With prep season over, Kentucky Derby field nearly set

Apr 17, 2018 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

The Road to the Kentucky Derby series is completed and, barring any hiccups, the field of 20 for Kentucky Derby 144 is now known.

At the weekend, Magnum Moon (#1, 150 points) delivered a powerful effort to take the Arkansas Derby (G1). The additional 100 points moved him to the top of the leader board, but had no material effect on his participation in the Churchill Downs classic having already qualified via a previous win in the Rebel (G2).

By virtue of earning 20 additional qualifying points by taking the Lexington (G3) by a head, My Boy Jack (#14, 52) assured himself a spot in the starting gate and is no longer 'on the bubble.' The same goes for Solomini (#12, 54), who earned an additional 20 points for finishing third in the Arkansas Derby.

The withdrawal of Sunland Derby (G3) winner Runaway Ghost from Kentucky Derby consideration due to injury enabled Firenze Fire (#19, 39) to move up the leader board and ensure a spot with the final spot reserved for Gronkowski, the point leader in the European Road to the Kentucky Derby series.

Among the horses needing one or more defections between now and Derby week are Combatant (#21, 32), Snapper Sinclair (#22, 22), Reride (#23, 20), Dream Baby Dream (#24, 20), and Restoring Hope (#25, 20).

Scheduled for May 5, the Kentucky Derby entry and post-position draw will occur on Tuesday, May 1.