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+116 miles to one mile
  • 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+116 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+116 miles $580,750 Keeneland Oct 7 2023 Locked The Wine Steward Generous Tipper Northern Flame West Saratoga [4]
Street Sense 1+116 miles $199,000 Churchill Downs Oct 29 2023 Liberal Arts Moonlight Informed Patriot Gettysburg Address Northern Flame [12]
Breeders' Cup Juvenile 1+116 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+116 miles $400,000 Churchill Downs Nov 25 2023 Honor Marie Real Men Violin Stretch Ride Risk It Awesome Road [8]
Remsen 1+18 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+116 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+116 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]
Sham 1 mile $100,000 Santa Anita Jan 7 2024 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+116 miles $200,000 Fair Grounds Jan 20 2024
Southwest 1+116 miles $800,000 Oaklawn Jan 27 2024
Holy Bull 1+116 miles $250,000 Gulfstream Feb 3 2024
Robert B. Lewis[lower-alpha 7] 1 mile $150,000 Santa Anita Feb 3 2024
Withers 1+18 miles $250,000 Aqueduct Feb 3 2024
Sam F. Davis Stakes 1+116 miles $250,000 Tampa Bay Feb 10 2024
Sunland Derby 1+18 miles $500,000 Sunland Park Feb 18 2024
John Battaglia Memorial Stakes 1+116 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+18 miles $400,000 2 Fair Grounds Feb 17 2024
Rebel 1+116 miles $1,250,000 2 Oaklawn Feb 24 2024
Fountain of Youth 1+116 miles $400,000 2 Gulfstream Mar 2 2024
Gotham 1 mile $300,000 3 Aqueduct Mar 2 2024
San Felipe 1+116 miles $400,000 2 Santa Anita Mar 2 2024
Tampa Bay Derby 1+116 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+316 miles $1,000,000 2 Fair Grounds Mar 23 2024
Jeff Ruby 1+18 miles $700,000 3 Turfway Mar 23 2024
UAE Derby 1,900 metres
(~1+316 miles)
$1,000,000 2 Meydan Mar 30 2024
Florida Derby 1+18 miles $1,000,000 1 Gulfstream Mar 30 2024
Arkansas Derby 1+18 miles $1,500,000 1 Oaklawn Park Mar 30 2024
Blue Grass Stakes 1+18 miles $1,000,000 1 Keeneland Apr 6 2024
Santa Anita Derby 1+18 miles $750,000 1 Santa Anita Apr 6 2024
Wood Memorial 1+18 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+18 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+18 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

  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. 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]
  4. 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]
  5. 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]
  6. Santa Anita Park did not schedule the Sham Stakes in 2024[18]
  7. In 2024 the distance of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes was decreased from 1+116 miles to one mile[18]

References

  1. "2023/24 Kentucky Derby Prep Races" (PDF). Churchill Downs Inc. October 8, 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard" (PDF). www.kentuckyderby.com. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  3. 1 2 "2023 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance - Grade 1 (race 8)". Equibase. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "2023 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2023 Champagne Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2023 Iroquois Stakes Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "2023 Remsen Stakes - Grade 2 (race 9)". Equibase. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "2023 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes - Grade 2 (race 11)". Equibase. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2023 Remington Springboard Mile Stakes - Listed (race 9)". Equibase. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "2024 Smarty Jones Stakes Listed (race 9)". Equibase. 1 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 "2023 Gun Runner Stakes Black Type (race 12)". Equibase. 23 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "2023 Street Sense Stakes Grade 3 – (race 10)". Equibase. 29 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 "2023 Los Alamitos Futurity - Grade 2 (race 9)". Equibase. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 "2024 Jerome Stakes Black Type (race 3)". Equibase. 6 January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "2023 American Pharoah Stakes Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  16. Grening, Dacid. "Where's Chris, Constitutionlawyer die after Belmont training accident". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  17. 1 2 3 Willman, Mike (7 October 2023). "Muth Beats Baffert Stablemate Wine Me Up In American Pharoah". Paulick Report. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  18. 1 2 "Stakes (2023-24)". santaanita.com. Santa Anita Park. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  19. "Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford Stakes (Group 2)". racingpost.com. 23 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  20. "Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2)". 30 September 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  21. "Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) (Group 1)". 1 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  22. "Kameko Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1)". Racing Post. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  23. "Saturday, November 25, 2023, TOKYO Race 9: CATTLEYA STAKES". Umanity – Japan Racing English results site. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  24. "Forever Young Jumps to Lead In Japan Road to KY Derby". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  25. "ZENNIPPON NISAI YUSHUN". jbis.jp. Japan's Largest Horse Racing Information Database - JBIS Search. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
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