Road to the Kentucky Derby Contenders
To earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate, horses will need to earn points in the designated Road to the Derby races.
Mystik Dan draped in the garland of roses (Photo by Horsephotos/Getty Images)
What is the Road to the Kentucky Derby?
The Road to the Kentucky Derby, sponsored by Woodford Reserve, is a series of races where the top five horses in each race earn points. The 18 horses with the most points will get a spot in the starting gate for the 151st Kentucky Derby, which will take place on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
There are three paths to the Kentucky Derby: the American Road, the Japan Road, and the European/Middle East Road. The Derby prep races start in September and go through mid-April. These races are split into two parts: the Prep Season and the Championship Series. Horses earn points for finishing in the top five, and the Championship Series races give the most points. The horses with the most points, or those who win their international series, will earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate.
2024–2025 Horse Leaderboard
- American
- European - Middle East
- Japan
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RANKHORSEOWNERTRAINERJOCKEYTOTAL POINTS
-
1
D. J. Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables
Mark E. Casse
Ortiz, Jose L.
129
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OWNER D. J. Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables
TRAINER Mark E. Casse
JOCKEY Ortiz, Jose L.
BREEDER Lothenbach Stables Inc
SEX Colt
COLOR Gray or Roan
EARNINGS $1,117,995
-
2
Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, LaPenta, Robert V., Magnier-Lessee, Mrs. John, Smith-Lessee, Derrick and Tabor-Lessee, Michael B.
Michael W. McCarthy
Rispoli, Umberto
122.50
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OWNER Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, LaPenta, Robert V., Magnier-Lessee, Mrs. John, Smith-Lessee, Derrick and Tabor-Lessee, Michael B.
TRAINER Michael W. McCarthy
JOCKEY Rispoli, Umberto
BREEDER Don Alberto Corporation
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $600,000
-
3
SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Masterson, Robert E., Ryan, Tom J., Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine
Bob Baffert
Smith, Mike E.
121.25
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OWNER SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Masterson, Robert E., Ryan, Tom J., Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine
TRAINER Bob Baffert
JOCKEY Smith, Mike E.
BREEDER Kingswood Farm & David Egan
SEX Colt
COLOR Dark Bay or Brown
EARNINGS $476,000
-
4
Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael B. and Smith, Der
Steven M. Asmussen
Rosario, Joel
119
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OWNER Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael B. and Smith, Der
TRAINER Steven M. Asmussen
JOCKEY Rosario, Joel
BREEDER Capital Bloodstock
SEX Colt
COLOR Dark Bay or Brown
EARNINGS $1,395,800
-
OWNER WinStar Farm LLC, CHC, Inc. and Cold Press Racing
TRAINER Brad H. Cox
JOCKEY Saez, Luis
BREEDER Blue Heaven Farm
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $619,400
-
OWNER Godolphin
TRAINER William I. Mott
JOCKEY Franco, Manuel
BREEDER Godolphin
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $548,800
-
OWNER Juddmonte
TRAINER Brad H. Cox
JOCKEY Machado, Luan
BREEDER Juddmonte
SEX Colt
COLOR Gray or Roan
EARNINGS $520,639
-
OWNER Junko Kondo
TRAINER Yukihiro Kato
BREEDER Northern Farm
EARNINGS $72,621
-
OWNER Norman Stables LLC
TRAINER Lonnie Briley
JOCKEY Vargas, Juan P.
BREEDER Hume Wornall & Jay Adcock
SEX Colt
COLOR Dark Bay or Brown
EARNINGS $1,169,500
-
OWNER Terry L. Stephens
TRAINER Ethan W. West
JOCKEY Jareth Loveberry
BREEDER Brereton C. Jones
SEX Colt
COLOR Gray or Roan
EARNINGS $324,400
-
10
SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Masterson, Robert E., Ryan, Tom J., Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine
Bob Baffert
Garcia, Martin
71.25
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OWNER SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Masterson, Robert E., Ryan, Tom J., Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine
TRAINER Bob Baffert
JOCKEY Garcia, Martin
BREEDER Robert Low & Lawana Low
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $1,436,000
-
OWNER Koichi Nishikawa
TRAINER Noriyuki Hori
BREEDER Orpendale/chelston/wynatt & Westerberg Ireland Ulc
EARNINGS $128,341
-
OWNER Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing LLC
TRAINER Brian Lynch
JOCKEY Ortiz, Jose L.
BREEDER Mark Stanley
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $415,310
-
OWNER King, Gus and Estate of Brereton C. Jones
TRAINER Steven M. Asmussen
JOCKEY Prat, Flavien
BREEDER Brereton C. Jones
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $355,000
-
OWNER BC Stables LLC
TRAINER D. Wayne Lukas
JOCKEY Juarez, Nik
BREEDER Candy Meadows LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Chestnut
EARNINGS $335,000
-
OWNER Wathnan Racing
TRAINER H COX BRAD
JOCKEY Gutierrez, Reylu
BREEDER Al Figliolia Westburystables, LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $213,800
-
15
Two Eight Racing, Berry Family Racing LLC and Kaleta Racing
D. Whitworth Beckman
Ramos, Joseph D.
50
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OWNER Two Eight Racing, Berry Family Racing LLC and Kaleta Racing
TRAINER D. Whitworth Beckman
JOCKEY Ramos, Joseph D.
BREEDER John O'Meara
SEX Colt
COLOR Dark Bay or Brown
EARNINGS $156,800
-
OWNER Repole Stable
TRAINER Todd A. Pletcher
JOCKEY Davis, Dylan
BREEDER Katierich Farms
SEX Colt
COLOR Dark Bay or Brown
EARNINGS $140,000
-
17
SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined
Bob Baffert
Smith, Mike E.
46
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OWNER SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined
TRAINER Bob Baffert
JOCKEY Smith, Mike E.
BREEDER SF Bloodstock LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Gray or Roan
EARNINGS $290,000
-
OWNER Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners
TRAINER Wayne M. Catalano
JOCKEY Ortiz, Jose L.
BREEDER Robert Low & Lawana Low
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $180,000
-
19
C2 Racing Stable LLC, Parsard, Ian, Shining Stables LLC and Stefania Farms LLC
Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
Zayas, Edgard J.
40
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OWNER C2 Racing Stable LLC, Parsard, Ian, Shining Stables LLC and Stefania Farms LLC
TRAINER Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
JOCKEY Zayas, Edgard J.
BREEDER Helen Barbazon, Joseph Barbazon &Matalona Thoroughbres,LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $153,250
-
20
C R K Stable LLC and Grandview Equine
John A. Shirreffs
Berrios, Hector Isaac
37.50
BET NOW Learn More OWNER C R K Stable LLC and Grandview Equine
TRAINER John A. Shirreffs
JOCKEY Berrios, Hector Isaac
BREEDER Grandview Equine
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $148,500
-
OWNER Flanagan Racing (Sean Flanagan)
TRAINER Chad C. Brown
JOCKEY Prat, Flavien
BREEDER Rigney Racing, LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $550,000
-
OWNER St. Elias Stable
TRAINER Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.
JOCKEY Franco, Manuel
BREEDER Marylou Whitney Stables LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $137,500
-
OWNER Godolphin, LLC
TRAINER Eoin G. Harty
JOCKEY Velazquez, John R.
BREEDER Godolphin
SEX Colt
COLOR Chestnut
EARNINGS $194,700
-
24
Whitham Thoroughbreds, LLC (Janis R. Whitham)
Ian R. Wilkes
Hernandez Jr., Brian Joseph
30
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OWNER Whitham Thoroughbreds, LLC (Janis R. Whitham)
TRAINER Ian R. Wilkes
JOCKEY Hernandez Jr., Brian Joseph
BREEDER Whitham Thoroughbreds, LLC
SEX Gelding
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $151,900
-
25
Baccari Racing Stable, LLC (Chris Baccari), Dream Walkin Farms, Inc. (Tonni Cove
Kenneth G. McPeek
Russell, Sheldon
29
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OWNER Baccari Racing Stable, LLC (Chris Baccari), Dream Walkin Farms, Inc. (Tonni Cove
TRAINER Kenneth G. McPeek
JOCKEY Russell, Sheldon
BREEDER Green Lantern Stables
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $126,610
-
OWNER Calumet Farm
TRAINER Brad H. Cox
JOCKEY Carmouche, Kendrick
BREEDER Mr. & Mrs. Charles McGinnes
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $189,600
-
OWNER Koichi Yamada
TRAINER Teiichi Konno
BREEDER Nobuyuki Matsumoto
EARNINGS $95,647
-
27
WinStar Farm, LLC (Kenny Troutt), CHC, Inc. (Kit Ng), Pantofel Stable (Len Schle
Todd A. Pletcher
Ortiz Jr., Irad
25
BET NOW Learn More OWNER WinStar Farm, LLC (Kenny Troutt), CHC, Inc. (Kit Ng), Pantofel Stable (Len Schle
TRAINER Todd A. Pletcher
JOCKEY Ortiz Jr., Irad
BREEDER CTR Stables, LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $79,200
-
OWNER Haberman, Aaron and Haberman, Victoria
TRAINER Thomas Drury, Jr.
JOCKEY Moncada, Irving
BREEDER Westbrook Stables LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $102,850
-
29
Godolphin, LLC (Mohammed Al Maktoum, et al.)
Brendan P. Walsh
Machado, Luan
10
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OWNER Godolphin, LLC (Mohammed Al Maktoum, et al.)
TRAINER Brendan P. Walsh
JOCKEY Machado, Luan
BREEDER Godolphin
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $368,750
-
30
Baytown Partnerships and Trawitzki Thoroughbreds LLC
Paul McEntee
Mendez, Marshall
10
BET NOW Learn More OWNER Baytown Partnerships and Trawitzki Thoroughbreds LLC
TRAINER Paul McEntee
JOCKEY Mendez, Marshall
BREEDER Ehris Stables (Chris and Erin Knehr)
SEX Gelding
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $139,773
-
OWNER My Racehorse
TRAINER D. Wayne Lukas
JOCKEY Gaffalione, Tyler
BREEDER Don Alberto Corporation
SEX Colt
COLOR Gray or Roan
EARNINGS $85,360
-
OWNER Albaugh Family Stables, LLC (Dennis Albaugh)
TRAINER Brad H. Cox
JOCKEY Saez, Luis
BREEDER WinStar Farm, LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Chestnut
EARNINGS $4,000
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Fierceness illustrates his laid-back personality (Photo by Alys Emson/Lane's End Farms)
Horse Info to Know
Horse breeds for the Kentucky Derby are Thoroughbred horses and are exclusively bred naturally. The foundation sires for Thoroughbred horses, or founding fathers, are the Darley Arabian (1700), Godolphin Arabian (1724) and Byerly Turk (1679).
No matter when a Thoroughbred horse is born, every Thoroughbred shares the same birthday of January 1st!
Horses can have an affinity to certain track surfaces and conditions. There are horses who thrive on grassy turf and others who may dominate on dirt. In both scenarios, even soft ground versus firm, or sloppy dirt can provide an advantage to horses who may be more comfortable with the changes. Yes, horses will naturally play in water puddles!
Horses who run in the Kentucky Derby are often purchased at horse auctions by their current owners. These sales, such as Keeneland, OBS, or Fasig-Tipton, can conduct horse sales for a specific age or context of the horses; like breeding stock versus two-year-olds in training and mixed age or sex.
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