2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby

The 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby is a series of races through which horses will qualify for the 2021 Kentucky Derby, which will be held on May 1. The field for the Derby is limited to 20 horses, with up to four 'also eligibles' in case of a late withdrawal from the field. There are 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 seven European races in England, Ireland and France. The top four finishers in the specified races receive points, with higher points awarded in the major prep races in March and April. Earnings in non-restricted stakes races act as a tie breaker.

Although Churchill Downs has not yet made a formal announcement, it is expected that the main Road to the Kentucky Derby will resemble the 2019 Road to the Kentucky Derby, consisting of 36 races, 20 races for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and 16 races for the Kentucky Derby Championship Season.[lower-alpha 1] The 2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby suffered major disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the postponement of the 2020 Derby itself to September. For the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby horses which run in qualifying events with medication (Lasix) do not receive any qualification points.[2]

Standings

The following table shows the points earned in the eligible races for the main series.[3]

Rank[3] Horse Points Earnings[lower-alpha 2] Trainer Owner Ref
1 Essential Quality 30 $1,280,000 Brad H. Cox Godolphin Stables [4]
2 Keepmeinmind 18 $379,040 Robertino Diodoro Southern Equine Stable [4]
3 Midnight Bourbon 16 $190,000 Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds [5]
4 Medina Spirit 14 $80,000 Bob Baffert Zedan Racing Stables [6]
5 Spielberg 13 $218,000 Bob Baffert SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Golconda Stables, Siena Farms [7]
6 Jackie's Warrior 12 $457,500 Brendan Walsh Kirk J. & Judy Robison [8]
7 Capo Kane 12 $112,500 Harold Wyner Bing Cherry Racing & Leonard Liberto [9]
8 Hot Rod Charlie 10 $352,000 Doug F. O'Neill Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing & Strauss Bros Racing [10]
9 Get Her Number 10 $186,000 Peter Miller Gary Barber [7]
10 Sittin On Go 10 $141,800 Dale L. Romans Albaugh Family Stables [5]
11 Risk Taking 10 $137,500 Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables [11]
12 Candy Man Rocket 10 $120,000 William I. Mott Frank Fletcher Racing Operations [12]
13 Greatest Honour 10 $119,040 Claude R. McGaughey III Courtlandt Farms [13]
14 Caddo River 10 $90,000 Brad H. Cox Shortleaf Stable [14]
15 Brooklyn Strong 10 $82,500 Daniel Velazquez Mark Schwartz [15]
16 Life Is Good 10 $60,000 Bob Baffert China Horse Club & WinStar Farm [6]
17 Cowan 8 $320,477 Steven M. Asmussen William & Corinne Heiligbrodt, Madaket Stables & Spendthrift Farm [16]
18 Rombauer 4 $120,500 Michael W. McCarthy John & Diane Fradkin [7]
not nominated[17] Reinvestment Risk 4 $120,000 Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables [8]
19 Super Stock 4 $78,450 Todd Pletcher Erv Woolsey & Keith Asmussen [5]
20 Nova Rags 4 $76,000 William I. Mott Michael P. Shanley [12]
21 Tarantino 4 $58,400 Rodolphe Brisset SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Golconda Stables, Siena Farms & R. Masterson [13]
not nominated[17] Ten for Ten 4 $50,000 Claude R. McGaughey III Courtlandt Farms [15]
22 Overtook 4 $50,000 Todd Pletcher Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor [11]
23 The Great One 4 $40,500 Doug F. O'Neill ERJ Racing, Train Wreck Al Racing, Niall Brennan, Tom Fritz & William Strauss [18]
24 Proxy 4 $40,000 Michael Stidham Godolphin Stables [19]
not nominated[17] Eagle Orb 4 $40,000 Rudy Rodriguez E.V. Racing Stable [9]
25 Smiley Sobotka 4 $38,400 Dale L. Romans Albaugh Family Stable [20]
26 Roman Centurian 4 $20,000 Simon Callaghan Alberto Stable & Qatar Racing [21]
27 Arabian Prince 2 $28,063 Dallas Stewart West Point Thoroughbreds & William Sandbrook [20]
28 Petruchio[lower-alpha 3] 2 $24,000 Richard E. Mandella Perry R. Bass II & Ramona S. Bass [18]
30 Known Agenda 2 $24,000 Todd Pletcher St. Elias Stable [15]
29 Waspirant 2 $24,000 John Shirreffs Martin J. & Pam Wygod and Lessee [7]
31 Mandaloun 2 $20,000 Brad H. Cox Juddmonte Farms [19]
32 Hidden Stash 2 $20,000 Victoria Oliver BBN Racing [12]
33 Prime Factor 2 $19,200 Todd Pletcher China Horse Club & WinStar Farm [13]
34 Hold the Salsa 2 $19,125 Richard J. Lugovich Richard J. Lugovich [9]
not nominated[17] Swill 2 $18,600 Brad H. Cox Kueber Racing & Ten Strike Racing [20]
35 Big Thorn 2 $16,000 Steven M. Asmussen Alex & Ann Lieblong [14]
36 Parnelli 2 $14,000 John Shirreffs C R K Stables [6]
37 Pickin' Time 1 $157,925 Kelly J. Breen John Bowers Jr. [15]
38 Red Flag 1 $72,000 John Shirreffs Jerome S. & Tina Moss [18]
39 Papetu 1 $39,975 Antonio Sano Magic Stables [13]
not nominated[17] Therideofalifetime 1 $39,500 Ignacio Correas, IV Stephen L. Fidel [5]
not nominated[17] Boca Boy 1 $24,400 Cheryl Winebaugh Kenneth E. Fishbein [12]
not nominated[17] Upstriker 1 $20,833 Ron Moquett William S. Sparks, Brereton C. Jones & Robert V. LaPenta [4]
not nominated[17] Civil War 1 $16,875 Thomas Albertrani Mark T. Anderson [8]
not nominated[17] Royal Number 1 $15,000 Michael Trombetta Larry R. Johnson, R. D. M. Racing Stable & Michael J. Trombetta [11]
40 Santa Cruiser 1 $8,000 J. Keith Desormeaux Calumet Farm [19]
41 Moonlite Strike 1 $7,500 Joseph Saffie Jr. Sonata Stable [14]


Prep season

Note: 1st=10 points; 2nd=4 points; 3rd=2 points; 4th=1 point (except the Breeders' Cup Juvenile: 1st=20 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=4 points; 4th=2 points)

The dates for most races shown below are based on the placement in the racing calendar from 2019/2020. 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 Ref
Iroquois ​1 1⁄16 miles $200,000 Churchill Downs Sep 5 2020 Sittin On Go Midnight Bourbon Super Stock Therideofalifetime [5]
American Pharoah ​1 1⁄16 miles $301,000 Santa Anita Sep 26 2020 Get Her Number Rombauer Spielberg Waspirant [7]
Breeders' Futurity ​1 1⁄16 miles $400,000 Keeneland Oct 3 2020 Essential Quality Keepmeinmind Super Stock Upstriker [4]
Champagne 1 mile $250,000 Belmont Oct 10 2020 Jackie's Warrior Reinvestment Risk Midnight Bourbon Civil War [8]
Breeders' Cup Juvenile ​1 1⁄16 miles $2,000,000 Keeneland Nov 6 2020 Essential Quality Hot Rod Charlie Keepmeinmind Jackie's Warrior [10]
Kentucky Jockey Club ​1 1⁄16 miles $200,000 Churchill Downs Nov 28 2020 Keepmeinmind Smiley Sobotka Arabian Prince Swill [20]
Remsen ​1 1⁄8 miles $145,500 Aqueduct Dec 5 2020 Brooklyn Strong Ten for Ten Known Agenda Pickin' Time [15]
Springboard Mile 1 mile $200,000 Remington Dec 18 2020 Senor Buscador[lower-alpha 4] Cowan Red N Wild[lower-alpha 4] Saffa's Day[lower-alpha 4] [16]
Los Alamitos Futurity ​1 1⁄16 miles $200,500 Los Alamitos Dec 19 2020 Spielberg The Great One Petruchio Red Flag [18]
Jerome 1 mile $145,500 Aqueduct Jan 1 2021 Capo Kane Eagle Orb Hold the Salsa Swill [9]
Sham 1 mile $100,000 Santa Anita Jan 2 2021 Life Is Good Medina Spirit Parnelli Waspirant [6]
Lecomte ​1 1⁄16 miles $200,000 Fair Grounds Jan 16 2021 Midnight Bourbon Proxy Mandaloun Santa Cruiser [19]
Smarty Jones 1 mile $150,000 Oaklawn Jan 22 2021 Caddo River Cowan Big Thorn Moonlight Strike [14]
Holy Bull 1 mile $350,000 Gulfstream Jan 30 2021 Greatest Honour Tarantino Prime Factor Papetu [13]
Robert B. Lewis ​1 1⁄16 miles $100,500 Santa Anita Jan 30 2021 Medina Spirit Roman Centurian Hot Rod Charlie Spielberg [21]
Withers ​1 1⁄8 miles $250,000 Aqueduct Feb 6 2021 Risk Taking Overtook Capo Kane Royal Number [11]
Sam F. Davis Stakes ​1 1⁄16 miles $200,000 Tampa Bay Feb 6 2021 Candy Man Rocket Nova Rags Hidden Stash Boca Boy [12]
El Camino Real Derby ​1 1⁄8 miles $100,000 Golden Gate Feb 13 2021
Southwest ​1 1⁄16 miles $750,000 Oaklawn Feb 15 2021
John Battaglia Memorial Stakes ​1 1⁄16 miles $100,000 Turfway Feb 26 2021

Championship series events

The following events were included as part of the Championship series.[1]

First leg of series

Note: 1st=50 points; 2nd=20 points; 3rd=10 points; 4th=5 points

Race Distance Purse Grade Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Ref
Risen Star ​1 1⁄8 miles $400,000 2 Fair Grounds Feb 13 2021
Fountain of Youth ​1 1⁄16 miles $300,000 2 Gulfstream Feb 27 2021
Tampa Bay Derby ​1 1⁄16 miles $400,000 2 Tampa Bay Mar 6 2021
Gotham 1 mile $300,000 3 Aqueduct Mar 6 2021
San Felipe ​1 1⁄16 miles $300,000 2 Santa Anita Mar 6 2021
Rebel ​1 1⁄16 miles $1,000,000 2 Oaklawn Mar 13 2021
Sunland Derby ​1 1⁄8 miles $700,000 3 Sunland Park Mar 30 2021

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=40 points; 3rd=20 points; 4th=10 points

Race Distance Purse Grade Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Ref
Louisiana Derby ​1 3⁄16 miles $1,000,000 2 Fair Grounds Mar 20 2021
UAE Derby 1,900 metres
(~​1 3⁄16 miles)		 $2,000,000 2 Meydan Mar 27 2021
Florida Derby ​1 1⁄8 miles $750,000 1 Gulfstream Mar 27 2021
Blue Grass Stakes ​1 1⁄8 miles $600,000 2 Keeneland Apr 1 2021
Santa Anita Derby ​1 1⁄8 miles $750,000 1 Santa Anita Apr 1 2021
Wood Memorial ​1 1⁄8 miles $750,000 2 Aqueduct Apr 3 2021
Arkansas Derby ​1 1⁄8 miles $1,000,000 1 Oaklawn Park Apr 10 2021

"Wild Card" events

Note: 1st=20 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=4 points; 4th=2 points

Race Distance Purse Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Ref
Jeff Ruby Steaks ​1 1⁄8 miles $200,000 Turfway Mar 20 2021
Lexington Stakes ​1 1⁄8 miles $200,000 Keeneland Apr 10 2021

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 four finishers. If neither of the top four accept, this place in the starting gate reverts to the horses on the main road to the Derby.

Race Distance Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Ref
Cattleya Sho 1,600 metres
(~1 mile)		 Tokyo Racecourse Nov 28 2020 Lemon Pop Takeru Pegasus Plus Ultra Shin Yomoginesu [22]
Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun 1,600 metres
(~1 mile)		 Kawasaki Racecourse Dec 16 2020 Alain Barows Ranryo O Luce d'Oro Taisei Again [23]
Hyacinth 1,600 metres
(~1 mile)		 Tokyo Racecourse Feb 21 2021
Fukuyru 1,800 metres
(~​1 1⁄8 miles)		 Nakayama Racecourse tba

Note: Cattleya Sho: 1st=10 points; 2nd=4 points; 3rd=2 points; 4th=1 point
Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun: 1st=20 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=4 points; 4th=2 points
Hyacinth: 1st=30 points; 2nd=12 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=3 points
Fukuyru : 1st=40 points; 2nd=16 points; 3rd=8 points; 4th=4 points

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 2020 when the horses are age two, plus three races run on a synthetic surface in early 2021.

Race Distance Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Ref
Royal Lodge Stakes 1 mile Newmarket Sep 26 2020 New Mandate Ontario Cobh Gear Up [24]
Beresford Stakes 1 mile The Curragh Sep 26 2020 High Definition Monaasib Snapraeterea Sir Lucan [25]
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère 1,600 metres
(about 1 mile)		 Longchamp Oct 4 2020 Sealiway Nando Parrado Laws Of Indices Libertine [26]
Vertem Futurity Trophy 1 mile Newcastle Oct 24 2020 Mac Swiney One Ruler Baradar Cobh [27]
Patton Stakes 1 mile Dundalk Mar 1 2021
Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes 1 mile Kempton Park Mar 4 2021
Cardinal Stakes 1 mile Chelmsford City Apr 1 2021

Note:

  • the four races in 2020 for two-year-olds: 1st=10 points; 2nd=4 points; 3rd=2 points; 4th=1 point
  • the first two races in 2021: 1st=20 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=4 points; 4th=2 points
  • The Cardinal Condition Stakes: 1st=30 points; 2nd=12 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=3 points

See also
  • 2021 Road to the Kentucky Oaks

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. Petruchio is ahead of Known Agenda and Waspirant in the standings due to higher stakes earned from non-restricted stakes[3]
  4. Horses that ran with medication (Lasix) do not receive any points towards qualification. Senor Buscador, Red N Wild and Saffa's Day received no points from the Springboard Mile.[2]

References
  1. "2020/21 Kentucky Derby Prep Races". Churchill Downs Inc. January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  2. Hall, Gregory A. (8 January 2021). "New Lasix Rule Impacts 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  3. "2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby Point Standings". Bloodhorse.com. 6 February 2021.
  4. "Breeders' Futurity". Equibase. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  5. "Iroquois Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  6. "Sham Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  7. "American Pharoah Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  8. "Champagne Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  9. "Jerome Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  10. "Breeders' Cup Juvenile". Equibase. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  11. "Withers Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  12. "Sam F Davis". Equibase. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  13. "Holy Bull". Equibase. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  14. "Smarty Jones". Equibase. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  15. "Remsen Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  16. "Springboard Mile". Equibase. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  17. "2021 Triple Crown Nominations". TheTripleCrown.com. BloodHorse. February 2021.
  18. "Los Alamitos Futurity". Equibase. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  19. "Lecomte Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  20. "Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  21. "Robert B Lewis". Equibase. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  22. "Cattleya Sho (Result)". Umanity - Japan Racing English results site. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  23. Kieckhefer, Bob (16 December 2020). "Alain Barows Takes Lead in Japan Road to the Derby". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  24. "Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings)". Racing Post. 26 September 2020.
  25. "Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford Stakes (Group 2)". Racing Post. 26 September 2020.
  26. "Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Group 1)". Racing Post. 4 October 2020.
  27. "Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1)". Racing Post. 24 October 2020.
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