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.
2025–2026 Horse Leaderboard
- American
- European - Middle East
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RANKHORSEOWNERTRAINERJOCKEYTOTAL POINTS
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OWNER Spendthrift Farm LLC
TRAINER Todd A. Pletcher
JOCKEY Velazquez, John R.
BREEDER Aaron & Marie Jones LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Gray or Roan
EARNINGS $1,657,963
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TRAINER A P O'Brien
JOCKEY Ronan Whelan
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $248,017
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OWNER Wilson, Holly and Wilson, David
TRAINER Vladimir Cerin
JOCKEY Fresu, Antonio
BREEDER Pollock Farms
SEX Ridgling
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $403,000
-
3
Dutch Girl Holdings LLC and Irving Ventures LLC
Jeff Mullins
Berrios, Hector Isaac
13
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OWNER Dutch Girl Holdings LLC and Irving Ventures LLC
TRAINER Jeff Mullins
JOCKEY Berrios, Hector Isaac
BREEDER Sierra Fria Farm LLC
SEX Ridgling
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $292,800
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OWNER Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC
TRAINER Steven M. Asmussen
JOCKEY Gaffalione, Tyler
BREEDER Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $312,426
-
OWNER Mme J. Magnier/M.Tabor/D.Smit
TRAINER A P O'BRIEN
JOCKEY Soumillon, C
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $647,586
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OWNER Gold Square LLC
TRAINER Chad Summers
JOCKEY Rosario, Joel
BREEDER John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock
SEX Colt
COLOR Gray or Roan
EARNINGS $319,000
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OWNER Pin Oak Stud LLC
TRAINER Riley Mott
JOCKEY Torres, Jaime A.
BREEDER Deann Baer & Greg Baer DVM
SEX Colt
COLOR Dark Bay or Brown
EARNINGS $196,181
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OWNER Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum
TRAINER George Boughey
BREEDER Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $141,418
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OWNER Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.
TRAINER Bob Baffert
JOCKEY Prat, Flavien
BREEDER PTK, LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Gray or Roan
EARNINGS $408,000
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8
SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine
Bob Baffert
Ortiz, Jose L.
9
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OWNER SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine
TRAINER Bob Baffert
JOCKEY Ortiz, Jose L.
BREEDER Machmer Hall
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $230,188
-
9
4 G Racing LLC, Day, Gregg, Crain, Steven and Magdalena Racing
Kenneth G. McPeek
Ortiz, Jose L.
8
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OWNER 4 G Racing LLC, Day, Gregg, Crain, Steven and Magdalena Racing
TRAINER Kenneth G. McPeek
JOCKEY Ortiz, Jose L.
BREEDER Becky Pietras
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $154,700
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TRAINER P O'BRIEN AIDEN
JOCKEY Lordan, W M
BREEDER Coolmore
SEX Colt
COLOR Chestnut
EARNINGS $92,253
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OWNER Joseph W. Sutton
TRAINER Eddie Kenneally
JOCKEY Gaffalione, Tyler
BREEDER Edwin Anthony
SEX Colt
COLOR Chestnut
EARNINGS $333,050
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11
Michael E. Pegram, Karl Waston and Paul Weitman
Bob Baffert
Hernandez, Juan J.
5
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OWNER Michael E. Pegram, Karl Waston and Paul Weitman
TRAINER Bob Baffert
JOCKEY Hernandez, Juan J.
BREEDER Twin Oaks Bloodstock
SEX Colt
COLOR Chestnut
EARNINGS $246,000
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12
Brookdale Racing, Inc., Gasaway, Lance and Magdalena Racing
Kenneth G. McPeek
Ortiz Jr., Irad
5
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OWNER Brookdale Racing, Inc., Gasaway, Lance and Magdalena Racing
TRAINER Kenneth G. McPeek
JOCKEY Ortiz Jr., Irad
BREEDER Newstead Corp
SEX Colt
COLOR Dark Bay or Brown
EARNINGS $210,691
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OWNER Wertheimer & Frere
TRAINER C. Head
JOCKEY Guyon, M
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $208,472
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13
Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Pine Racing Stables, Legendary Thoroughbreds, Belmar
Danny Gargan
Carmouche, Kendrick
5
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OWNER Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Pine Racing Stables, Legendary Thoroughbreds, Belmar
TRAINER Danny Gargan
JOCKEY Carmouche, Kendrick
BREEDER Fifth Avenue Bloodstock
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $155,000
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OWNER Wathnan Racing
TRAINER Andrew Balding
BREEDER Cheveley Park Stud Limited
SEX Colt
COLOR Chestnut
EARNINGS $149,954
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TRAINER P O'BRIEN AIDEN
JOCKEY Soumillon, C
SEX Colt
COLOR Chestnut
EARNINGS $149,271
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OWNER Aga Khan Studs Sc
TRAINER H GRAFFARD F
JOCKEY Barzalona, M
BREEDER His Highness the Aga Khan's Studs S.C.
SEX Colt
COLOR Chestnut
EARNINGS $123,424
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OWNER Dream Big Racing, LLC
TRAINER Kenneth G. McPeek
JOCKEY Esquivel, Emmanuel
BREEDER Woodford Thoroughbreds, LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $107,350
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15
Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael B. and Smith, Derrick
Bob Baffert
Prat, Flavien
3
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OWNER Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael B. and Smith, Derrick
TRAINER Bob Baffert
JOCKEY Prat, Flavien
BREEDER Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $96,000
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OWNER OXO Equine LLC
TRAINER William Walden
JOCKEY Saez, Luis
BREEDER OXO Equine LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $87,581
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OWNER G.Pariente/G.Augustin-Normand
TRAINER J-C ROUGET
JOCKEY M Grandin
BREEDER 2 0 Guy Pariente Holding Sprl
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $199,862
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17
Paradise Farms Corp., Staudacher, David, Turman Racing Stable LLC and Skychai Racing LLC
Michael J. Maker
Ortiz Jr., Irad
2
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OWNER Paradise Farms Corp., Staudacher, David, Turman Racing Stable LLC and Skychai Racing LLC
TRAINER Michael J. Maker
JOCKEY Ortiz Jr., Irad
BREEDER Mt Brilliant Farm & Ranch, LLC & The Curlin Syndicate
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $101,943
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OWNER Green With MV Stable
TRAINER Patrick L. Biancone
JOCKEY Ocasio, Jonathan
BREEDER Dominique Damico
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $94,137
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OWNER Double Down Horse Racing
TRAINER Thomas M. Amoss
JOCKEY Saez, Luis
BREEDER South Gate Farm, LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Dark Bay or Brown
EARNINGS $85,000
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OWNER Great Friends Stables and Davis, Mark D.
TRAINER Doug F. O'Neill
JOCKEY Dettori, Lanfranco
BREEDER St. Simon Place LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Dark Bay or Brown
EARNINGS $70,000
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OWNER Mag Racing LLC
TRAINER Greg Compton
JOCKEY Rodriguez, Jaime
BREEDER Woods Edge Farm, LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Chestnut
EARNINGS $56,438
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TRAINER P KEATLEY ADRIAN
JOCKEY McSweeney, O
BREEDER Tally-Ho Stud
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $48,591
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OWNER Godolphin
TRAINER Charlie Appleby
BREEDER Godolphin
SEX Colt
COLOR Gray
EARNINGS $21,244
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OWNER Kaleem Shah, Inc.
TRAINER Steven M. Asmussen
JOCKEY Asmussen, Keith J.
BREEDER Richard Bremer & Cheryl Sprick
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $121,300
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OWNER Yeguada Centurion Slu
TRAINER P. Olave Valdivielso
JOCKEY Madamet, A
BREEDER Yeguada Centurion S.L.
SEX Colt
COLOR Chestnut
EARNINGS $109,504
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OWNER Shadwell Stable
TRAINER Andrew McKeever
JOCKEY Morales, Edgar
BREEDER Shadwell Farm, LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $98,439
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OWNER Bizzack, Gary and Bizzack, Tiffany
TRAINER Anthony Mitchell
JOCKEY Saez, Luis
BREEDER Brandywine Farm & Jim & PamRobinson
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $82,564
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TRAINER John & Thady Gosden
JOCKEY Murphy, O
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $77,048
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OWNER Tabor/Smith/Magnier/Westerberg/Brant
TRAINER A P O'BRIEN
BREEDER C. O. P. Hanbury
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $74,489
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26
SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined
Brittany T. Russell
Rispoli, Umberto
1
BET NOW Learn More OWNER SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined
TRAINER Brittany T. Russell
JOCKEY Rispoli, Umberto
BREEDER Albaugh Family Stables LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $69,600
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Sovereignty with jockey Junior Alvarado up in the Kentucky Derby winners circle.
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 152nd Kentucky Derby, which will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
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.
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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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