The 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby is a series of races through which horses qualified for the 2024 Kentucky Derby, which will be 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:[lower-alpha 1]
- 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 to be held on October 29 at Churchill Downs has been 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 scheduled 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 has been removed from the Early Prep Season
- For the Sunland Derby at Sunland Park the qualification points have been decreased from 50-20-15-10-5 to 20-10-6-4-2
Standings
The following table shows the points earned in the eligible races for the main series.[2]
Rank[2] | Horse | Points | Earnings[lower-alpha 2] | Trainer | Owner | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Fierceness | 30 | $1,045,000 | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable | [3] |
2 | Locked | 19 | $538,050 | Todd A. Pletcher | Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Walmac Farm | [4] |
3 | Timberlake | 16 | $435,000 | Brad H. Cox | Siena Farm & WinStar Farm | [5] |
4 | Liberal Arts | 13 | $152,325 | Robert Medina | Evan & Stephen Ferraro | [6] |
5 | Drum Roll Please | 13 | $112,500 | Brad H. Cox | Gold Square | [7] |
6 | West Saratoga | 11 | $197,640 | Larry Demeritte | Harry L. Veruchi | [6] |
7 | Honor Marie | 10 | $240,455 | Whitworth D. Beckman | Ribble Farms | [8] |
8 | Otto the Conqueror | 10 | $180,000 | Steven M. Asmussen | Three Chimneys Farm | [9] |
9 | Dornoch | 10 | $177,500 | Danny Gargan | West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing & Pine Racing Stables | [7] |
10 | Catching Freedom | 10 | $172,000 | Brad H. Cox | Albaugh Family Stables | [10] |
11 | Track Phantom | 10 | $60,000 | Steven M. Asmussen | L and N Racing, Clark O. Brewster, Jerry Caroom & Breeze Easy | [11] |
12 | Risk It | 8 | $80,163 | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds & Three Chimneys Farm | [6] |
13 | Moonlight | 7 | $55,000 | Todd A. Pletcher | Town and Country Racing & Madaket Stables | [12] |
14 | Informed Patriot | 6 | $47,000 | Steven M. Asmussen | J. Kirk Robison & Judy Robison | [12] |
15 | The Wine Steward | 5 | $219,010 | Michael J. Maker | Paradise Farms & David Staudacher | [4] |
16 | Just Steel | 5 | $198,545 | D. Wayne Lukas | BC Stables | [10] |
17 | Glengarry | 5 | $150,675 | Doug Anderson | Aaron Kennedy, Toby Joseph & Doug Anderson | [9] |
18 | General Partner | 5 | $140,000 | Chad C. Brown | Klaravich Stables | [5] |
19 | Real Men Violin | 5 | $78,050 | Kenneth G. McPeek | Tilted Shamrock Stables | [8] |
20 | Stronghold | 5 | $60,000 | Philip D'Amato | Eric M. & Sharon Waller | [13] |
21 | El Grande O | 5 | $53,000 | Linda Rice | Barry K. Schwartz | [14] |
22 | Sierra Leone | 5 | $50,000 | Chad C. Brown | Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Westerburg, Rocket Ship Racing & Peter Brant | [7] |
23 | Snead | 5 | $20,000 | Brendan Walsh | Imagine Racing & Margaret Fauber | [11] |
24 | Gettysburg Address | 4 | $26,200 | Brad H. Cox | WinStar Farm & Siena Farm | [12] |
25 | Magic Grant | 3 | $78,000 | Eddie Milligan Jr. | Willis Horton Racing | [9] |
26 | Dancing Groom | 3 | $63,752 | Antonio Sano | Eduardo Soto | [5] |
27 | Generous Tipper | 3 | $57,750 | Kenneth G. McPeek | Walking L Thoroughbreds | [4] |
28 | Be You | 3 | $54,000 | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable | [15] |
29 | Stretch Ride | 3 | $39,025 | Dale L. Romans | West Point Thoroughbreds | [8] |
30 | Northern Flame | 3 | $34,875 | Kenneth G. McPeek | John C. Oxley, Harold Lerner & AWC Stables | [4] |
31 | Khanate | 3 | $30,000 | Todd A. Pletcher | Calumet Farm | [14] |
32 | Nash | 3 | $10,000 | Brad H. Cox | Godolphin Racing | [11] |
33 | Gold Sweep | 2 | $158,300 | Steven M. Asmussen | Mike McCarty | [5] |
34 | Raging Torrent | 2 | $60,000 | Doug F. O'Neill | Great Friends Stables & Mark Davis | [15] |
35 | Seize the Grey | 2 | $32,663 | D. Wayne Lukas | MyRacehorse | [6] |
36 | Third Street | 2 | $22,500 | Shawn H. Davis | Shawn H. Davis & Bill Carnes | [9] |
37 | Regalo | 2 | $9,000 | Brittany Russell | Harry Papaleo | [14] |
38 | Footprint | 2 | $4,000 | Kenneth G. McPeek | Greg McDonald | [11] |
39 | Sweet Soddy J | 1 | $136,250 | Raymond Ginter Jr. | Built Wright Stables | [14] |
euthanized[16] | Where's Chris | 1 | $110,500 | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | Nice Guys Stable | [7] |
40 | Rothschild | 1 | $26,500 | Tim Yakteen | SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Dianne Bashor, Robert E. Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan & Tom Ryan | [15] |
41 | My Buddy Mel | 1 | $24,000 | Danny Pish | Heider Racing Stables, Duffy's Racing Stable & Striking Stables | [9] |
42 | Air Cav | 1 | $20,000 | Brad H. Cox | Calumet Farm | [5] |
43 | Awesome Road | 1 | $19,208 | Brad H. Cox | Albaugh Family Stables | [8] |
44 | Edified | 1 | $16,797 | Steven M. Asmussen | Courtlandt Farms | [6] |
45 | Ace of Clubs | 1 | $16,500 | Doug F. O'Neill | RJ Racing, Fritz Brothers Racing, Pappas Horse Racing & Pablo A. Suarez | [13] |
46 | Mystik Dan | 1 | $10,800 | Kenneth G. McPeek | Lance Gasaway | [10] |
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 | [6] |
Champagne | 1 mile | $500,000 | Aqueduct | Oct 7 2023 | Timberlake | General Partner | Dancing Groom | Gold Sweep | Air Cav | [5] |
American Pharoah | 1+1⁄16 miles | $301,500 | Santa Anita | Oct 7 2023 | Muth[lower-alpha 3] | Wine Me Up[lower-alpha 3] | Be You | Raging Torrent | Rothschild | [15] |
Breeders' Futurity | 1+1⁄16 miles | $580,750 | Keeneland | Oct 7 2023 | Locked | The Wine Steward | Generous Tipper | Northern Flame | West Saratoga | [4] |
Street Sense | 1+1⁄16 miles | $199,000 | Churchill Downs | Oct 29 2023 | Liberal Arts | Moonlight | Informed Patriot | Gettysburg Address | Northern Flame | [12] |
Breeders' Cup Juvenile | 1+1⁄16 miles | $2,000,000 | Santa Anita | Nov 3 2023 | Fierceness | Muth[lower-alpha 4] | Locked | Timberlake | Prince of Monaco[lower-alpha 4] | [3] |
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 | [8] |
Remsen | 1+1⁄8 miles | $250,000 | Aqueduct | Dec 2 2023 | Dornoch | Sierra Leone | Drum Roll Please | Moonlight | Where's Chris | [7] |
Springboard Mile | 1 mile | $300,000 | Remington | Dec 15 2023 | Otto the Conqueror | Glengarry | Magic Grant | Third Street | My Buddy Mel | [9] |
Los Alamitos Futurity | 1+1⁄16 miles | $200,000 | Los Alamitos | Dec 16 2023 | Wynstock[lower-alpha 5] | Stronghold | Coach Prime[lower-alpha 5] | Wine Me Up[lower-alpha 5] | Ace of Clubs | [13] |
Gun Runner Stakes | 1+1⁄16 miles | $98,000 | Fair Grounds | Dec 23 2023 | Track Phantom | Snead | Nash | Footprint | Risk It | [11] |
Smarty Jones | 1 mile | $300,000 | Oaklawn | Jan 1 2024 | Catching Freedom | Just Steel | Informed Patriot | Gettysburg Address | Mystik Dan | [10] |
Jerome | 1 mile | $145,500 | Aqueduct | Jan 6 2024 | Drum Roll Please | El Grande O | Khanate | Regalo | Sweet Soddy J | [14] |
Race not scheduled[lower-alpha 6] |
Select prep 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lecomte | 1+1⁄16 miles | $200,000 | Fair Grounds | Jan 20 2024 | ||||||
Southwest | 1+1⁄16 miles | $800,000 | Oaklawn | Jan 27 2024 | ||||||
Holy Bull | 1+1⁄16 miles | $250,000 | Gulfstream | Feb 3 2024 | ||||||
Robert B. Lewis[lower-alpha 7] | 1 mile | $150,000 | Santa Anita | Feb 3 2024 | ||||||
Withers | 1+1⁄8 miles | $250,000 | Aqueduct | Feb 3 2024 | ||||||
Sam F. Davis Stakes | 1+1⁄16 miles | $250,000 | Tampa Bay | Feb 10 2024 | ||||||
Sunland Derby | 1+1⁄8 miles | $500,000 | Sunland Park | Feb 18 2024 | ||||||
John Battaglia Memorial Stakes | 1+1⁄16 miles | $150,000 | Turfway | Mar 2 2024 | ||||||
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 | ||||||
Rebel | 1+1⁄16 miles | $1,250,000 | 2 | Oaklawn | Feb 24 2024 | ||||||
Fountain of Youth | 1+1⁄16 miles | $400,000 | 2 | Gulfstream | Mar 2 2024 | ||||||
Gotham | 1 mile | $300,000 | 3 | Aqueduct | Mar 2 2024 | ||||||
San Felipe | 1+1⁄16 miles | $400,000 | 2 | Santa Anita | Mar 2 2024 | ||||||
Tampa Bay Derby | 1+1⁄16 miles | $350,000 | 2 | Tampa Bay | Mar 9 2024 |
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 | ||||||
Jeff Ruby | 1+1⁄8 miles | $700,000 | 3 | Turfway | Mar 23 2024 | ||||||
UAE Derby | 1,900 metres (~1+3⁄16 miles) |
$1,000,000 | 2 | Meydan | Mar 30 2024 | ||||||
Florida Derby | 1+1⁄8 miles | $1,000,000 | 1 | Gulfstream | Mar 30 2024 | ||||||
Arkansas Derby | 1+1⁄8 miles | $1,500,000 | 1 | Oaklawn Park | Mar 30 2024 | ||||||
Blue Grass Stakes | 1+1⁄8 miles | $1,000,000 | 1 | Keeneland | Apr 6 2024 | ||||||
Santa Anita Derby | 1+1⁄8 miles | $750,000 | 1 | Santa Anita | Apr 6 2024 | ||||||
Wood Memorial | 1+1⁄8 miles | $750,000 | 2 | Aqueduct | Apr 6 2024 |
"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 | $400,000 | Keeneland | Apr 13 2024 |
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 | [19] |
Royal Lodge Stakes | 1 mile | Newmarket | Sep 30 2023 | Ghostwriter | Al Musmak | Capulet | Macduff | Son | [20] |
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère | 1,400 metres (about 7 furlongs) |
Longchamp | Oct 1 2023 | Rosallion | Unquestionable | Beauvatier | Henry Adams | Zabiari | [21] |
Kameko Futurity Trophy | 1 mile | Doncaster | Oct 28 2023 | Ancient Wisdom | Devil's Point | God's Window | Deira Mile | Dancing Gemini | [22] |
Patton Stakes | 1 mile | Dundalk | Mar 1 2024 | ||||||
Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes | 1 mile | Kempton Park | Mar 13 2024 | ||||||
Cardinal Stakes | 1 mile | Chelmsford City | Mar 30 2024 | ||||||
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
Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby
The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby was intended to provide a place in the Derby starting gate to the top finisher in the series. If the connections of that horse declined the invitation, their place was 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 Sho | 1,600 metres (~1 mile) |
Tokyo Racecourse | Nov 25 | Amante Bianco | George Tesoro | Unquenchable | Star Turn | ƒ More Than Once | [23] |
Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun | 1,600 metres (~1 mile) |
Kawasaki Racecourse | Dec 13 | Forever Young | Aigle Noir | Saint Honore | Nasty Weather | Satono Phoenix | [24][25] |
Hyacinth | 1,600 metres (~1 mile) |
Tokyo Racecourse | Feb 18 | ||||||
Fukuryu | 1,800 metres (~1+1⁄8 miles) |
Nakayama Racecourse | Mar 23 |
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
Notes
- ↑ See the following list[1] for details
- ↑ Earnings from non-restricted stakes prior to the running of the Kentucky Derby serve as a tie-breaker.
- 1 2 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.[17]
- 1 2 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.[17]
- 1 2 3 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.[17]
- ↑ Santa Anita Park did not schedule the Sham Stakes in 2024[18]
- ↑ In 2024 the distance of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes was decreased from 1+1⁄16 miles to one mile[18]
References
- ↑ "2023/24 Kentucky Derby Prep Races" (PDF). Churchill Downs Inc. October 8, 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- 1 2 "Road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard" (PDF). www.kentuckyderby.com. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- 1 2 "2023 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance - Grade 1 (race 8)". Equibase. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "2023 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2023 Champagne Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2023 Iroquois Stakes Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "2023 Remsen Stakes - Grade 2 (race 9)". Equibase. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "2023 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes - Grade 2 (race 11)". Equibase. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2023 Remington Springboard Mile Stakes - Listed (race 9)". Equibase. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 "2024 Smarty Jones Stakes Listed (race 9)". Equibase. 1 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "2023 Gun Runner Stakes Black Type (race 12)". Equibase. 23 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 "2023 Street Sense Stakes Grade 3 – (race 10)". Equibase. 29 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- 1 2 3 "2023 Los Alamitos Futurity - Grade 2 (race 9)". Equibase. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "2024 Jerome Stakes Black Type (race 3)". Equibase. 6 January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 "2023 American Pharoah Stakes Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- ↑ Grening, Dacid. "Where's Chris, Constitutionlawyer die after Belmont training accident". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- 1 2 3 Willman, Mike (7 October 2023). "Muth Beats Baffert Stablemate Wine Me Up In American Pharoah". Paulick Report. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- 1 2 "Stakes (2023-24)". santaanita.com. Santa Anita Park. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ↑ "Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford Stakes (Group 2)". racingpost.com. 23 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ↑ "Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2)". 30 September 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ↑ "Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) (Group 1)". 1 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ↑ "Kameko Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1)". Racing Post. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ↑ "Saturday, November 25, 2023, TOKYO Race 9: CATTLEYA STAKES". Umanity – Japan Racing English results site. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ↑ "Forever Young Jumps to Lead In Japan Road to KY Derby". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
- ↑ "ZENNIPPON NISAI YUSHUN". jbis.jp. Japan's Largest Horse Racing Information Database - JBIS Search. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.