. ^ "Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2)". 30 September 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  57. ^ "Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) (Group 1)". 1 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  58. ^ "Kameko Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1)". Racing Post. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  59. ^ ""European Road To The Kentucky Derby" Conditions Stakes (GBB Race)". Racing Post. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  60. ^ ""Patton Race"". Racing Post. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  61. ^ "Woodford Reserve Cardinal Conditions Stakes". Racing Post. 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  62. ^ "Saturday, November 25, 2023, TOKYO Race 9: CATTLEYA STAKES". Umanity – Japan Racing English results site. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  63. ^ "Forever Young Jumps to Lead In Japan Road to KY Derby". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  64. ^ "ZENNIPPON NISAI YUSHUN". jbis.jp. Japan's Largest Horse Racing Information Database - JBIS Search. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  65. ^ "Hyacinth (Result)". Umanity – Japan Racing English results site. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  66. ^ "FUKURYU STAKES - 23/3/2024 Nakayama10R|Result". Umanity!. 2024-03-23. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  67. ^ Downey, Dick (18 April 2024). "Zedan Injunction Bid to Allow Muth in KY Derby Denied Bob Baffert and his horses, such as Muth, remain barred from racing at CDI tracks". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  68. ^ Downey, Dick (24 April 2024). "Court of Appeals Denies Zedan Emergency Motion Order entered late April 24 upholds earlier ruling in Louisville". Retrieved 25 April 2024.
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