2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby

The 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby is a series of races through which horses qualified for the 2026 Kentucky Derby, which will be held on May 2. The field for the Derby was limited to 20 horses, with up to four 'also eligibles' in case of a late withdrawal from the field. There were three separate paths for horses to take to qualify for the Derby: the main Road consisting of races in North America, the Japan Road consisting of four races in Japan, and the Euro/MidEast road consisting of ten races in England, Ireland, United Arab Emirates and France. The top five finishers in the specified races received points, with higher points awarded in the major prep races in March and April. Earnings in non-restricted stakes races acted as a tie breaker.

For 2026, the main Road to the Kentucky Derby resembled the 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby, consisting of 36 races, with 20 races for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and 16 races for the Kentucky Derby Championship Season without any changes:[a]

The following changes were introduced to the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby with three new events were added:[2]

With the addition of more qualifying events the top two qualifiers will gain a place in the starting field.[3]

Standings

The following table shows the points earned in the eligible races for the main series.[3]

As of as of 21 December 2025
Rank[3] Horse Points Earnings[b] Trainer Owner Ref
1 Ted Noffey 40 $1,602,963 Todd A. Pletcher Spendthrift Farm [4]
2 Litmus Test 19 $302,188 Bob Baffert Zedan Racing Stables [5]
3 Mr. A. P. 15 $340,000 Vladimir Cerin Holly & David Wilson [5]
4 Intrepido 13 $240,000 Jeff Mullins Dutch Girl Holdings & Irving Ventures [6]
5 Universe 13 $178,400 Kenneth G. McPeek Four G Racing, Gregg Day & Steven Crain [7]
6 Spice Runner 11 $247,426 Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds [8]
7 Napoleon Solo 10 $275,000 Chad Summers Gold Square [7]
8 Further Ado 10 $272,470 Brad H. Cox Spendthrift Farm [9]
9 Express Kid 10 $199,900 Wade Rarick Steve Haahr [10]
10 Paladin 10 $137,500 Chad C. Brown Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Peter Brant, Brook T. Smith & Summer Wind Equine [11]
11 Incredibolt 10 $122,070 Riley Mott Pin Oak Stud [12]
12 Chip Honcho 10 $60,000 Steven M. Asmussen Leland Ackerley Racing [13]
13 Brant 9 $360,000 Bob Baffert SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan [5]
14 Very Connected 6 $42,525 Kenneth G. McPeek Dream Big Racing [12]
15 Comport 5 $264,050 Eddie Kenneally Joseph W. Sutton [8]
16 Desert Gate 5 $210,000 Bob Baffert Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman [6]
17 Blackout Time 5 $128,375 Kenneth G. McPeek Brookdale Racing, Lance Gasaway & Magdalena Racing [4]
18 Talkin 5 $101,250 Danny Gargan Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Pine Racing Stables, Legendary Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing & Breeding & R. A. Hill Stable [7]
19 Arctic Beast 5 $60,000 Michael J. Maker Paradise Farms, JP Racing Stable, David Staudacher, Zilla Racing Stables & Jennifer Rice [10]
20 Renegade 5 $50,000 Todd A. Pletcher Robert & Lawana Low & Repole Stable [11]
21 Blacksmith 5 $40,000 Bob Baffert Wathnan Racing [14]
22 Liberty National 5 $20,000 Kenneth G. McPeek Brookdale Racing & Fern Circle Stables [13]
23 Balboa[c] 4 $102,000 Brittany T. Russell SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan [6]
24 Soldier N Diplomat 3 $57,350 Steven M. Asmussen St. Elias Stable [9]
25 Plutarch 3 $56,000 Bob Baffert Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor [6]
26 Royalamerican 3 $33,000 C. R. Trout C. R. Trout [10]
27 Vost 3 $28,875 William Walden OXO Equine [8]
28 Provenance 3 $24,000 Bob Baffert Spendthrift Farm [14]
29 Crown the Buckeye 3 $11,000 Michael J. Maker Paradise Farms, David Staudacher & Hooties Racing [13]
30 Diciassette 2 $68,337 Patrick L. Biancone Green With MV Stable [4]
31 Civil Liberty 2 $54,000 Doug F. O'Neill Great Friends Stables & Mark D. Davis [6]
32 It's Our Time 2 $30,000 Thomas M. Amoss Double Down Horse Racing [7]
33 Western Man 2 $18,000 Joe Offotler Bart D. & Sandra A. Howard [10]
34 Courting 2 $15,000 Todd A. Pletcher Whisper Hill Farm, Stonestreet Stables and Windancer Farm [11]
35 Nothing Personal 2 $14,438 Gregory Compton Mag Racing [8]
36 Acknowledgemeplz 2 $12,000 Doug F. O'Neill Purple Rein Racing & Mark D. Davis [14]
37 I Did I Did 2 $11,175 Michael J. Maker Paradise Farms, David Staudacher, Turman Racing Stable & Skychai Racing [12]
38 Quality Mischief 2 $6,000 Brad H. Cox West Paces Racing & Donegal Racing [13]
39 Maximus Prime 1 $58,262 Anthony Mitchell Gary & Tiffany Bizzack [8]
40 Stradale 1 $42,500 Steven M. Asmussen Kaleem Shah [7]
41 Way Beyond 1 $14,000 Steven M. Asmussen Ed & Susie Orr [10]
42 Cherokee Nation 1 $11,805 Bob Baffert SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan [9]
43 Ganaas 1 $11,655 Andrew McKeever Shadwell Stable [12]
44 Grittiness 1 $10,000 Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable [11]
45 American King 1 $4,000 Ruben Gomez Gary J. Folgner [14]

Legend:

Prep season

Initial prep events

Note: 1st=10 points; 2nd=5 points; 3rd=3 points; 4th=2 points; 5th=1 point (except the Breeders' Cup Juvenile: 1st=30 points; 2nd=15 points; 3rd=9 points; 4th=6 points; 5th=3 points)

The dates for most races shown below are based on the placement in the racing calendar from 2024/2025. Similarly, the purses shown below are based on the amounts from the previous year and will be updated when finalized.

Race Distance Purse Grade Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Iroquois 1 mile $299,400 3 Churchill Downs Sep 13 2025 Spice Runner Comport Vost Nothing Personal Maximus Prime [8]
Champagne 1 mile $500,000 1 Aqueduct Oct 4 2025 Napoleon Solo Talkin Universe It's Our Time Stradale [7]
American Pharoah 1+1⁄16 miles $300,500 1 Santa Anita Oct 4 2025 Intrepido Desert Gate Plutarch Civil Liberty Balboa [6]
Breeders' Futurity 1+1⁄16 miles $642,594 1 Keeneland Oct 4 2025 Ted Noffey Blackout Time Litmus Test Diciassette Spice Runner [4]
Street Sense 1+1⁄16 miles $200,000 3 Churchill Downs Oct 26 2025 Incredibolt Universe Very Connected I Did I Did Ganaas [12]
Breeders' Cup Juvenile 1+1⁄16 miles $1,760,000 1 Del Mar Oct 31 2025 Ted Noffey Mr. A. P. Brant Litmus Test Intrepido [5]
Kentucky Jockey Club 1+1⁄16 miles $400,000 2 Churchill Downs Nov 29 2025 Further Ado Universe Soldier N Diplomat Very Connected Cherokee Nation [9]
Remsen 1+1⁄8 miles $250,000 2 Aqueduct Dec 6 2025 Paladin Renegade Balboa Courting Grittiness [11]
Los Alamitos Futurity 1+1⁄16 miles $200,500 2 Los Alamitos Dec 13 2025 Litmus Test Blacksmith Provenance Acknowledgemeplz American King [14]
Gun Runner Stakes 1+1⁄16 miles $100,000 Listed Fair Grounds Dec 20 2025 Chip Honcho Liberty National Crown the Buckeye Quality Mischief Very Connected [13]
Springboard Mile 1 mile $300,000 Listed Remington Dec 20 2025 Express Kid Arctic Beast Royalamerican Western Man Way Beyond [10]
Smarty Jones 1 mile $300,000 Listed Oaklawn Jan 3 2026
Jerome 1 mile $150,000 Black-Type Aqueduct Jan 3 2026

Select prep events

Note: 1st=20 points; 2nd=10 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points

Race Distance Purse Grade Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Lecomte 1+1⁄16 miles $200,000 3 Fair Grounds Jan 17 2026
Southwest 1+1⁄16 miles $800,000 3 Oaklawn Jan 31 2026
Holy Bull 1 mile $250,000 3 Gulfstream Jan 31 2026
Robert B. Lewis 1 mile $150,000 3 Santa Anita Jan 31 2026
Withers 1+1⁄8 miles $250,000 Listed Aqueduct Jan 31 2026
Sam F. Davis Stakes 1+1⁄16 miles $250,000 3 Tampa Bay Feb 7 2026
Sunland Derby 1+1⁄16 miles $500,000 Listed Sunland Park Feb 15 2026
John Battaglia Memorial Stakes 1+1⁄16 miles $150,000 Listed Turfway Feb 21 2026

Championship series events

First leg of series

Note: 1st=50 points; 2nd=25 points; 3rd=15 points; 4th=10 points; 5th=5 points

Race Distance Purse Grade Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Risen Star 1+1⁄8 miles $400,000 2 Fair Grounds Feb 14 2026
Gotham 1 mile $300,000 3 Aqueduct Feb 28 2026
Fountain of Youth 1+1⁄16 miles $400,000 2 Gulfstream Feb 28 2026
San Felipe 1+1⁄16 miles $400,000 2 Santa Anita Feb 28 2026
Rebel 1+1⁄16 miles $1,250,000 2 Oaklawn Mar 1 2026
Tampa Bay Derby 1+1⁄16 miles $350,000 3 Tampa Bay Mar 7 2026
Virginia Derby 1+1⁄8 miles $500,000 Black-Type Colonial Downs Mar 14 2026

Second leg of series

These races are the major preps for the Kentucky Derby, and are thus weighted more heavily.
Note: 1st=100 points; 2nd=50 points; 3rd=25 points; 4th=15 points; 5th=10 points
with the exception of the Lexington Stakes; 1st=20 points; 2nd=10 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points

Race Distance Purse Grade Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Louisiana Derby 1+3⁄16 miles $1,000,000 2 Fair Grounds Mar 21 2026
Jeff Ruby 1+1⁄8 miles $700,000 3 Turfway Mar 21 2026
Florida Derby 1+1⁄8 miles $1,000,000 1 Gulfstream Mar 28 2026
Arkansas Derby 1+1⁄8 miles $1,500,000 1 Oaklawn Park Mar 28 2026
Blue Grass Stakes 1+1⁄8 miles $1,000,000 1 Keeneland Apr 4 2026
Santa Anita Derby 1+1⁄8 miles $750,000 1 Santa Anita Apr 4 2026
Wood Memorial 1+1⁄8 miles $750,000 2 Aqueduct Apr 4 2026
Lexington 1+1⁄8 miles $400,000 3 Keeneland Apr 11 2026

Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby

The Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby is designed on a similar basis to the Japan Road and is intended to provide a place in the Derby starting gate to the top two finishers in the series. If the connections of that horse decline the invitation, their place is offered to the second-place finisher and so on. If none of the top four accept, this place in the starting gate reverts to the horses on the main road to the Derby.

The series consists of ten races – In Europe four events run on the turf in late 2025 when the horses are age two, plus two races run on a synthetic surface in early 2026. The last four events are in the Middle East including the Group 2 UAE Derby.

Race Distance Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Beresford Stakes 1 mile The Curragh Sep 27 2025 Hawk Mountain Geryon Al Haarith Shaihaan Port of Spain [15]
Royal Lodge Stakes 1 mile Newmarket Sep 27 2025 Bow Echo Humidity Action Pacific Avenue Daytona [16]
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère 1,400 metres
(about 7 furlongs) 		Longchamp Oct 5 2025 Puerto Rico Nighttime Rayif Campacite
Imperial Me Cen[d] 		[17]
Futurity Trophy 1 mile Doncaster Oct 25 2025 Hawk Mountain Action Benvenuto Cellini Rochfortbridge Oxagon [18]
UAE 2000 Guineas 1,600 metres
(about 1 mile) 		Meydan Jan 23 2026
Saudi Derby 1,600 metres
(about 1 mile) 		King Abdulaziz
Racetrack 		Feb 14 2026
Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes 1,900 metres
(about 1+3⁄16 miles) 		Meydan Feb 20 2026
European Road to the Kentucky Derby
Conditions Stakes 		1 mile Kempton Park Feb 25 2026
Patton Stakes 1 mile Dundalk Mar 6 2026
UAE Derby 1,900 metres
(about 1+3⁄16 miles) 		Meydan Mar 28 2026

Note:

  • the four races in 2025 for two-year-olds: 1st=10 points; 2nd=5 points; 3rd=3 points; 4th=2 points; 5th=1 point
  • the European Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes, Patton Stakes, UAE Two Thousand Guineas, Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes: 1st=20 points; 2nd=10 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points
  • the Saudi Derby: 1st=30 points; 2nd=15 points; 3rd=9 points; 4th=6 points; 5th=3 points
  • the UAE Derby: 1st=100 points; 2nd=50 points; 3rd=25 points; 4th=15 points; 5th=10 points

ƒ Filly


Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby

The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby is intended to provide a place in the Derby starting gate to the top finisher in the series. If the connections of that horse decline the invitation, their place is offered to the second-place finisher and so on through the top five finishers.

Race Distance Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Cattleya Stakes 1,600 metres
(~1 mile) 		Tokyo Racecourse Nov 29 2025 Satono Voyage Don Erectus Arcadia Cafe ƒ Every Possible Ho O Luxor [19]
Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun 1,600 metres
(~1 mile) 		Kawasaki Racecourse Dec 17 2025 Pyromancer ƒ Tamamo Freesia Best Green Ayasan Jotaro Cosmo Gigantea [20]
Hyacinth 1,600 metres
(~1 mile) 		Tokyo Racecourse Feb 2 2026
Fukuryu 1,800 metres
(~1+1⁄8 miles) 		Nakayama Racecourse Mar 28 2026

Note:

ƒ Filly
Cattleya Sho: 1st=10 points; 2nd=5 points; 3rd=3 points; 4th=2 points; 5th=1 point
Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun: 1st=20 points; 2nd=10 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points
Hyacinth: 1st=30 points; 2nd=15 points; 3rd=9 points; 4th=6 points; 5th=3 points
Fukuyru: 1st=40 points; 2nd=20 points; 3rd=12 points; 4th=8 points; 5th=4 points


Notes

  1. ^ See the following list[1] for details
  2. ^ Earnings from non-restricted stakes prior to the running of the Kentucky Derby serve as a tie-breaker.
  3. ^ Before November 2025 Balboa was trained by Bob Baffert
  4. ^ Dead heat for fourth place

References

  1. ^ "2025/26 Kentucky Derby Prep Races" (PDF). Churchill Downs Inc. 9 September 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Three Races Added to European/Middle East Derby Series The European/Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby now comprises 10 races". Bloodhorse.com. Churchill Downs Inc. 14 October 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Road to the Kentucky Derby 151" (PDF). www.kentuckyderby.com. 21 December 2025. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d "Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (Gr. 1)". equibase. 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d "FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (Gr. 1)". equibase. 31 October 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "American Pharoah S. Presented by DK Horse (Gr. 1)". equibase. 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Champagne Stakes (Gr. 1)" (PDF). equibase. 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Iroquois Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". equibase. 13 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d "Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (Gr. 2)". equibase. 29 November 2025. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Remington Park (December 20, 2025) (race 12)" (PDF). equibase. 20 December 2025. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Remsen Stakes (Gr. 2)". equibase. 6 December 2025. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Street Sense Stakes (Gr. 3)". equibase. 26 October 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  13. ^ a b c d e "Gun Runner Stakes (Listed) (race 11)" (PDF). equibase. 20 December 2025. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  14. ^ a b c d e "Los Alamitos Futurity (Gr. 2)". equibase. 13 December 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  15. ^ "Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club Beresford Stakes (Group 2)". Racing Post. 27 September 2025.
  16. ^ "Tattersalls Online Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings)". Racing Post. 27 September 2025.
  17. ^ "Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Group 1)". Racing Post. 5 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  18. ^ "William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1)". Racing Post. 26 October 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  19. ^ "CATTLEYA STAKES - 29/11/2025 Tokyo9R|Result". Umanity!. 2025-11-29. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
  20. ^ "ZENNIPPON NISAI YUSHUN". jbis.jp. Japan's Largest Horse Racing Information Database - JBIS Search. 17 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
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