Ultimate Road to the Kentucky Derby Racing Guide 2018-2019

Apr 14, 2019 TwinSpires

Road to the Kentucky Derby

Ultimate Racing Guide for North American Kentucky Derby Prep Races

How will you select which horse will win the 2019 Kentucky Derby? The information below will help by providing information, analysis and past performances on the path 21,000 Thoroughbreds take towards becoming a select 20 contenders and one winner on the first Saturday in May each year.

Looking for the current Ultimate Guide for the Kentucky Derby season, then click here!

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KENTUCKY DERBY PREP SEASON (2018-2019)

IROQUOIS
September 15, 2018
Points 10-4-2-1

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SHAM
January 5, 2019
Points 10-4-2-1

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AMERICAN PHAROAH
September 29, 2018
Points 10-4-2-1

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LECOMTE
January 19, 2019
Points 10-4-2-1

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CHAMPAGNE
October 6, 2018
Points 10-4-2-1

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SMARTY JONES
January 25, 2019
Points 10-4-2-1

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BREEDERS' FUTURITY
October 6, 2018
Points 10-4-2-1

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ROBERT B. LEWIS
February 2, 2019
Points 10-4-2-1

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BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE
November 2, 2018
Points 20–8–4–2

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WITHERS
February 2, 2019
Points 10-4-2-1

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KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB
November 24, 2018
Points 10-4-2-1

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HOLY BULL
February 2, 2019
Points 10-4-2-1

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REMSEN
December 1, 2018
Points 10-4-2-1

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SAM F. DAVIS
February 9, 2019
Points 10-4-2-1

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LOS ALAMITOS FUTURITY
December 8, 2018
Points 10-4-2-1

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EL CAMINO REAL DERBY
February 16, 2019
Points 10-4-2-1

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SPRINGBOARD MILE
December 16, 2018
Points 10-4-2-1

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SOUTHWEST
February 18, 2019
Points 10-4-2-1

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JEROME
January 1, 2019
Points 10-4-2-1

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KENTUCKY DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON (2018-2019)

RISEN STAR
February 16, 2019
Points 50-20-10-5

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SUNLAND DERBY
March 24, 2019
Points 50-20-10-5

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FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
March 2, 2019
Points 50-20-10-5

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UAE DERBY
March 30, 2019
Points 100-40-20-10

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GOTHAM
March 9, 2019
Points 50-20-10-5

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FLORIDA DERBY
March 30, 2019
Points 100-40-20-10

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TAMPA BAY DERBY
March 9, 2019
Points 50-20-10-5

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WOOD MEMORIAL
April 6, 2019
Points 100-40-20-10

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JEFF RUBY STEAKS
March 9, 2019
20-8-4-2

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BLUE GRASS
April 6, 2019
Points 100-40-20-10

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REBEL (DIVISION 1)
March 16, 2019
Points 37.5-15-7.5-3.5

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SANTA ANITA DERBY
April 6, 2019
Points 100-40-20-10

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REBEL (DIVISION 2)
March 16, 2019
Points 37.5-15-7.5-3.5

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ARKANSAS DERBY
April 13, 2019
Points 100-40-20-10

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LOUISIANA DERBY
March 23, 2019
Points 100-40-20-10

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LEXINGTON STAKES
April 13, 2019
Points 20-8-4-2

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Full schedule for the 2018-2019 Road to the Kentucky Derby


KENTUCKY DERBY STATS AND NUMBERS
Road to the Kentucky Derby Top 20 Point Earners
Rank Horse Points Owner(s) Trainer Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings
1 Tacitus 100 Juddmonte Farms Inc. (Prince Khalid Abdullah) Bill Mott $610,000
2 Omaha Beach 54 Fox Hill Farm (Rick Porter) Richard Mandella $1,050,000
3 Vekoma 110 R. A. Hill Stable (Randy Hill) & Gatsas Stables (Gatsas) George Weaver $747,600
4 Plus Que Parfait 104 Imperial Racing LLC (Michael Foley) Brendan Walsh $1,540,400
5 Roadster 100 Speedway Stable LLC (Peter Fluor & K.C. Weiner) Bob Baffert $636,000
6 By My Standards 100 Allen Racing Stables LLC (Chester Thomas) Bret Calhoun $600,000
7 Maximum Security 100 Gary & Mary West Jason Servis $582,800
8 Game Winner 85 Gary & Mary West Bob Baffert $1,810,000
9 Code of Honor 74 William S. Farish Shug McGaughey $432,070
10 Haikal 70 Shadwell Stables (Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum) Kiaran McLaughlin $322,500
11 Improbable 65 WinStar Farm LLC (Kenny Troutt), China Horse Club International Ltd. (Ah Khing Teo) & Starlight Racing (Jack Wolf et al) Bob Baffert $589,520
12 War of Will 60 Gary Barber Mark Casse $450,840
13 Long Range Toddy 53.5 Willis Horton Racing LLC Steve Asmussen $833,334
14 Tax 52 R. A. Hill Stable (Randy Hill), Reeves Thoroughbred Racing (Dean & Patti Reeves), Hugh Lynch & Corms Racing Stable (Lucas Stritsman) Danny Gargan $307,500
15 Cutting Humor 50 Starlight Racing (Jack Wolf) Todd Pletcher $462,467
16 Win Win Win 50 Live Oak Plantation (Charlotte C. Weber) Mike Trombetta $316,000
17 Country House 50 Mrs. J.V. Shields, E.J.M McFadden Jr. & LNJ Foxwoods (Larry, Nanci & Jamie Roth) Bill Mott $220,000
18 Gray Magician 41 Wachtel Stable (Adam Wachtel), Eclipse Thoroughbred Parnters (Aron Wellman) & Gary Barber Peter Miller $526,000
19 Spinoff 40 Wertheimer et Frere (Alain & Gerard Wertheimer) Todd Pletcher $224,000
20 Master Fencer (Jpn) JPN
RTKD
Katsumi & Yasuyo Yoshizawa Koichi Tsunoda $234,392
last updated April 13, 2019        

Full listing of Kentucky Derby point standing updates PDF library


Last Race BRIS Speed/Class Ratings by Kentucky Derby Qualifiers
Rank Horse Speed Rating Class Rating Last Race (finish)
1 Tacitus 103 120.9 Wood Memorial (1st)
2 Omaha Beach 99 122.5 Arkansas Derby (1st)
3 Vekoma 101 121.5 Blue Grass (1st) 
4 Plus Que Parfait N/A N/A U.A.E. Derby (1st)
5 Roadster 98 120.1 Santa Anita Derby (1st)
6 By My Standards 102 120.2 Louisiana Derby (1st)
7 Maximum Security 102 121.3 Florida Derby (1st)
8 Game Winner 97 119.6 Santa Anita Derby (2nd)
9 Code of Honor 95 117.9 Florida Derby (3rd)
10 Haikal 98 118.6 Wood Memorial (3rd)
11 Improbable 98 121.8 Arkansas Derby (2nd)
12 War of Will 89 115.1 Louisiana Derby (9th)
13 Long Range Toddy 83 116.6 Arkansas Derby (6th)
14 Tax 101 120.0 Wood Memorial (2nd)
15 Cutting Humor 99 117.7 Sunland Derby (1st)
16 Win Win Win 97 119.4 Blue Grass (2nd)
17 Country House 92 119.1 Arkansas Derby (3rd)
18 Gray Magician N/A N/A U.A.E. Derby (2nd)
19 Spinoff 102 119.5 Louisiana Derby (2nd)
20 Master Fencer (JPN) N/A N/A Fukuryu (1st)

*last updated April 13, 2019 


KELLIE REILLY'S TALES FROM THE CRIB

Plus Que Parfait
Vekoma
Mucho Gusto
Country House
Tacitus
Improbable
Game Winner
War of Will

JOHN MUCCIOLO'S ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY HORSE PROFILES

Master Fencer
Plus Que Parfait
Maximum Security
Cutting Humor
By My Standards
Long Range Toddy
Omaha Beach
Somelikeithotbrown
Tacitus
Haikal
Code of Honor
Galiean
Super Steed (Dick Powell)
Well Defined
Gray Attempt
Tax
Harvey Wallbanger
Mucho Gusto
War of Will
Improbable (Kellie Reilly)
Maximus Mischief (Kellie Reilly)
Signalman (Kellie Reilly)
Game Winner (Kellie Reilly)
Complexity (Kellie Reilly)
Knicks Go (Kellie Reilly)
Cairo Cat

KENTUCKY DERBY ANALYSIS AND EXPERT OPINION

Road to the Kentucky Derby Reports by James Scully

Omaha Beach continues to surge
Baffert, Mott & paddling Blue Grass winner
Wide open with four major preps remaining
Major qualifiers begin with an upset
Rebel yields close finishes
Tacitus steps up for Mott
Code of Honor rebounds, Bourbon War finishes fast
Fountain of Youth begins key stretch
War of Will keeps rolling at Fair Grounds
Risen Star kicks off Championship Season
Favorite falters in Holy Bull
Speed reigns in Smarty Jones
War of Will aces Lecomte test
Lecomte in the spotlight
Two Derby legends on my mind

Road to the Kentucky Derby picks and best bets

2019 Federico Tesio Study Guide
The 2019 Federico Tesio Stakes is the Best Bet of the Weekend
The 2019 Arkansas Derby is the Best Bet of the Weekend
2019 Blue Grass Stakes is the Best Bet of the Weekend
The 2019 Florida Derby is the Best Bet of the Weekend
The 2019 Louisiana Derby is the Best Bet of the Weekend
Second division of the 2019 Rebel Stakes is the Best Bet of the Weekend
Gotham is the Best Bet of the Weekend
Fountain of Youth is the Best Bet of the Weekend
Risen Star offers up a more than 'perfect' Best Bet of the Weekend
The 2019 Sam F. Davis Stakes is the Best Bet of the weekend
Holy Bull Stakes is the Best Bet of the weekend
The Smarty Jones Stakes is the Best Bet of the weekend
War of Will in Lecomte the best bet of the weekend
Cold Sham exacta is the Best bet of the weekend
Banking on the weekend's best bet
A 'very good' best bet of the weekend
Receiving the 'Signal' for the Weekend's Best Bet
Breeders' Futurity and Champagne selections from our experts
The Vosburgh offers a 'Hint' to the best bet of the weekend
Iroquois selections from our experts
Hog Creek Hustle could be the Iroquois Stakes best bet
Top 10 preview as the Road to the Kentucky Derby gets underway

Kentucky Derby Future Wager

Roadster bet down as favorite in final pool of 2019 Kentucky Derby Future Wager
Game Winner, Maximum Security 8-1 co-morning line favorites in Pool 4 of Kentucky Derby Future Wager
'All Others' 9-2 Favorite, Improbable, Game Winner 6-1 second choice in Pool 3 of Kentucky Derby Future Wager
Baffert's Game Winner, Improbable head Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 3; Oaks Future Wager runs concurrently with Oaks/Derby Future double
'All Others' 5-2 favorite, Juvenile champ Game Winner 5-1 at conclusion of Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2
'All Others' 6-5 favorite, Breeders' Cup Juvenile champ Game Winner 5-1 in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1
Horses to consider in Pool 1 of the 2019 Kentucky Derby Future Wager

ON POINTS: What to know on the Road to the Kentucky Derby

ADDITIONAL KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS

Churchill Downs emphasizes safety ahead of 2019 Kentucky Derby
Pioneerof the Nile, Kentucky Derby runner-up and sire of American Pharoah, dead at 13
MEEHAN: Churchill Downs announces official menu of the 145th Kentucky Derby paired with inaugural at-home Derby party menu & recipes
KERSTEIN: Impressive maiden winner Hoffa's Union tops four late Triple Crown nominees
MEEHAN: Kentucky Derby releases 2019 'Official Art' by Kentucky artist Rhonda McEnroe
MEEHAN: Christine Moore is featured Milliner of 145th Kentucky Derby
Baccarat, the Icon of Exquisite Moments of Celebration, becomes a proud sponsor of the 145th Kentucky Derby
MEEHAN: Churchill Downs, Derby Divas and Norton Cancer Institute open nominations to walk in Survivors Parade at 14th Longines Kentucky Oaks
REILLY: Mucho Gusto provides boost to historically precarious sire line
QUEK: Super Bowl vs. Kentucky Derby
REILLY: Justify honored as Horse of the Year at Eclipse Awards gala
Early Triple Crown nominations due Saturday
Kentucky Derby purse raised to $3 million
Kentucky Oaks winner Abel Tasman sells for $5 million
REILLY: Best 2018 Kentucky Derby prep: Justify hurls Bolt in Santa Anita Derby
NBC Sports & Churchill Downs to debut Road to the Kentucky Derby Magazine series in Spring 2019
REILLY: Which Breeders' Cup Juvenile trend will go down this year?
REILLY: Game Winner still perfect in Breeders’ Cup WAYI American Pharoah
SCULLY: Accelerate meets returning West Coast in Awesome Again; Game Winner tops five-horse American Pharoah
MUCCIOLO: Ten things to know for the weekend of racing
GENARO: Complexity scores effortless wire victory in Champagne
REILLY: Tentative Kentucky Derby Top 10 ahead of Breeders' Cup Juvenile preps
MUCCIOLO: Five best Kentucky Derby trips
ROGERS: Road to the Kentucky Derby Begins Saturday with Iroquois at Churchill Downs
REILLY: Opry bursts onto stage as versatile two-year-old to follow
KRISTUFEK: Ten two-year-old colts to get excited about
MUCCIOLO: Sapling, Affirmed have proven to be hotbeds of early Kentucky Derby potential
REILLY: Instagrand and Call Paul raise their Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Kentucky Derby profiles

International Kentucky Derby News

Bye Bye Hong Kong prevails in Cardinal, European Road finale
European Road to Kentucky Derby invitation up for grabs in Cardinal
Japan Road concludes with Der Flug winning Fukuryu
Plus Que Parfait edges Gray Magician in UAE Derby
Divine Image the one to beat in UAE Derby
Thunder Snow second in return; Kentucky Oaks candidate Divine Image thrashes boys in Dubai
Thunder Snow, Gronkowski square off in Dubai World Cup prep
Course specialists win European Road to the Kentucky Derby series preps
O'Brien still holds strong hand in rescheduled Patton
Spanish Mission faces streaking Jahbath in European Road to the Kentucky Derby race at Kempton
O'Brien enters three in Patton as European Road resumes
Oval Ace stays unbeaten in Hyacinth on Japan Road
Triple Crown nominees Derma Louvre, Master Fencer cross swords in Hyacinth at Tokyo
O'Brien seven among 11 European-based Triple Crown nominees
Godolphin, Phoenix Ladies have Triple Crown nominees in Dubai
Derma Louvre tops Japan's 2019 Triple Crown nominees
Walking Thunder storms into UAE Derby picture as Royal Marine Stalls
Royal Marine set for dirt test in UAE 2000 Guineas Trial
Nova Lenda new Japan Road leader after Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun
California-bred Make Happy bests boys as heavy favorite in Cattleya Sho
Four American-breds in line-up for Cattleya Sho in Japan Road kickoff
European Road leader Royal Marine's one to watch on Kentucky Derby trail
Magna Grecia edges Phoenix of Spain in Vertem Futurity Trophy
Magna Grecia, Turgenev clash in Vertem Futurity Trophy
Royal Marine sweeps past Broome in Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere 
Anodor aims to defend home turf in Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere
Japan conquers Mount Everest in Beresford
MUCCIOLO: The Beresford Stakes: Play Pythion as a longshot
Mohawk tops O’Brien trifecta in Royal Lodge
European Road to Kentucky Derby begins with Royal Lodge

International Road to the Kentucky Derby Profiles

European Road to the Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Royal Marine
European Road to the Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Japan
European Road to the Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Mohawk

Want to back a favorite horse running in a Kentucky Derby prep race? Each of the races found on this page are available for wagering at TwinSpires.com!

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