2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby

The 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby is a series of races through which horses qualified for the 2025 Kentucky Derby, which will be held on May 3. 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, the Japan Road consisting of four races in Japan, and the Euro/MidEast road consisting of seven races in England, Ireland, United Arab Emirates 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 2025, the main Road to the Kentucky Derby resembled the 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby, consisting of 36 races, with 20 races for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and 16 races for the Kentucky Derby Championship Season with the following changes:[a]

  • The Grade III Virginia Derby to be held on March 15 at Colonial Downs has been added to the Championship Season
  • The UAE Derby has been moved from the main North American road and placed in the rebranded Euro/Mideast road
  • The Cardinal Stakes has been removed from the Euro/Mideast road

Also there has been an adjustment of points in Championship Series races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. A minimum of six horses is required for full points to be awarded. Reduced points will be offered if fewer than six horses start. Three-fourth points will be available when five horses start, and half points if four or fewer horses start.

Standings

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The following table shows the points earned in the eligible races for the main series.

Rank Horse Points Earnings[b] Trainer Owner Ref
1 Citizen Bull 40 $1,256,000 Bob Baffert SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan [2]
2 Gaming 15 $520,000 Bob Baffert Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman [3]
3 Getaway Car 11 $268,000 Bob Baffert SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan [2]
4 Chancer McPatrick 10 $480,000 Chad C. Brown Flanagan Racing [4]
5 East Avenue 10 $368,750 Brendan P. Walsh Godolphin [5]
6 Jonathan's Way 10 $151,130 Philip Bauer Rigney Racing [6]
7 Sovereignty 10 $119,280 William I. Mott Godolphin [7]
8 Hill Road 9 $180,000 Adrian Murray Arno Racing [3]
9 Ferocious 8 $232,500 Gustavo Delgado JR Ranch, Ramiro Restrepo, High Step Racing & OGMA Investments [5]
10 Tiztastic 5 $687,100 Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor [7]
11 Owen Almighty 5 $163,060 Brian A. Lynch Flying Dutchmen [6]
12 Tip Top Thomas 5 $100,000 Todd A. Pletcher James J. Bakke & Gerald Isbister [4]
13 Dapper Moon 4 $31,638 Dallas Stewart Valene Farms [5]
14 Sandman 4 $28,195 Mark E. Casse D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds & CJ Stables [6]
15 Mo Plex 3 $156,250 Jeremiah C. Englehart R and H Stable [4]
16 McKinzie Street 3 $96,000 Tim Yakteen Leslie A. & Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr. & Roger K. Beasley [2]
17 Filoso 3 $56,250 Chad Summers Gold Square [5]
18 Mesero 3 $31,200 Dale L. Romans CJ Thoroughbreds & Delia Nash [6]
19 Giocoso 3 $28,650 J. Keith Desormeaux Rocker O Ranch [6]
20 Smoken Wicked 2 $109,200 Dallas Stewart Valene Farms [4]
21 Emerald Bay 2 $18,000 Bob Baffert Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman [2]
22 Vekoma Rides 1 $20,000 John C. Kimmel Nedlaw Stable, Denholtz Stables, Dennis A. Drazin & Jerold L. Zaro [4]
23 Show of Force 1 $8,000 Todd W. Fincher Triple V Racing [2]
24 Bracket Buster 1 $5,820 Victoria Oliver BBN Racing [7]


Prep season

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Initial prep events

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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)

The dates for most races shown below are based on the placement in the racing calendar from 2023/2024. Similarly, the purses shown below are based on the amounts from the previous year and will be updated when finalized.

Race Distance Purse Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Iroquois 1 mile $254,745 Churchill Downs Sep 14 2024 Jonathan's Way Owen Almighty Giocoso Mesero Sandman [6]
Champagne 1 mile $500,000 Aqueduct Oct 5 2024 Chancer McPatrick Tip Top Thomas Mo Plex Smoken Wicked Vekoma Rides [4]
American Pharoah 1+116 miles $301,000 Santa Anita Oct 5 2024 Citizen Bull Getaway Car McKinzie Street Emerald Bay Show of Force [2]
Breeders' Futurity 1+116 miles $594,063 Keeneland Oct 5 2024 East Avenue Ferocious Filoso Dapper Moon Mesero [5]
Street Sense 1+116 miles $197,500 Churchill Downs Oct 27 2024 Sovereignty Tiztastic Sandman Dapper Moon Bracket Buster [7]
Breeders' Cup Juvenile 1+116 miles $2,000,000 Del Mar Nov 1 2024 Citizen Bull Gaming Hill Road Getaway Car Ferocious [3]
Kentucky Jockey Club 1+116 miles $400,000 Churchill Downs Nov 30 2024
Remsen 1+18 miles $250,000 Aqueduct Dec 7 2024
Springboard Mile 1 mile $300,000 Remington Dec 13 2024
Los Alamitos Futurity 1+116 miles $200,000 Los Alamitos Dec 14 2024
Gun Runner Stakes 1+116 miles $100,000 Fair Grounds Dec 21 2024
Smarty Jones 1 mile $300,000 Oaklawn Jan 4 2025
Jerome 1 mile $150,000 Aqueduct Jan 4 2025

Select prep events

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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 $250,000 Fair Grounds Jan 18 2025
Southwest 1+116 miles $800,000 Oaklawn Jan 25 2025
Holy Bull 1 mile $250,000 Gulfstream Feb 1 2025
Robert B. Lewis 1 mile $150,000 Santa Anita Feb 1 2025
Withers 1+18 miles $250,000 Aqueduct Feb 1 2025
Sam F. Davis Stakes 1+116 miles $250,000 Tampa Bay Feb 8 2025
John Battaglia Memorial Stakes 1+116 miles $150,000 Turfway Feb 22 2025

Championship series events

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First leg of series

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Note: 1st=50 points; 2nd=25 points; 3rd=15 points; 4th=10 points; 5th=5 points
with the exception of the Sunland Derby; 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
Risen Star 1+18 miles $500,000 2 Fair Grounds Feb 15 2025
Sunland Derby 1+116 miles $500,000 3 Sunland Park Feb 16 2025
Rebel 1+116 miles $1,250,000 2 Oaklawn Feb 22 2025
Fountain of Youth 1+116 miles $400,000 2 Gulfstream Mar 1 2025
Gotham 1 mile $300,000 3 Aqueduct Mar 1 2025
San Felipe 1+116 miles $400,000 2 Santa Anita Mar 2 2025
Tampa Bay Derby 1+116 miles $350,000 2 Tampa Bay Mar 8 2025
Virginia Derby 1+18 miles $500,000 3 Colonial Downs Mar 15 2025

Second leg of series

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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
with the exception of the Lexington Stakes; 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
Louisiana Derby 1+316 miles $1,000,000 2 Fair Grounds Mar 22 2025
Jeff Ruby 1+18 miles $700,000 3 Turfway Mar 22 2025
Florida Derby 1+18 miles $1,000,000 1 Gulfstream Mar 29 2025
Arkansas Derby 1+18 miles $1,500,000 1 Oaklawn Park Mar 29 2025
Blue Grass Stakes 1+18 miles $1,000,000 1 Keeneland Apr 5 2025
Santa Anita Derby 1+18 miles $750,000 1 Santa Anita Apr 5 2025
Wood Memorial 1+18 miles $750,000 2 Aqueduct Apr 5 2025
Lexington 1+18 miles $400,000 3 Keeneland Apr 12 2025

Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby

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The Euro/Mideast 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 2024 when the horses are age two, plus two races run on a synthetic surface in early 2025 and the UAE Derby which has been moved to this rebranded Road to the Kentucky Derby for the first time.

Race Distance Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Beresford Stakes 1 mile The Curragh Sep 28 2024 Hotazhell Tennessee Stud Windlord Trinity College Lambourn [8]
Royal Lodge Stakes 1 mile Newmarket Sep 28 2024 Wimbledon Hawkeye Royal Playwright Angelo Buonarroti Puppet Master Luther [9]
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère 1,400 metres
(about 7 furlongs)
Longchamp Oct 6 2024 Camille Pissarro Rashabar Misunderstood Field Of Gold Henri Matisse [10]
William Hill Futurity Trophy 1 mile Doncaster Oct 26 2024 Hotazhell Delacroix Wimbledon Hawkeye Seaplane Anno Domini [11]
European Road to the Kentucky Derby
Conditions Stakes
1 mile Kempton Park Feb 26 2025
Patton Stakes 1 mile Dundalk Feb 28 2025
UAE Derby 1,900 metres
(about 1+316 miles)
Meydan Apr 5 2025

Note:

  • the four races in 2024 for two-year-olds: 1st=10 points; 2nd=5 points; 3rd=3 points; 4th=2 points; 5th=1 point
  • the first two races in 2025: 1st=20 points; 2nd=10 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points
  • The UAE Derby: 1st=100 points; 2nd=50 points; 3rd=25 points; 4th=15 points; 5th=10 points

Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby

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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 23
Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun 1,600 metres
(~1 mile)
Kawasaki Racecourse Dec 11
Hyacinth 1,600 metres
(~1 mile)
Tokyo Racecourse Feb 16
Fukuryu 1,800 metres
(~1+18 miles)
Nakayama Racecourse Mar 22

Note:
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

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  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.

References

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  1. ^ "2024/25 Kentucky Derby Prep Races" (PDF). Churchill Downs Inc. September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "2024 American Pharoah Stakes Presented by DK Horse Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. 5 October 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "2024 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Champagne Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". equibase. 5 October 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e "2024 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. 5 October 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Iroquois Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". equibase. 14 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d "2024 Street Sense Stakes Grade 3 – (race 10)". Equibase. 27 October 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Montane Developments Beresford Stakes (Group 2)". racingpost.com. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2)". racingpost.com. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Group 1)". 6 October 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  11. ^ "William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings)". 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.