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
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ENTRIESHORSEOWNERTRAINERCURRENT ODDSMORNING LINE ODDS
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OWNER Whitham Thoroughbreds LLC
TRAINER Ian R. Wilkes
JOCKEY Hernandez Jr., Brian Joseph
BREEDER Whitham Thoroughbreds, LLC.
SEX Gelding
COLOR Bay
JOCKEY Hernandez Jr., Brian Joseph
EARNINGS $927,425
TOTAL POINTS 130
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2
D. J. Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables
Mark E. Casse
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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
JOCKEY Ortiz, Jose L.
EARNINGS $1,117,995
TOTAL POINTS 129
-
3
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
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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
JOCKEY Rispoli, Umberto
EARNINGS $600,000
TOTAL POINTS 122.50
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4
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
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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
JOCKEY Smith, Mike E.
EARNINGS $476,000
TOTAL POINTS 121.25
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5
Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael B. and Smith, Der
Steven M. Asmussen
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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
JOCKEY Rosario, Joel
EARNINGS $1,395,800
TOTAL POINTS 119
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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
JOCKEY Saez, Luis
EARNINGS $619,400
TOTAL POINTS 110
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OWNER Godolphin
TRAINER William I. Mott
JOCKEY Franco, Manuel
BREEDER Godolphin
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
JOCKEY Franco, Manuel
EARNINGS $548,800
TOTAL POINTS 110
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OWNER Juddmonte
TRAINER Brad H. Cox
JOCKEY Machado, Luan
BREEDER Juddmonte
SEX Colt
COLOR Gray or Roan
JOCKEY Machado, Luan
EARNINGS $446,400
TOTAL POINTS 100
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OWNER Norman Stables LLC
TRAINER Lonnie Briley
JOCKEY Vargas, Juan P.
BREEDER Hume Wornall & Jay Adcock
SEX Colt
COLOR Dark Bay or Brown
JOCKEY Vargas, Juan P.
EARNINGS $1,169,500
TOTAL POINTS 95
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OWNER Terry L. Stephens
TRAINER Ethan W. West
JOCKEY Jareth Loveberry
BREEDER Brereton C. Jones
SEX Colt
COLOR Gray or Roan
JOCKEY Jareth Loveberry
EARNINGS $324,400
TOTAL POINTS 75
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11
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
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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
JOCKEY Garcia, Martin
EARNINGS $1,436,000
TOTAL POINTS 71.25
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OWNER Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing LLC
TRAINER Brian Lynch
JOCKEY Ortiz, Jose L.
BREEDER Mark Stanley
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
JOCKEY Ortiz, Jose L.
EARNINGS $430,935
TOTAL POINTS 65
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OWNER Godolphin, LLC
TRAINER Brendan P. Walsh
JOCKEY Machado, Luan
BREEDER Godolphin
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
JOCKEY Machado, Luan
EARNINGS $612,500
TOTAL POINTS 60
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OWNER King, Gus and Estate of Brereton C. Jones
TRAINER Steven M. Asmussen
JOCKEY Prat, Flavien
BREEDER Brereton C. Jones
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
JOCKEY Prat, Flavien
EARNINGS $355,000
TOTAL POINTS 60
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OWNER BC Stables LLC
TRAINER D. Wayne Lukas
JOCKEY Juarez, Nik
BREEDER Candy Meadows LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Chestnut
JOCKEY Juarez, Nik
EARNINGS $335,000
TOTAL POINTS 55
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16
Two Eight Racing, Berry Family Racing LLC and Kaleta Racing
D. Whitworth Beckman
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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
JOCKEY Ramos, Joseph D.
EARNINGS $156,800
TOTAL POINTS 50
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OWNER Repole Stable
TRAINER Todd A. Pletcher
JOCKEY Davis, Dylan
BREEDER Katierich Farms
SEX Colt
COLOR Dark Bay or Brown
JOCKEY Davis, Dylan
EARNINGS $140,000
TOTAL POINTS 50
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18
SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Masterson, Robert E., Ryan, Tom J., Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine
Bob Baffert
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OWNER SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket 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 SF Bloodstock LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Gray or Roan
JOCKEY Smith, Mike E.
EARNINGS $290,000
TOTAL POINTS 46
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OWNER Koichi Nishikawa
TRAINER Noriyuki Hori
BREEDER Orpendale/chelston/wynatt & Westerberg Ireland Ulc
EARNINGS $128,341
TOTAL POINTS 70
-
OWNER Junko Kondo
TRAINER Yukihiro Kato
BREEDER Northern Farm
EARNINGS $72,621
TOTAL POINTS 100
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OWNER Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners
TRAINER Wayne M. Catalano
JOCKEY Ortiz, Jose L.
BREEDER Robert Low & Lawana Low
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
JOCKEY Ortiz, Jose L.
EARNINGS $180,000
TOTAL POINTS 45
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22
C2 Racing Stable LLC, Parsard, Ian, Shining Stables LLC and Stefania Farms LLC
Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
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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
JOCKEY Zayas, Edgard J.
EARNINGS $153,250
TOTAL POINTS 40
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23
Baccari Racing Stable LLC, Dream Walkin Farms, Inc., MJM Racing and Rocket Ship Racing
Kenneth G. McPeek
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OWNER Baccari Racing Stable LLC, Dream Walkin Farms, Inc., MJM Racing and Rocket Ship Racing
TRAINER Kenneth G. McPeek
JOCKEY Russell, Sheldon
BREEDER Green Lantern Stables
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
JOCKEY Russell, Sheldon
EARNINGS $163,172
TOTAL POINTS 39
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OWNER C R K Stable LLC and Grandview Equine
TRAINER John A. Shirreffs
JOCKEY Berrios, Hector Isaac
BREEDER Grandview Equine
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
JOCKEY Berrios, Hector Isaac
EARNINGS $100,000
TOTAL POINTS 37.50
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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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