2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby

Thoroughbred horse racing series From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby is a series of races through which horses qualified for the 2026 Kentucky Derby, which will be held on May 2. 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 ten 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 2026, the main Road to the Kentucky Derby resembled the 2025 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 without any changes:[a]

The following changes were introduced to the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby with three new events were added:[2]

With the addition of more qualifying events the top two qualifiers will gain a place in the starting field.[3]

Standings

The following table shows the points earned in the eligible races for the main series.[3] Entrants that have been nominated are ranked in the standings.[4]

As of 29 April 2026
More information Rank, Horse ...
Rank[3] Horse Points Earnings[b] Trainer Owner Ref
1 Commandment 150 $943,020 Brad H. Cox Wathnan Racing [5]
2 Further Ado 135 $1,068,095 Brad H. Cox Spendthrift Farm [6]
3 Renegade 125 $1,002,500 Todd A. Pletcher Robert & Lawana Low & Repole Stable [7]
4 So Happy 115 $444,000 Mark Glatt Norman Stables & Saints or Sinners [8]
5 - scratched[c] Fulleffort 110 $507,900 Brad H. Cox St. Elias Stable & Starlight Racing [10]
6 The Puma 106 $428,000 Gustavo Delgado OGMA Investments, JR Ranch & High Step Racing [11]
7 - scratched[d] Silent Tactic 100 $1,020,130 Mark E. Casse John C. Oxley [13]
8 Emerging Market 100 $600,000 Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables [14]
9 Albus 100 $400,000 Riley Mott Pin Oak Stud [15]
10 Potente 100 $220,000 Bob Baffert Speedway Stables [8]
11 Pavlovian 70 $527,000 Doug F. O'Neill Reddam Racing [16]
12 - scratched[e] Right to Party[f] 65 $176,000 Kenneth G. McPeek Chester Broman Sr. [18]
injured[g] Paladin 60 $437,500 Chad C. Brown Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Peter Brant, Brook T. Smith & Summer Wind Equine [7]
13 Incredibolt 60 $424,570 Riley Mott Pin Oak Stud [20]
14 Golden Tempo 60 $300,000 Cherie DeVaux Phipps Stable & St. Elias Stable [21]
bypassing[h] Ottinho 56 $267,750 Chad C. Brown Three Chimneys Farm [23]
injured[i] Class President 50 $569,700 Todd A. Pletcher WinStar Farm, First Go Racing & China Horse Club [25]
bypassing[j] Stark Contrast 50 $439,900 Michael McCarthy Amerman Racing [27]
bypassing[k] Iron Honor 50 $182,500 Chad C. Brown St. Elias Stable, William H. Lawrence & Glassman Racing [18]
15 Chief Wallabee 50 $175,800 William I. Mott Michael & Katherine Bell [5]
bypassing[l] Chip Honcho 49 $190,000 Steven M. Asmussen Leland Ackerley Racing [30]
injured[m] Ted Noffey 40 $1,602,963 Todd A. Pletcher Spendthrift Farm [32]
16 Intrepido 38 $290,000 Jeff Mullins Dutch Girl Holdings & Irving Ventures [33]
bypassing[3] Universe 38 $244,650 Kenneth G. McPeek Four G Racing, Gregg Day & Steven Crain [34]
bypassing[3] Grittiness 36 $150,000 Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable [7]
bypassing[3] Talkin 35 $233,625 Danny Gargan Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Pine Racing Stables, Legendary Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing & Breeding & R. A. Hill Stable [34]
bypassing[3] Nearly 35 $220,450 Todd A. Pletcher Centennial Farms [35]
bypassing[3] Bravaro 35 $118,700 Saffie Joseph Jr. Albert Ciuffetelli, Stephanie S. Brennan, Shining Stables, BAG Racing Stables & Paul Braverman [35]
17 Litmus Test 34 $429,688 Bob Baffert SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan [36]
18 Danon Bourbon Japan $221,246 Manabu Ikezoe Danox Co. Ltd. [3]
19 Wonder Dean (JPN) E/ME[n] $725,172 Daisuke Takayanagi Yoshinari Yamamoto [3]
20 Six Speed E/ME $314,366 Bhupat Seemar Brunetti Dugan Stables, Black Type Thoroughbreds, Steve Adkisson, Swinbank Stables [3]
21 Great White 30 $117,440 John Eniss Three Chimneys Farm & John Ennis [10]
not nominated[4] Crown the Buckeye 28 $73,500 Michael J. Maker Paradise Farms, David Staudacher & Hooties Racing [30]
bypassing[3] Napoleon Solo 25 $286,520 Chad Summers Gold Square [34]
bypassing[3] Blackout Time 25 $237,875 Kenneth G. McPeek Brookdale Racing, Lance Gasaway & Magdalena Racing [32]
not nominated[4] Taptastic 25 $138,750 Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds & Stonestreet Stables [37]
not nominated[4] Medici 25 $94,950 Richard Mandella Perry R. & Ramona S. Bass [27]
22 Ocelli 25 $80,200 Whitworth D. Beckman Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate & Front Page Equestrian [15]
not nominated[4] Vitruvian Man 25 $60,000 Doug F. O'Neill Glenn Sorgenstein WC Racing [38]
23 Robusta 25 $41,000 Doug F. O'Neill Calumet Farm [8]
bypassing[3] Plutarch 23 $140,000 Bob Baffert Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor [33]
bypassing[3] Bricklin 21 $135,250 Rodolphe Brisset Imagine Racing [16]
bypassing[3] Trendsetter 20 $309,462 Ben Colebrook Midway Racing [39]
bypassing[3] Express Kid[o] 20 $308,800 Justin Evans Bradley James & Sharon Kleven [41]
bypassing[3] Talk to Me Jimmy 20 $135,000 Rudy R. Rodriguez SEI Thoroughbreds & Rudy R. Rodriguez [23]
not nominated[4] Wayne's Law 20 $134,700 Amador Merei Sanchez Baalbek Corp. [11]
bypassing[3] Soldier N Diplomat 18 $258,350 Steven M. Asmussen St. Elias Stable [6]
bypassing[3] Confessional 17 $66,500 Brad H. Cox Steve Landers Racing [42]
bypassing[3] Buetane 16 $212,500 Bob Baffert Zedan Racing Stables [13]
bypassing[3] Secured Freedom 16 $24,000 Tim Yakteen Leslie A.& Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr. & Roger K. Beasley [43]
injured[p] Mr. A. P. 15 $340,000 Vladimir Cerin Holly & David Wilson [36]
bypassing[3] Solitude Dude 15 $190,470 Saffie Joseph Jr. Chris Fountoukis [5]
bypassing[3] Creole Chrome 15 $48,750 Joe Sharp Gulf Haven Farms [45]
bypassing[3] Stop the Car 15 $39,975 Brendan P. Walsh Trade Winds Farm [27]
injured[q] Canaletto 15 $35,000 Chad C. Brown Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Peter Brant & Brook T. Smith [46]
bypassing[3] Brant 14 $364,000 Bob Baffert Zedan Racing Stables [36]
bypassing[3] Balboa[r] 14 $144,000 Brittany T. Russell SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan [33]
bypassing[3] Spice Runner 11 $247,426 Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds [47]
bypassing[3] Carson Street 11 $35,000 Brendan P. Walsh Ike & Dawn Thrash [21]
bypassing[3] Argos 10 $265,160 Brad H. Cox David S. Romanik, Warren Cheekes, Deborah K. Dougherty, C2 Racing Stable, BAG Racing Stable & Robert Liedel [27]
bypassing[3] Strategic Risk 10 $204,500 Mark E. Casse John C. Oxley [48]
bypassing[3] My World 10 $165,000 Brad H. Cox Robert LaPenta & Madaket Stables [49]
bypassing[3] The Hell We Did 10 $95,200 Todd Fincher Peacock Family Racing Stable [39]
bypassing[3] Redland Rebels 10 $89,400 Patrick Biancone Calypso Racing Stables 2022 [46]
injured[s] Mesquite 10 $50,000 Cherie DeVaux LBD Stable [21]
not nominated[4] Exhibition Only 10 $23,000 Rudy R. Rodriguez SEI Thoroughbreds & Rudy R. Rodriguez [18]
bypassing[3] Start The Ride 10 $10,500 Dan Blacker Harris Farms [38]
bypassing[3] Desert Gate 9 $216,000 Bob Baffert Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman [33]
bypassing[3] Baytown Dreamer 7 $171,109 Paul McEntee Baytown Partnerships [48]
bypassing[3] Maximus Prime 7 $81,411 Anthony Mitchell Gary & Tiffany Bizzack [47]
bypassing[3] Very Connected 6 $42,525 Kenneth G. McPeek Dream Big Racing [20]
24 Corona de Oro 6 $38,000 Dallas Stewart On Our Own Stable, Commonwealth Stable, U Racing Stables, Saints or Sinners, Titletown Racing, Jim Nichols, Edwin S. Barker, Daiel Rivers, John Haines & Dallas Stewart [39]
not nominated[4] I Did I Did 6 $30,175 Michael J. Maker Paradise Farms, David Staudacher, Turman Racing Stable & Skychai Racing [20]
bypassing[3] Project Ace 6 $24,750 Dale L. Romans Albaugh Family Stables [35]
bypassing[3] Comport 5 $264,050 Eddie Kenneally Joseph W. Sutton [47]
bypassing[3] Rancho Santa Fe 5 $83,750 Brad H. Cox Gary & Mary West [48]
bypassing[3] Arctic Beast 5 $60,000 Michael J. Maker Paradise Farms, JP Racing Stable, David Staudacher, Zilla Racing Stables & Jennifer Rice [41]
bypassing[3] Blacksmith 5 $50,000 Bob Baffert Wathnan Racing [51]
euthanized[52] Liberty National 5 $45,000 Kenneth G. McPeek Brookdale Racing & Fern Circle Stables [30]
bypassing[3] Lockstocknpharoah 5 $15,000 Thomas Drury Jr. Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate & Front Page Equestrian [42]
not nominated[4] Daneyko 4 $90,450 Edward Kereluk Roys Mansur [16]
bypassing[3] Quality Mischief 4 $16,000 Brad H. Cox West Paces Racing & Donegal Racing [30]
bypassing[3] Cannoneer 4 $12,375 Brad H. Cox St. Elias Stable & Stonestreet Stables [35]
bypassing[3] Schoolyardsuperman 4 $12,000 Chad C. Brown Hit The Bid Racing Stable & CMNWLTH [23]
bypassing[3] Game for It 4 $10,000 Chad Summers Gold Square, Wynnstay & Chad Summers [11]
not nominated[4] Royalamerican 3 $33,000 C. R. Trout C. R. Trout [41]
not nominated[4] Vost 3 $28,875 William Walden OXO Equine [47]
bypassing[3] Provenance 3 $24,000 Bob Baffert Spendthrift Farm [51]
bypassing[3] Enforced Agenda 3 $18,000 George Weaver St. Elias Stable [49]
bypassing[3] Cherokee Nation 3 $14,305 Bob Baffert SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan [6]
not nominated[4] Diciassette 2 $75,762 Patrick L. Biancone Green With MV Stable [32]
bypassing[3] Steel Imperium 2 $54,470 Caio Caramori LCI [10]
bypassing[3] Civil Liberty 2 $54,000 Doug F. O'Neill Great Friends Stables & Mark D. Davis [33]
bypassing[3] Courting 2 $42,500 Todd A. Pletcher Whisper Hill Farm, Stonestreet Stables and Windancer Farm [7]
bypassing[3] Sleepingonfreedom 2 $38,875 Kenneth G. McPeek Dream Big Racing & Magdalena Racing [48]
bypassing[3] Acknowledgemeplz 2 $36,000 Doug F. O'Neill Purple Rein Racing & Mark D. Davis [51]
bypassing[3] Circle Tap 2 $33,000 Dallas Stewart Willis Horton Racing [13]
bypassing[3] It's Our Time 2 $30,000 Thomas M. Amoss Double Down Horse Racing [34]
not nominated[4] Western Man 2 $18,000 Joe Offotler Bart D. & Sandra A. Howard [41]
bypassing[3] Forty Twenty 2 $14,850 Robertino Diodoro Randy Howg [16]
bypassing[3] Nothing Personal 2 $14,438 Gregory Compton Mag Racing [47]
not nominated[4] Star Sweeper 2 $11,000 Louis C. Linder Jr. Bran Jam Stable & David W. Clark [23]
not nominated[4] Freedom's Echo 2 $9,000 Guadalupe Preciado Nicholas Cammarano Jr. [49]
bypassing[3] Global Aviator 2 $7,425 Rohan G. Crichton Special Aviators [35]
bypassing[3] Epic Desire 2 $7,200 Todd A. Pletcher Epic Horses [11]
not nominated[4] Stradale 1 $42,500 Steven M. Asmussen Kaleem Shah [34]
not nominated[4] Way Beyond 1 $14,000 Steven M. Asmussen Ed & Susie Orr [41]
not nominated[4] Ganaas 1 $11,655 Andrew McKeever Shadwell Stable [20]
bypassing[3] American King 1 $4,000 Ruben Gomez Gary J. Folgner [51]
Close

Legend:
  Qualified for the Derby
  Also eligible
  Scratched
  Injured/Bypassing/Inactive/Not nominated

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)

More information Race, Distance ...
Race Distance Purse Grade Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Iroquois 1 mile $299,400 3 Churchill Downs Sep 13 2025 Spice Runner Comport Vost Nothing Personal Maximus Prime [47]
Champagne 1 mile $500,000 1 Aqueduct Oct 4 2025 Napoleon Solo Talkin Universe It's Our Time Stradale [34]
American Pharoah 1+1⁄16 miles $300,500 1 Santa Anita Oct 4 2025 Intrepido Desert Gate Plutarch Civil Liberty Balboa [33]
Breeders' Futurity 1+1⁄16 miles $642,594 1 Keeneland Oct 4 2025 Ted Noffey Blackout Time Litmus Test Diciassette Spice Runner [32]
Street Sense 1+1⁄16 miles $200,000 3 Churchill Downs Oct 26 2025 Incredibolt Universe Very Connected I Did I Did Ganaas [20]
Breeders' Cup Juvenile 1+1⁄16 miles $1,760,000 1 Del Mar Oct 31 2025 Ted Noffey Mr. A. P. Brant Litmus Test Intrepido [36]
Kentucky Jockey Club 1+1⁄16 miles $400,000 2 Churchill Downs Nov 29 2025 Further Ado Universe Soldier N Diplomat Very Connected Cherokee Nation [6]
Remsen 1+1⁄8 miles $250,000 2 Aqueduct Dec 6 2025 Paladin Renegade Balboa Courting Grittiness [7]
Los Alamitos Futurity 1+1⁄16 miles $200,500 2 Los Alamitos Dec 13 2025 Litmus Test Blacksmith Provenance Acknowledgemeplz American King [51]
Gun Runner Stakes 1+1⁄16 miles $100,000 Listed Fair Grounds Dec 20 2025 Chip Honcho Liberty National Crown the Buckeye Quality Mischief Very Connected [30]
Springboard Mile 1 mile $300,000 Listed Remington Dec 20 2025 Express Kid Arctic Beast Royalamerican Western Man Way Beyond [41]
Jerome[t] 1 mile $139,500 Black-Type Aqueduct Jan 3 2026 My World Balboa Enforced Agenda Freedom's Echo — [49]
Smarty Jones 1 mile $250,000 Listed Oaklawn Jan 3 2026 Strategic Risk Silent Tactic Baytown Dreamer Sleepingonfreedom Rancho Santa Fe [48]
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Select prep events

Note: 1st=20 points; 2nd=10 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points

More information Race, Distance ...
Race Distance Purse Grade Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Lecomte 1+1⁄16 miles $250,000 3 Fair Grounds Jan 17 2026 Golden Tempo Mesquite Carson Street Chip Honcho Quality Mischief [21]
Holy Bull 1 mile $267,500 3 Gulfstream Jan 31 2026 Nearly Bravaro Project Ace Cannoneer Global Aviator [35]
Withers[u] 1+1⁄8 miles $200,000 Listed Aqueduct Feb 6 2026 Talk to Me Jimmy Grittiness Ottinho Schoolyardsuperman Star Sweeper [23]
Southwest[v] 1+1⁄16 miles $1,000,000 3 Oaklawn Feb 6 2026 Silent Tactic Soldier N Diplomat Buetane Rancho Santa Fe Circle Tap [13]
Sam F. Davis Stakes 1+1⁄16 miles $210,000 Listed Tampa Bay Feb 7 2026 Renegade Wayne's Law The Puma Game For It Epic Desire [11]
Robert B. Lewis 1 mile $101,000 3 Santa Anita Feb 7 2026 Plutarch Intrepido Secured Freedom Desert Gate Cherokee Nation [43]
Sunland Park Derby 1+1⁄16 miles $500,000 Listed Sunland Park Feb 15 2026 Pavlovian Express Kid Bricklin Daneyko Forty Twenty [16]
John Battaglia Memorial Stakes 1+1⁄16 miles $174,835 Listed Turfway Feb 21 2026 Great White Fulleffort Maximus Prime Baytown Dreamer Steel Imperium [10]
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Championship series events

First leg of series

Note: 1st=50 points; 2nd=25 points; 3rd=15 points; 4th=10 points; 5th=5 points

More information Race, Distance ...
Race Distance Purse Grade Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Risen Star 1+1⁄8 miles $495,000 2 Fair Grounds Feb 14 2026 Paladin Chip Honcho Golden Tempo Universe Carson Street [55]
Gotham 1 mile $300,000 3 Aqueduct Feb 28 2026 Iron Honor Crown the Buckeye Right to Party Exhibition Only Balboa [18]
Fountain of Youth 1+1⁄16 miles $400,000 2 Gulfstream Feb 28 2026 Commandment Chief Wallabee Solitude Dude Bravaro Napoleon Solo [5]
Rebel 1+1⁄16 miles $1,000,000 2 Oaklawn Mar 1 2026 Class President Silent Tactic Litmus Test Blackout Time Soldier N Diplomat [25]
Tampa Bay Derby 1+1⁄16 miles $350,000 3 Tampa Bay Mar 7 2026 The Puma Further Ado Canaletto Redland Rebels Talkin [46]
San Felipe 1+1⁄16 miles $201,000 2 Santa Anita Mar 7 2026 Potente Robusta So Happy Secured Freedom Brant [8]
Virginia Derby 1+1⁄8 miles $506,000 Black-Type Colonial Downs Mar 14 2026 Incredibolt Grittiness Confessional Buetane Lockstocknpharoah [42]
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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
with the exception of the Lexington Stakes; 1st=20 points; 2nd=10 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points

More information Race, Distance ...
Race Distance Purse Grade Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Jeff Ruby 1+1⁄8 miles $777,000 3 Turfway Mar 21 2026 Fulleffort Stark Contrast Medici Stop The Car Argos [27]
Louisiana Derby 1+3⁄16 miles $1,000,000 2 Fair Grounds Mar 21 2026 Emerging Market Pavlovian Golden Tempo Universe Chip Honcho [14]
Florida Derby 1+1⁄8 miles $1,000,000 1 Gulfstream Mar 28 2026 Commandment The Puma Chief Wallabee Nearly Wayne's Law [56]
Arkansas Derby 1+1⁄8 miles $1,500,000 1 Oaklawn Park Mar 28 2026 Renegade Silent Tactic Taptastic Bricklin Blackout Time [37]
Blue Grass Stakes 1+1⁄8 miles $1,237,813 1 Keeneland Apr 4 2026 Further Ado Ottinho Talkin Creole Chrome Great White [45]
Wood Memorial 1+1⁄8 miles $750,000 2 Aqueduct Apr 4 2026 Albus Right to Party Ocelli Bravaro Napoleon Solo [15]
Santa Anita Derby 1+1⁄8 miles $501,000 1 Santa Anita Apr 4 2026 So Happy Potente Vitruvian Man Intrepido Start the Ride [38]
Lexington 1+1⁄8 miles $398,750 3 Keeneland Apr 11 2026 Trendsetter The Hell We Did Corona De Oro I Did I Did Confessional [39]
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Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby

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 two finishers 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 none 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 ten races – In Europe four events run on the turf in late 2025 when the horses are age two, plus two races run on a synthetic surface in early 2026. The last four events are in the Middle East including the Group 2 UAE Derby.

More information Race, Distance ...
Race Distance Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Beresford Stakes 1 mile The Curragh Sep 27 2025 Hawk Mountain Geryon Al Haarith Shaihaan Port of Spain [57]
Royal Lodge Stakes 1 mile Newmarket Sep 27 2025 Bow Echo Humidity Action Pacific Avenue Daytona [58]
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère 1,400 metres
(about 7 furlongs)		 Longchamp Oct 5 2025 Puerto Rico Nighttime Rayif Campacite
Imperial Me Cen[w]		 [59]
Futurity Trophy 1 mile Doncaster Oct 25 2025 Hawk Mountain Action Benvenuto Cellini Rochfortbridge Oxagon [60]
UAE 2000 Guineas 1,600 metres
(about 1 mile)		 Meydan Jan 23 2026 Six Speed Devon Island Union Security Lino Padrino Raajehh [61]
Saudi Derby 1,600 metres
(about 1 mile)		 King Abdulaziz
Racetrack		 Feb 14 2026 Al Haram Obliteration Satono Voyage Wonder Dean Keiai Agito [62]
Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes 1,900 metres
(about 1+3⁄16 miles)		 Meydan Feb 20 2026 Brotherly Love (GB) Duke of Immatin Lino Padrino Sary Shahin Raajehh [63]
European Road to the Kentucky Derby
Conditions Stakes[x]		 1 mile Kempton Park Feb 25 2026 Hidden Force (GB) Venetian Prince Tadej Utmost Good Faith — [64]
Patton Stakes 1 mile Dundalk Feb 27 2026 ƒ Blanc de Blanc Whatchadoin Redemption Road Flanker Jet Outlaw Man [65]
UAE Derby 1,900 metres
(about 1+3⁄16 miles)		 Meydan Mar 28 2026 Wonder Dean (JP) Six Speed Pyromancer (JP) Brotherly Love (GB) Devon Island [66]
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Note:

  • the four races in 2025 for two-year-olds: 1st=10 points; 2nd=5 points; 3rd=3 points; 4th=2 points; 5th=1 point
  • the European Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes, Patton Stakes, UAE Two Thousand Guineas, Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes: 1st=20 points; 2nd=10 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points
  • the Saudi Derby: 1st=30 points; 2nd=15 points; 3rd=9 points; 4th=6 points; 5th=3 points
  • the UAE Derby: 1st=100 points; 2nd=50 points; 3rd=25 points; 4th=15 points; 5th=10 points

ƒ Filly

Qualification Table

The top four horses (colored brown within the standings) are eligible to participate in the Kentucky Derby provided the two horses that can be nominated.

As of 30 March 2026
More information Rank, Horse ...
Rank Horse Points Eligible
Earnings		 Trainer Owner Ref
1 Wonder Dean (JPN) 106 $725,172 Daisuke Takayanagi Yoshinari Yamamoto [62]
2 Six Speed 80 $314,366 Bhupat Seemar Brunetti Dugan Stables, Black Type Thoroughbreds, Steve Adkisson, Swinbank Stables [61]
not nominated[4] Brotherly Love (GB) 35 $180,704 Jamie Osborne Jim & Claire Bryce [63]
not nominated[4] Al Haram (IRE) 30 $900,000 Abdullah Alsidrani Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah [57]
3 Pyromancer (JPN) 30 $445,736 Keiji Yoshimura Godolphin Racing [67]
not nominated[4] Hawk Mountain (IRE) 20 $233,829 Aidan O'Brien Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor [57]
not nominated[4] Devon Island 20 $68,122 Charlie Appleby Godolphin Racing [58]
not nominated[4] Hidden Force (GB)[y] 20 $0 Charlie Appleby Godolphin Racing [64]
not nominated[4] ƒ Blanc de Blanc 20 $0 Robson De Aguiar AMO Racing [65]
bypassing[3] Obliteration 15 $824,250 Steven M. Asmussen Leland Ackerley Racing, James Sherwood, Jode Shupe & John Cilia [62]
bypassing[3] Puerto Rico (IRE) 10 $476,281 Aidan O'Brien Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor [59]
not nominated[4] Bow Echo (IRE) 10 $132,683 George Boughey Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum[z] [58]
not nominated[4] Duke of Immatin 10 $43,568 Musabbeh Al Mheiri Mohamed Eldubeba [63]
bypassing[3] Lino Padrino 10 $41,315 Bhupat Seemar Suited & Booted – My Future Champion Racing [61]
not nominated[4] Whatchadoin (IRE) 10 $1,170 Josh Halley Carly Halley [65]
not nominated[4] Venetian Prince (GB) 10 $0 Andrew Balding Mr. J.C. Smith [64]
not nominated[4] Satono Voyage (JPN) 9 $328,707 Hiroyasu Tanaka Hajime Satomi [62]
not nominated[4] Action (IRE) 8 $76,531 Aidan O'Brien Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor [61]
not nominated[4] Tadej (GB) 6 $60,151 Archie Watson Jinky Farms & Partner [64]
not nominated[4] Union Security 6 $39,061 Ahmad Harmash Mohammed Ahmad Ali Al Subousi [61]
not nominated[4] Redemption Road (GB) 6 $0 David Marnane MRC International [65]
not nominated[4] Nighttime (FR) 5 $182,481 Christine Head Alain & Gérard Wertheimer [59]
not nominated[4] Humidity (GB) 5 $141,313 Andrew Balding Wathnan Racing [58]
not nominated[4] Geryon (IRE) 5 $53,404 Ger Lyons Newtown Anner Stud Farm Ltd. [57]
not nominated[4] Raajehh 4 $12,253 Michael Costa Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum [61]
not nominated[4] Sary Shayan 4 $10,892 Doug Watson Ardak Amirkulov, Shamil Kurbanov, Mamed Kurbanov & Allan Amirkulov [63]
not nominated[4] Flanker Jet (GB) 4 $3,355 Robson De Aguia Giselle De Aguilar [65]
not nominated[4] Utmost Good Faith (GB) 4 $0 George Boughey Middleham Park Racing CXIII & Partner [64]
not nominated[4] Benvenuto Cellini (IRE) 3 $132,508 Aidan O'Brien Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg (Georg von Opel) [60]
not nominated[4] Rayif (IRE) 3 $96,517 Francis-Henri Graffard Princess Zahra Aga Khan [59]
bypassing[3] Keiai Agito (JPN) 3 $45,000 Yukihiro Kato Keiai Stallion Co Ltd. [62]
not nominated[4] Al Haarith (IRE) 3 $12,637 Joseph O’Brien Alwasmiyah/Ballylinch/Umm Al Shukhout [57]
not nominated[4] Pacific Avenue (IRE) 2 $101,881 Charlie Appleby Godolphin Racing [58]
not nominated[4] Rochfortbridge (IRE) 2 $42,052 Adrian Keatley James & Scott Fyffe [60]
not nominated[4] Shaihaan (IRE) 2 $5,616 Donnacha O'Brien Al Shaqab Racing [57]
not nominated[4] Outlaw Man 2 $0 M.D. O’Callaghan Chad Schumer [65]
not nominated[4] Campacite (FR) 1.5 $86,561 Jean-Claude Rouget Ecurie Friedrider [59]
not nominated[4] Imperial Me Cen (IRE) 1.5 $77,222 Patrik Olave Valdivielso Yeguada Centurion Slu [59]
not nominated[4] Oxagon (FR) 1 $68,852 John & Thady Gosden Prince A. A. Faisal [60]
not nominated[4] Daytona (IRE) 1 $62,230 Aidan O'Brien Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Westerberg (Georg von Opel) & Peter M. Bran [58]
not nominated[4] Port of Spain (IRE) 1 $9,100 Aidan O'Brien Westerberg (Georg von Opel), Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith [57]
Close

Legend:
  Can qualify for the Derby
  Injured/Bypassing/Inactive/Not nominated

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 five finishers.

More information Race, Distance ...
Race Distance Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Cattleya Stakes 1,600 metres
(~1 mile)		 Tokyo Racecourse Nov 29 2025 Satono Voyage Don Erectus Arcadia Cafe ƒ Every Possible Ho O Luxor [69]
Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun 1,600 metres
(~1 mile)		 Kawasaki Racecourse Dec 17 2025 Pyromancer ƒ Tamamo Freesia Best Green Ayasan Jotaro Cosmo Gigantea [70]
Hyacinth 1,600 metres
(~1 mile)		 Tokyo Racecourse Feb 22 2026 Lucky Kid Don Erectus Itterasshai Boku Mada Nemuiyo Your Felicity [71]
Fukuryu 1,800 metres
(~1+1⁄8 miles)		 Nakayama Racecourse Mar 28 2026 Danon Bourbon Don Erectus Charlie Itterasshai Sunrise Kevin [72]
Close

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

Qualification Table

The top four horses (colored brown within the standings) are eligible to participate in the Kentucky Derby provided the horse is nominated.

As of 30 March 2026
More information Rank, Horse ...
Rank Horse Points Eligible
Earnings		 Trainer Owner Ref
not nominated[4] Don Erectus (JPN) 40 $257,896 Noboru Takagi Koichi Yamada [69]
1 Danon Bourbon 40 $221,246 Manabu Ikezoe Danox Co. Ltd. [72]
bypassing[3] Lucky Kid (JPN) 30 $228,417 Yukihiro Kato Godolphin Racing [71]
2 Pyromancer (JPN) 20 $496,606 Keiji Yoshimura Godolphin Racing [70]
bypassing[3] Itterasshai (JPN) 17 $99,154 Makoto Saito SNS Group Co. Ltd. [72]
not nominated[4] Charlie (JPN) 12 $160,955 Takeshi Okumura Masaru Shimada [72]
not nominated[4] Satono Voyage (JPN) 10 $387,431 Hiroyasu Tanaka Hajime Satomi [69]
not nominated[4] ƒ Tamamo Freesia (JPN) 10 $371,765 Yuki Ohashi Tamamo [70]
bypassing[3] Best Green (JPN) 6 $242,388 Junji Tanaka Guoxin Taixiu [70]
not nominated[4] Boku Mada Nemuiyo (JPN) 6 $101,851 Akishi Higashida Hikaru Odagiri [71]
not nominated[4] Sunrise Kevin (JPN) 4 $129,007 Osamu Hirata Takao Matsuoka [72]
not nominated[4] Ayasan Jotaro (JPN) 4 $118,817 Junji Tanaka Yoshitomo Takayama [70]
bypassing[3] Arcadia Cafe (JPN) 3 $82,738 Noriyuki Hori Koichi Nishikawa [69]
not nominated[4] Your Felicity (JPN) 3 $74,316 Naoto Chiba Yoshiaki Tanaka [71]
not nominated[4] ƒ Every Possible (JPN) 2 $118,164 Koichi Shintani G1 Racing Co. Ltd. [69]
not nominated[4] Idaten Shacho 2 $58,250 Hiroaki Kawazu Miki House HK Service Co. Ltd. [70]
not nominated[4] Ho O Luxor (JPN) 1 $59,303 Toru Kurita Yoshihisa Ozasa [69]
Close

Legend:
  Can qualify for the Derby
  Injured/Bypassing/Inactive/Not nominated

Notes

  1. [a]
    See the following list[1] for details
  2. [b]
    Earnings from non-restricted stakes prior to the running of the Kentucky Derby serve as a tie-breaker.
  3. [c]
    Fulleffort was scratched from the event on Thursday, April 30, two days before the event after returning from a workout and "off" in his left hind leg. X-rays reaveal a small bone chip.[9]
  4. [d]
    Silent Tactic was scratched from the event on Wednesday, April 29, three days before the event after developing a bruised foot.[12]
  5. [e]
    Right to Party was scratched immediately before the deadline on Friday, May 1, after regulatory veterinarians concluded that there may have been clinical signs disposing Right to Party to injury should he have run in the Derby.[17]
  6. [f]
    Connections of Right to Party paid the $6,000 late nomination fee
  7. [g]
    Paladin was sidelined from the Kentucky Derby trail after suffering a non-displaced condylar fracture of his right front ankle during preparations for the Blue Grass Stakes.[19]
  8. [h]
    Connections of Ottinho have indicated that he will bypass the Kentucky Derby in preference for the Preakness Stakes of the Peter Pan Stakes[22]
  9. [i]
    After scratching from the Blue Grass, Class President's connections announced that the colt had developed bone bruising and would skip the Triple Crown.[24]
  10. [j]
    Connections of Stark Contrast indicated that he would bypass the Kentucky Derby in preference of the G1 American Turf Stakes on the same racecard[26]
  11. [k]
    Connections of Iron Honor have indicated that the horse will bypass the Kentucky Derby in preference to The Preakness Stakes[28]
  12. [l]
    Trainer Steven Asmussen indicated after Chip Honcho's training run on April 25, that he would bypass the Kentucky Derby and aim for the Preakness Stakes[29]
  13. [m]
    Connections of Ted Noffey announced that the horse was off the Derby trail after developing bone bruising[31]
  14. [n]
    European/Middle East qualifier
  15. [o]
    Before January 12, 2026 Express Kid was trained by Wade Rarick and owned by Steve Haahr[40]
  16. [p]
    Mr. A. P.'s trainer Vladimir Cerin announced that the horse is injured and that he is doubtful that the horse will be ready to run in the Kentucky Derby.[44]
  17. [q]
    Trainer Chad Brown announced that Canaletto would be sidelined until the fall with an undisclosed injury.[19]
  18. [r]
    Before November 2025 Balboa was trained by Bob Baffert
  19. [s]
    Mesquite was taken off the Kentucky Derby trail due to a soft tissue injury[50]
  20. [t]
    There were only four starters in the 2026 Jerome Stakes.
  21. [u]
    Originally scheduled for January 31st, the Withers was moved to February 6th due to inclement weather caused by Winter Storm Fern.[53]
  22. [v]
    Like the Withers, the Southwest was postponed from January 31st to February 6th due to inclement weather.[54]
  23. [w]
    Dead heat for fourth place
  24. [x]
    There were only four starters in the 2026 European Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes
  25. [y]
    Hidden Force is ahead of Blanc de Blanc due to more career earnings.
  26. [z]
    Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum died 29 December 2025[68]

References

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