Kentucky Derby Horses & Contenders Leaderboard
To earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate, horses will need to earn points in the designated Road to the Derby races.
2026–2027 Horse Leaderboard: The Road to the Kentucky Derby
The 2026–2027 Horse Leaderboard tracks Kentucky Derby contenders as they earn points through designated prep races around the world. Use the leaderboard to follow each horse’s standing, compare points and earnings, place bets on specific horses, and explore horse profiles to learn more about the runners shaping the path to the Kentucky Derby. Find more performance data on TwinSpires.
Get more information about the three paths to the Kentucky Derby and how horses earn a spot at the starting gate here.
2026–2027 Horse Leaderboard
- American
- European - Middle East
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RANKHORSEOWNERTRAINERJOCKEYTOTAL POINTS
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1
WinStar Farm LLC, First Go Racing and CHC, Inc.
Todd A. Pletcher
Velazquez, John R.
10
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OWNER WinStar Farm LLC, First Go Racing and CHC, Inc.
TRAINER Todd A. Pletcher
JOCKEY Velazquez, John R.
BREEDER Alpha Delta Stables, LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Chestnut
EARNINGS $461,213
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OWNER Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.
TRAINER Bob Baffert
JOCKEY Geroux, Florent
BREEDER Newstead Corp
SEX Colt
COLOR Dark Bay or Brown
EARNINGS $392,172
-
OWNER Team Valor International LLC
TRAINER Claude R. McGaughey III
JOCKEY Franco, Manuel
BREEDER Team Valor International
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $352,050
-
OWNER P Brant,Coolmore,Westerberg,B Smith
TRAINER Aidan O'Brien
JOCKEY Moore, R L
BREEDER D.J. Stables & Justify Syndicate
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $305,454
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TRAINER A P O'BRIEN
JOCKEY Lordan, W M
SEX Colt
COLOR Chestnut
EARNINGS $101,740
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4
Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck), Shamrock Stables and Mackin, Michael J.
Kenneth G. McPeek
Ortiz, Jose L.
5
BET NOW Learn More OWNER Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck), Shamrock Stables and Mackin, Michael J.
TRAINER Kenneth G. McPeek
JOCKEY Ortiz, Jose L.
BREEDER Tall Oaks Farm & Tapit Syndicate
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $220,463
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5
Tanglewood Thoroughbreds LLC, Thirty Year Racing, Bradley Thoroughbreds, Rodeo Creek Racing LLC, Laura Leigh Stable and Swift Thoroughbreds, Inc.
Chad C. Brown
Prat, Flavien
5
BET NOW Learn More OWNER Tanglewood Thoroughbreds LLC, Thirty Year Racing, Bradley Thoroughbreds, Rodeo Creek Racing LLC, Laura Leigh Stable and Swift Thoroughbreds, Inc.
TRAINER Chad C. Brown
JOCKEY Prat, Flavien
BREEDER Coteau Grove Farms, LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $163,250
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OWNER Purple Rein Racing (Buss) and Davis, Mark D.
TRAINER Doug F. O'Neill
JOCKEY Rosario, Joel
BREEDER Pope McLean, Marc McLean & Pope McLeanJr.
SEX Ridgling
COLOR Dark Bay or Brown
EARNINGS $151,050
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TRAINER P. Twomey
JOCKEY Lee, W J
BREEDER John Connaughton
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $56,579
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OWNER Exors of the Late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid
TRAINER K R BURKE
JOCKEY Lee, C
BREEDER Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $54,511
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7
Spendthrift Farm LLC and Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc.
Brad H. Cox
Alvarado, Junior
3
BET NOW Learn More OWNER Spendthrift Farm LLC and Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc.
TRAINER Brad H. Cox
JOCKEY Alvarado, Junior
BREEDER GRS & Bob Baffert
SEX Colt
COLOR Dark Bay or Brown
EARNINGS $127,438
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8
Ribble Farms, Three Brand Racing LLC and Walmac Farm
D. Whitworth Beckman
Zayas, Edgard J.
3
BET NOW Learn More OWNER Ribble Farms, Three Brand Racing LLC and Walmac Farm
TRAINER D. Whitworth Beckman
JOCKEY Zayas, Edgard J.
BREEDER Gary Broad - Walmac Farm, LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Dark Bay or Brown
EARNINGS $123,250
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OWNER CHC, Inc.
TRAINER William Walden
JOCKEY Prat, Flavien
BREEDER CHC INC.
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $89,062
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OWNER Mr Saeed Suhail
TRAINER Andrew Balding
JOCKEY Murphy, O
BREEDER White Birch Farm SC
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $43,881
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TRAINER A P O'BRIEN
JOCKEY Whelan, R P
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $25,618
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10
Commonwealth Stable, Rivers Thoroughbreds, On Our Own Stable LLC and Stewart, Dallas
Dallas Stewart
Corrales, Gerardo
2
BET NOW Learn More OWNER Commonwealth Stable, Rivers Thoroughbreds, On Our Own Stable LLC and Stewart, Dallas
TRAINER Dallas Stewart
JOCKEY Corrales, Gerardo
BREEDER Charles Fipke
SEX Colt
COLOR Gray or Roan
EARNINGS $135,870
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11
Bayview Stables (Jim Demetri), Mark Edwards and Mike Trout
Kenneth G. McPeek
Esquivel, Emmanuel
2
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OWNER Bayview Stables (Jim Demetri), Mark Edwards and Mike Trout
TRAINER Kenneth G. McPeek
JOCKEY Esquivel, Emmanuel
BREEDER Louisiana Leasing, LLC & Rollins
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $56,775
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OWNER Amo Racing USA LLC
TRAINER Jorge Delgado
JOCKEY Santana Jr., Ricardo
BREEDER John C. Oxley
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $54,600
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OWNER Godolphin
TRAINER Charlie Appleby
JOCKEY Buick, W
BREEDER Airlie Stud & Mrs S. Rogers
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $43,372
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TRAINER A P O'BRIEN
JOCKEY Keane, C T
BREEDER ELB Bloodstock Ltd
SEX Colt
COLOR Chestnut
EARNINGS $30,584
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OWNER Godolphin
TRAINER Charlie Appleby
JOCKEY Loughnane, B
BREEDER 1ind. 0 N. Singforthemoment 2024
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $131,793
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OWNER D. J. Stable LLC
TRAINER Mark E. Casse
JOCKEY Ortiz Jr., Irad
BREEDER Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd.
SEX Colt
COLOR Chestnut
EARNINGS $121,256
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OWNER Next Level Stables
TRAINER Antonio Arriaga
JOCKEY Davis, Katie
BREEDER Charles F. Engel
SEX Colt
COLOR Chestnut
EARNINGS $77,238
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OWNER KMN Racing LLC
TRAINER Patrick L. Biancone
JOCKEY Asmussen, Keith J.
BREEDER KMN RACING, LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $34,865
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16
Front Row Club LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor Racing LLC, Albaugh Family Stables, LLC, Masterson, Robert E., Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine
Bob Baffert
Hernandez, Juan J.
10
BET NOW Learn More OWNER Front Row Club LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor Racing LLC, Albaugh Family Stables, LLC, Masterson, Robert E., Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine
TRAINER Bob Baffert
JOCKEY Hernandez, Juan J.
BREEDER Breffni Farm
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $480,000
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OWNER Reddam Racing LLC
TRAINER Antonio C. Garcia
JOCKEY Espinoza, Victor
BREEDER Reddam Racing LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Gray or Roan
EARNINGS $191,800
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OWNER Baoma Corp
TRAINER Bob Baffert
JOCKEY Kimura, Kazushi
BREEDER Baoma Corp
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $96,000
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OWNER Cicero Farms LLC
TRAINER Bob Baffert
JOCKEY Smith, Mike E.
BREEDER Cicero Farms LLC
SEX Colt
COLOR Bay
EARNINGS $72,000
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25
Pegram, Michael E., Watson, Karl and Weitman, Paul
Bob Baffert
Rosario, Joel
3
BET NOW Learn More OWNER Pegram, Michael E., Watson, Karl and Weitman, Paul
TRAINER Bob Baffert
JOCKEY Rosario, Joel
BREEDER Stoneview Farm, Inc.
SEX Colt
COLOR Dark Bay or Brown
EARNINGS $96,000
Golden Tempo wins the 152nd Kentucky Derby (Photo by Doug Beigie)
What is the Road to the Kentucky Derby?
Each year, 20 Thoroughbred horses have a once in a lifetime chance to run in 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 153rd Kentucky Derby, which will take place on Saturday, May 1, 2027.
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 in the American Road and those who win their international series in the Japan and European/Middle East Road, will earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate.
Stay Up To Date With The Latest News & Horses
Read here for the latest updates around the Kentucky Derby.
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Fierceness illustrates his laid-back personality (Photo by Alys Emson/Lane's End Farms)
General Kentucky Derby Horse Info
The only horses eligible to compete in the Kentucky Derby are Thoroughbreds, which are exclusively bred naturally. The foundation sires for Thoroughbred horses, or founding fathers, are 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 in the Kentucky Derby must be exactly three years old by the first Saturday in May in order to be eligible to compete
Derby contenders may be geldings, colts, or fillies and each horse 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. Track conditions matter just as much with certain horses gaining an advantage depending on whether the track is good, wet fast, muddy, or sloppy.
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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