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The Road to the Kentucky Derby is a 36 races series that awards points to the top 4 finishers in each race. Have you ever wondered what it takes for a horse to qualify for the Kentucky Derby? We will show you the Kentucky Derby standing points.

With the annual foal crop in the United States averaging around 20,000 Thoroughbred foals per year, only twenty horses or 0.001% of each foal crop will have their chance to compete in the 148th Run for the Roses.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby series features designated stakes races (September to April) as we mentioned before each of these races offers 4 points to the top 4 finishers. As the Road progresses closer to the big day, the point values offered to each race increase. Seven states across the United States (Arkansas, California, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, New York, and Oklahoma) host a total of thirty-five races occurring at thirteen different racetrack venues.

Starting in September (the previous year) before the KY Derby, the top two-year-olds get the opportunity to start earning points, for the first five months running up to the Kentucky Derby, the point values are maintained at a 10-4-2-1 scale.

  • 10 points for the winner
  • 4 points to the runner up
  • 2 points to the third-place finisher
  • 1 point to the fourth-place finisher

Kentucky Derby Odds by JAZZSPORTS

KENTUCKY DERBY ODDS


The Road to the Derby Bonus Points

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile race is the premier stakes race on the two-year-old calendar, due to the prestige this race doubles the points to a 20-8-4-2 basis.

Starting in mid-February with the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds, points values rise drastically to a higher scale of 50-20-10-5. Seven races offer this increased point value, historically a 50 point win has been enough for a horse to make the Kentucky Derby starting gate but it is not guaranteed.
Towards the end of March starting with the Louisiana Derby, point values increase for the final time and double to a higher scale.

  • 100 points to the winner
  • 40 points to the runner up
  • 20 points for the third-place finisher
  • 10 points for fourth


While seven out of the eight one-hundred-point races are offered in the United States, the UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai offers the same point scale. These races are considered “Win and You’re In” because every horse that has earned 100 points has earned a place in the race.

The Lexington Stakes at Keeneland serves as pre-finale offering points on a 20-8-4-2 scale. It provides hopeful horses who are trying to reach the opportunity to earn some last-minute points. After this final race, horses are given three weeks to get ready for the Kentucky Derby.

Lastly a globally inclusive event, the Kentucky Derby opens a series of qualification races in Europe and Japan, the highest point earner on each Road an invitation is extended to compete in the Kentucky Derby.

Road to the Derby Current Standings

#HorsePointsTrainerBreeder/Owner
1Forte90Todd PletcherSouth Gate Farm
Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable
2Confidence Game57Keith DesormeauxSummer Wind Equine LLC
Don’t Tell My Wife Stables
3Angel of Empire54Brad CoxForgotten Land Investment Inc & BlackDiamond Equine Corp
Albaugh Family Stables LLC
4Raise Cain54Ben ColebrookRock Ridge Thoroughbreds, LLC
Warren, Andrew N. and Warren, Rania
5Practical Move50Tim YakteenChad Brown & Head of Plains Partners
Amestoy, Jr., Pierre Jean, Amestoy, Leslie A. and Beasley, Roger K.
6Congruent50Antonio SanoTapit Syndicate & Glencrest Farm, LLC
Bobo, Tami and Lugamo Racing Stable LLC
7Rocket Can40William MottWoodford Thoroughbreds, LLC
Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc.
8Red Route33Steven AsmussenWinchell Thoroughbreds, LLC
Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC
9Instant Coffee32Brad CoxSagamore Farm, LLC
Gold Square LLC
10Sun Thunder24Kenneth McPeekSouthern Equine Stables, LLC
R.T Racing Stable and Cypress Creek Equine
11General Banker24James FerraroSeacoast Thoroughbreds of New England
Seacoast Thoroughbreds of N. E.
12Two Phil’s23Larry RivelliPhillip Sagan
Patricia’s Hope LLC and Sagan, Phillip
13Hit Show20Brad CoxGary & Mary West Stables Inc.
Gary and Mary West
14Litigate20Todd PletcherNursery Place, Donaldson & Broadbent
Centennial Farms
15Scoobie Quando20Ben ColebrookCHC Inc.
Warren, Andrew N. and Warren, Rania
16Geaux Rocket Ride20Richard MandellaOXO Equine LLC
Pin Oak Stud LLC
17Slip Mahoney20Brad CoxHill ‘N’ Dale Equine Holdings, Inc. & Philip J. Steinberg
Gold Square LLC
18Curly Jack17Thomas AmossBetz/J.Betz/Burns/Camaquiki/C.Kidder/etal.
Michal McLaughlin
19Blazing Sevens16Chad BrownTracy Farmer
Rodeo Creek Racing, LLC
20Arctic Arrogance16Linda RiceChester Broman & Mary R. Broman
Broman, Sr., Chester and Broman, Mary
21Reincarnate15Tim YakteenWoods Edge Farm, LLC
SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Masterson, Robert E., Stonestreet Stables LLC, Schoenfarber, Jay A., Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine
22Jace’s Road15Brad CoxColts Neck Stables LLC
West Point Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables LLC
23Skinner15John ShirreffsStonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC
C R K Stable LLC
24Cyclone Mischief15Dale RomansCastleton Lyons & Kilboy Estate
Albaugh Family Stables LLC and Castleton Lyons
25Verifying14Brad CoxHunter Valley & Mountmellick Farm, LLC
Westerberg, Magnier, Mrs. John, Poulin, Jonathan, Smith, Derrick and Tabor, Michael B.
26Shadow Dragon13William MottAJ Suited
Peachtree Stable
27Victory Formation10Brad CoxGainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd.
Spendthrift Farm LLC and Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc.
28Dubyuhnell10Danny GarganStonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC
West Paces Racing LLC and Stonestreet Stables LLC
29Lugan Knight10Michael McCarthyBG Stables
BG Stables
30Hejazi10Tim YakteenChester Broman & Mary R. Broman
Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.
31Mage10Gustavo DelgadoGrandview Equine
OGMA Investments, LLC, Restrepo, Ramiro, Sterling Racing LLC and CMNWLTH
32Eyeing Clover10Brad CoxMike Abraham
Ten Strike Racing
33Tapit’s Conquest10Brad CoxWinStar Farm, LLC & Tapit Syndicate
LaPenta, Robert V., e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Madaket Stables LLC
34Moon Landing10Kevin AttardAnderson Farms Ont. Inc. & Rod Ferguson
Farms LTD.LaPenta, Robert V., e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Madaket Stables LLC
35Denington8Kenneth McPeekFern Circle Stables LLC &Magdalena Racing
Fern Circle Stables and Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek)
36Hayes Strike7Kenneth McPeekDixiana Farms, LLC
Dixiana Farms LLC
37Andiamo a Firenze7Kelly BreenMr Amore Stables
Mr. Amore Stable
38Frosted Departure6Kenneth McPeekAlastar Thoroughbred Company, LLC
C&H Diamond Racing LLC and Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek)
39West Coast Cowboy6Saffie Joseph, Jr.Gary & Mary West Stables Inc.
Gentry Farms (A.P. Gentry)
40Classic Car Wash6Mark CasseSherry R. Mansfield & Kenneth H. Davis
Gary Barber
41Bourbon Bash5D. Wayne LukasMachmer Hall
BC Stables, LLC
42Fort Bragg5Tim YakteenSF Bloodstock LLC & Henry FieldBloodstock
SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Masterson, Robert E., Stonestreet Stables LLC, Schoenfarber, Jay A., Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine
43Clear the Air5William WaldenCalumet Farm
Cypress Creek Equine
44Single Ruler5Keith DesormeauxDon Alberto Corporation
Rocker O Ranch, LLC
45Miranda Rights 5Mark CasseThree Diamonds Farm & Buckalot Inc.
D. J. Stable LLC
46Loggins4Brad CoxPopatop, LLC
Spendthrift Farm LLC, Steve Landers Racing LLC, Schwartz, Martin S., Dubb, Michael, Ten Strike Racing, Bakke, Jim, Titletown Racing Stables, Kueber Racing, LLC, Big Easy Racing LLC and Winners Win
47Honed4Kenneth McPeekMr. & Mrs. Duncan Lloyd
Three Chimneys Farm and Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek)
48Legacy Isle4Rohan CrichtonErv Woolsey & Ralph Kinder
Walters, Daniel L., Smith, Dennis G., Smith, Anthony and Crichton, Rohan
49Classic Legacy4William MottW. Bruce Lunsford
Bruce Lunsford
50Gulfport3Steven AsmussenDiamond Creek Farm
Heiligbrodt, L. William, Heiligbrodt, Corinne, Jackpot Farm, Whispering Oaks Farm LLC and Coolmore Stud
51Tuskegee Airmen3John ServisNice Guys Stable
Cash is King LLC and LC Racing LLC
52Determinedly3Mark CasseBedouin Bloodstock LLC
John C. Oxley
53Western Ghent2D. Wayne LukasDixiana Farms LLC
Ghent, Bob, Ghent, Ann, Lukas, Laurie and Lukas, D. Wayne
54Il Miracolo2Antonio SanoWillow Oaks Stable LLC
Alexandres, LLC
55Neural Network2Chad BrownMilfer Farm Inc.
Klaravich Stables, Inc.
56Champions Dream1Mark CasseJohn C. Oxley
Rosedown Racing Stables, LLC

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