2023 Road to the Kentucky Derby explained

The 2023 Road to the Kentucky Derby is a series of races through which horses qualified for the 2023 Kentucky Derby, which was held on May 6. 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 (plus one in Dubai), the Japan Road consisting of four races in Japan, and the European road consisting of seven races in England, Ireland 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 2023, the main Road to the Kentucky Derby resembled the 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby, consisting of 37 races, one more event than in 2021, with 21 races for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and 16 races for the Kentucky Derby Championship Season with the following changes:

• Points were now awarded to the top-five finishing positions in qualifying races, and the significance of the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile and select races traditionally run in late January have been increased. Prep season races now awarded points on a sliding scale of 10-4-3-2-1.
• Points awarded in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile were increased from 20-8-4-2 to 30-12-9-6-3 in order to differentiate what has historically been a high-quality grade 1 race from others during the prep season.
• Select prep season races that traditionally serve as steppingstones to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series have been elevated from 10-4-2-1 to 20-8-6-4-2. These include G3 Lecomte Stakes, G3 Southwest Stakes, G3 Withers Stakes, G3 Holy Bull Stakes, G3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes and the Listed John Battaglia Memorial Stakes.^[1]

Standings

The following table shows the points earned in the eligible races for the main series.^[2]

Rank	Horse	Points	Earnings	Trainer	Owner	Ref
1—scratched	Forte	190	$2,359,730	Todd A. Pletcher	Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable
2—scratched	Practical Move	160	$822,000	Tim Yakteen	Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr., Leslie A. Amestoy & Roger K. Bersley
3		154	$1,026,375	Brad H. Cox	Albaugh Family Stables
4	Tapit Trice	150	$783,500	Todd A. Pletcher	Whisper Hill Farm & Gainesway Stable
5	Two Phil's	123	$643,850	Larry Rivelli	Patricia's Hope & Phillip Sagan
6—scratched	Lord Miles	105	$427,100	Saffie Joseph Jr.	Vegso Racing Stable
7		100	$1,112,319	Hidetaka Otonashi	Hiroyuki Asanuma
8	Kingsbarns	100	$600,000	Todd A. Pletcher	Spendthrift Farm
9	Raise Cain	64	$232,500	Ben Colbrook	Andrew N. Warren & Rania Warren
10	Rocket Can	60	$284,025	William I. Mott	Frank Fletcher Racing
11	Hit Show	60	$277,500	Brad H. Cox	Gary & Mary West
12	Confidence Game	57	$610,480	J. Keith Desormeaux	Don't Tell My Wife Stables
13	Verifying	54	$369,750	Brad H. Cox	Jonathan Poulin, Westerberg, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor
14	Sun Thunder	54	$181,500	Kenneth G. McPeek	R.T Racing Stable & Cypress Creek Equine
euthanized^[3]	Wild On Ice	50	$366,400	Joel Marr	Frank Sumpter
15	Mage	50	$205,200	Gustavo Delgado	OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing & CMNWLTH
bypassing^[4]	Blazing Sevens	46	$507,600	Chad C. Brown	Rodeo Creek Racing
16	Disarm	46	$237,500		Winchell Thoroughbreds
17	Reincarnate	45	$263,250	Tim Yakteen	SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan
18	Jace's Road	45	$200,350	Brad H. Cox	West Point Thoroughbreds & Albaugh Family Stables
19—scratched	Skinner	45	$174,500	John Shirreffs	C R K Stable
20—scratched	Continuar (JPN)	30	$289,954	Yoshito Yahagi	Lion Race Horse
21	Cyclone Mischief	45	$137,525	Dale L. Romans	Albaugh Family Stables & Castleton Lyons
22	Mandarin Hero (JPN)	40	$339,041	Terunobu Fujita	Hiroaki Arai
bypassing	Major Dude	40	$401,595	Todd A. Pletcher	Spendthrift Farm
23	King Russell	40	$227,500	Ron Moquett	Brereton C. Jones & Naber Racing
bypassing^[5]	Dura Erede (JPN)	40	$774,897	Manabu Ikezoe	Three H Racing
bypassing	Arctic Arrogance	36	$180,000	Linda L. Rice	Chester Broman Sr. & Mary Broman
bypassing	Red Route One	33	$417,125		Winchell Thoroughbreds
bypassing	Instant Coffee	32	$395,065	Brad H. Cox	Gold Square
bypassing	Funtastic Again	30	$150,116	Wesley A. Ward	Three Chimneys Farm
bypassing	Dreamlike	30	$75,000	Todd A. Pletcher	Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable
bypassing	Classic Car Wash	26	$100,000	Mark E. Casse	Gary Barber
bypassing	General Banker	24	$84,000	James W. Ferraro	Seacoast Thoroughbreds of New England
bypassing^[6]	Perriere (JPN)	20	$332,805	Yoichi Kuroiwa	Yuji Hasegawa
bypassing	National Treasure	20	$297,000	Tim Yakteen	SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan
bypassing	First Mission	20	$232,500	Brad H. Cox	Godolphin
bypassing	Congruent	20	$221,585	Antonio Sano	Tami Bobo & Lugamo Racing Stable
bypassing	Low Expectations	20	$130,680	Antonio Garcia	Reddam Racing
injured^[7]	Litigate	20	$120,000	Todd A. Pletcher	Centennial Farms
bypassing	Slip Mahoney	20	$82,500	Brad H. Cox	Gold Square
bypassing	Geaux Rocket Ride	20	$80,000	Richard E. Mandella	Pin Oak Stud
bypassing	Mr. Ripple	20	$46,500	Saffie Joseph Jr.	Legacy Racing
bypassing	Shopper's Revenge	20	$40,000	Steven M. Asmussen	Whisper Hill Farm & Three Chimneys Farm
bypassing	Wadsworth	20	$34,000	Brad H. Cox	Godolphin
bypassing	Classic Legacy	19	$45,000	William I. Mott	Bruce Lunsford
bypassing	Curly Jack	17	$348,120	Thomas M. Amoss	Michael McLoughlin
bypassing	One in Vermillion	15	$178,143	Esteban Martinez	Jonathan Kalman
bypassing	Henry Q	15	$119,400	Todd Fincher	The Del Mar Group
bypassing	Fort Bragg	15	$59,900	Tim Yakteen	SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan
bypassing	Shadow Dragon	13	$77,520	William I. Mott	Peachtree Stable
bypassing	Denington	12	$61,860	Kenneth G. McPeek	Fern Circle Stables & Magdalena Racing
not nominated^[8]	How Did He Do That	11	$100,100	Steven M. Asmussen	J. Kirk & Judy Robison
bypassing	Victory Formation	10	$156,750	Brad H. Cox	Spendthrift Farm & Frank Fletcher Racing Operations Inc.
bypassing	Dubyuhnell	10	$137,500	Danny Gargan	West Paces Racing & Stonestreet Stables
bypassing^[9]	Go Soldier Go	10	$132,062	Fawzi Abdulla	Victorious
injured^[10]	Hejazi	10	$118,500	Tim Yakteen	Zedan Racing Stables
bypassing	Lugan Knight	10	$83,625	Michael J. McCarthy	BG Stables
bypassing	Chase the Chaos	10	$81,500	Ed Moger Jr.	Adam Ference & Bill Dory
bypassing	Classic Catch	10	$30,000	Todd A. Pletcher	Whisper Hill Farm
bypassing	Tapit's Conquest	10	$26,000	Brad H. Cox	Robert V. LaPenta, e Five Racing Thor. & Madaket Stables
not nominated^[11]	Airtime	10	$18,750	Robertino Diodoro	Randy Howg
injured^[12]	Eyeing Clover	10	$18,000	Brad H. Cox	Ten Strike Racing, Michael E. Kisber & Colin Reed
bypassing	Prairie Hawk	10	$17,500	Saffie Joseph Jr.	Peachtree Stable & WinStar Farm
not nominated^[13]	Maker's Candy	10	$14,400	Michael J. Maker	Paradise Farms, David Staudacher, Maxis Stable & Gata Racing Stable
bypassing	Scoobie Quando	8	$117,700	Ben Colebrook	Andrew N. & Rania Warren
not nominated^[14]	Groveland	8	$40,000	Eoin Harty	Godolphin
not nominated^[15]	Bromley	8	$18,300	Paulo Lobo	OXO Equine
bypassing	Hayes Strike	7	$168,250	Kenneth G. McPeek	Dixiana Farm
bypassing	Andiamo a Firenze	7	$72,000	Kelly J. Breen	Mr. Amore Stable
injured^[16]	Frosted Departure	6	$222,112	Kenneth G. McPeek	C&H Diamond Racing & Magdalena Racing
bypassing	West Coast Cowboy	6	$34,250	Saffie Joseph Jr.	Gentry Farms
bypassing	Bourbon Bash	5	$33,750	D. Wayne Lukas	BC Stables
bypassing	Clear the Air	5	$24,500	Will Walden	Cypress Creek Equine
bypassing	Single Ruler	5	$8,000	Keith Desormeaux	Rocker O Ranch
injured^[17]	Loggins	4	$106,500	Brad H. Cox	Spendthrift Farm, Steve Landers Racing, Martin S. Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing Stables, Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing & Winners Win
injured^[18]	Honed	4	$65,700	Kenneth G. McPeek	Three Chimneys Farm & Magdalena Racing
injured^[19]	Legacy Isle	4	$44,325	Rohan Crichton	Daniel L. Walters, Dennis G. Smith, Anthony Smith & Rohan Crichton
injured^[20]	Moon Landing	4	$6,150	Kevin Attard	Robert V. LaPenta, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds & Madaket Stables
injured^[21]	Gulfport	3	$267,070	Steven M. Asmussen	William L. & Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, Whispering Oaks Farm & Coolmore Stud
injured^[22]	Tuskegee Airmen	3	$90,000	John C. Servis	Cash Is King & LC Racing
not nominated^[23]	Echo Again	3	$48,625	Steven M. Asmussen	Winchell Thoroughbreds
bypassing	Determinedly	3	$20,500	Mark E. Casse	John C. Oxley
not nominated^[24]	Harcyn	3	$12,000	Steve Sherman	Jerry Moss
not nominated^[25]	Packs a Wahlop	2	$196,000	Jeff Mullins	Red Baron's Barn & Rancho Temescal
not nominated^[26]	Zydeceaux	2	$111,000	Ramon Minguet	Stud Carmen Cristina
not nominated^[27]	Passarando	2	$64,450	Steven Specht	Larry D. & Marianne Williams
not nominated^[28]	Prove Right	2	$37,375	James K. Chapman	James K. Chapman & Stuart Tsujimoto
bypassing	Western Ghent	2	$37,325	D. Wayne Lukas	Bob & Ann Ghent, Laurie & D. Wayne Lukas
bypassing	Il Miracolo	2	$26,535	Antonio Sano	Alexandres
not nominated^[29]	Gunflash	2	$24,000	Karl Broberg	Jerry Namy
not nominated^[30]	Quick To Accuse	2	$15,000	Horacio De Paz	Rupp Racing
injured^[31]	Tall Boy	2	$12,000	Leandro Mora	Calumet Farm
bypassing	Demolition Duke	2	$11,250	Brad H. Cox	Thrash & Payne
injured^[32]	Neural Network	2	$9,000	Chad C. Brown	Klaravich Stables
bypassing	Miranda Rights	2	$4,290	Mark E. Casse	D. J. Stable
not nominated^[33]	Andthewinneris	1	$248,363	Wayne Catalano	Susan Moulton
not nominated^[34]	Campfire Creed	1	$77,000	Danny Pish	Dennis E. Foster
not nominated^[35]	Midnight Trouble	1	$35,000	Peter R. Walder	Paradise Farm Corp., David Staudacher & Peter R. Walder
not nominated^[36]	Man Child	1	$30,000	Ryan Hanson	California Racing Partners, Ciaglia Racing, Michelle Hanson, Richard C. Pearson, Timothy J. Husted & Robert Drenk
bypassing	Champions Dream	1	$20,000	Danny Gargan	Rosedown Racing Stables

Legend:

Prep season

Initial prep events

Note: 1st=10 points; 2nd=4 points; 3rd=3 points; 4th=2 points; 5th=1 point (except the Breeders' Cup Juvenile: 1st=30 points; 2nd=12 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 2021/2022. Similarly, the purses shown below are based on the amounts from the previous year and will be updated when finalized.

Race	Distance	Purse	Track	Date	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	Ref
Iroquois	miles	$299,250	Churchill Downs	Sep 17 2022	Curly Jack	Honed	Jace's Road	Hayes Strike	Confidence Game	^[37]
	1 mile	$500,000	Aqueduct	Oct 1 2022	Blazing Sevens	Verifying	Gulfport	Andiamo a Firenze	Champions Dream	^[38]
American Pharoah	miles	$301,500	Santa Anita	Oct 8 2022	Cave Rock	National Treasure	Hejazi	Gandolfini	Man Child	^[39]
Breeders' Futurity	miles	$600,000	Keeneland	Oct 8 2022	Forte	Loggins	Red Route One	Instant Coffee	Newgate	^[40]
Breeders' Cup Juvenile	miles	$2,000,000	Keeneland	Nov 4 2022	Forte	Cave Rock	National Treasure	Blazing Sevens	Curly Jack	^[41]
Kentucky Jockey Club	miles	$399,625	Churchill Downs	Nov 26 2022	Instant Coffee	Curly Jack	Haynes Strike	Red Route One	Denington	^[42]
Remsen	miles	$250,000	Aqueduct	Dec 3 2022	Dubyuhnell	Arctic Arrogance	Tuskegee Airmen	Quick to Accuse	Midnight Trouble	^[43]
Los Alamitos Futurity	miles	$200,000	Los Alamitos	Dec 17 2022	Practical Move	Carmel Road	Fort Bragg	Tall Boy	Arabian Lion	^[44]
Springboard Mile	1 mile	$400,000	Remington	Dec 17 2022	Wildatlanticstorm	Giant Mischief	Echo Again	Gunflash	Campfire Creed	^[45]
Gun Runner Stakes	miles	$98,000	Fair Grounds	Dec 26 2022	Jace's Road	Raise Cain	Determinedly	Hayes Strike	Andthewinneris	^[46]
Smarty Jones	1 mile	$250,000	Oaklawn	Jan 1 2023	Victory Formation		Denington	Western Ghent	How Did He Do That	^[47]
Jerome	1 mile	$150,000	Aqueduct	Jan 7 2023	Lugan Knight	Arctic Arrogance	General Banker	Neural Network	Andiamo a Firenze	^[48]
Sham	1 mile	$100,000	Santa Anita	Jan 8 2023	Reincarnate	Newgate	National Treasure	Packs a Wahlop	—	^[49]
El Camino Real Derby	miles	$101,350	Golden Gate	Feb 11 2023	Chase the Chaos	Gilmore	Harcyn	Passarando	Nullarbor	^[50]

Select prep events

Note: 1st=20 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points

Race	Distance	Purse	Track	Date	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	Ref
Lecomte	miles	$194,000	Fair Grounds	Jan 21 2023	Instant Coffee	Two Phil's	Confidence Game	Denington	Bromley	^[51]
Southwest	miles	$750,000	Oaklawn	Jan 28 2023	Arabian Knight	Red Route One	Frosted Departure	Sun Thunder	Jace's Road	^[52]
Holy Bull	miles	$250,000	Gulfstream	Feb 4 2023	Rocket Can	Shadow Dragon	West Coast Cowboy	Legacy Isle	Il Miracolo	^[53]
	miles	$196,000	Santa Anita	Feb 4 2023	Newgate	Hard To Figure	Worcester	Arabian Lion	—	^[54]
Withers	miles	$250,000	Aqueduct	Feb 11 2023	Hit Show	Arctic Arrogance	General Banker	Andiamo a Firenze	Prove Right	^[55]
Sam F. Davis Stakes	miles	$200,000	Tampa Bay	Feb 11 2023	Litigate	Groveland	Classic Car Wash	Classic Legacy	Zydeceaux	^[56]
John Battaglia Memorial Stakes	miles	$147,500	Turfway	Mar 4 2023	Congruent	Scoobie Quando	Bromley	Moon Landing	Miranda Rights	^[57]

Championship series events

First leg of series

Note: 1st=50 points; 2nd=20 points; 3rd=15 points; 4th=10 points; 5th=5 points

Race	Distance	Purse	Grade	Track	Date	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	Ref
Risen Star	miles	$400,000	2	Fair Grounds	Feb 18 2023		Sun Thunder	Two Phil's	Tapit's Conquest	Single Ruler	^[58]
Rebel	miles	$1,000,000	2	Oaklawn	Feb 25 2023	Confidence Game	Red Route One	Reincarnate	Verifying	Bourbon Bash	^[59]
Fountain of Youth	miles	$400,000	2	Gulfstream	Mar 4 2023	Forte	Rocket Can	Cyclone Mischief	Mage	Shadow Dragon	^[60]
Gotham	1 mile	$300,000	3	Aqueduct	Mar 4 2023	Raise Cain	Slip Mahoney	General Banker	Eyeing Clover	Clear the Air	^[61]
San Felipe	miles	$402,000	2	Santa Anita	Mar 4 2023	Practical Move	Geaux Rocket Ride	Skinner	Hejazi	Fort Bragg	^[62]
Tampa Bay Derby	miles	$360,000	3	Tampa Bay	Mar 11 2023	Tapit Trice	Classic Car Wash	Classic Legacy	Prairie Hawk	Lord Miles	^[63]
Sunland Derby	miles	$600,000	3	Sunland Park	Mar 26 2023	Wild On Ice	Low Expectations	Henry Q	How Did He Do That	One In Vermillion	^[64]

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=40 points; 3rd=30 points; 4th=20 points; 5th=10 points

Race	Distance	Purse	Grade	Track	Date	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	Ref
UAE Derby	1,900 metres (~)	$1,000,000	2	Meydan	Mar 25 2023	Derma Sotogake	Dura Erede	Continuar	Perriere	Go Soldier Go	^[65]
Louisiana Derby	miles	$1,000,000	2	Fair Grounds	Mar 25 2023	Kingsbarns	Disarm	Jace's Road	Shopper's Revenge	Sun Thunder	^[66]
Jeff Ruby	miles	$694,000	3	Turfway	Mar 25 2023	Two Phil's	Major Dude	Funtastic Again	Wadsworth	Maker's Candy	^[67]
Florida Derby	miles	$1,000,000	1	Gulfstream	Apr 1 2023	Forte	Mage	Cyclone Mischief	Mr. Ripple	Fort Bragg	^[68]
Arkansas Derby	miles	$1,250,000	1	Oaklawn Park	Apr 1 2023		King Russell	Reincarnate	Rocket Can	Airtime	^[69]
Blue Grass Stakes	miles	$998,125	1	Keeneland	Apr 8 2023	Tapit Trice	Verifying	Blazing Sevens	Sun Thunder	Raise Cain	^[70]
Santa Anita Derby	miles	$751,500	1	Santa Anita	Apr 8 2023	Practical Move	Mandarin Hero	Skinner	National Treasure	One In Vermillion	^[71]
Wood Memorial	miles	$750,000	2	Aqueduct	Apr 8 2023	Lord Miles	Hit Show	Dreamlike	Arctic Arrogance	Classic Catch	^[72]

"Wild Card" events

Note: 1st=20 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points

Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby

The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby was intended to provide a place in the Derby starting gate to the top finisher in the series. If the connections of that horse declined the invitation, their place was 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 Sho	1,600 metres (~1 mile)	Tokyo Racecourse	Nov 26	Continuar	Mirror of Mind	Jasri	Plavi	Froncorchamps	^[74]
Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun	1,600 metres (~1 mile)	Kawasaki Racecourse	Dec 14	Derma Sotogake	Omatsuri Otoko	Perriere	Hero Call	Maruka Rapid	^[75]
Hyacinth	1,600 metres (~1 mile)	Tokyo Racecourse	Feb 19	Perriere	Z Lien	Eclogite	Great Sand Sea	Goraiko	^[76]
Fukuryu	1,800 metres (~ miles)	Nakayama Racecourse	Mar 25	Mitono O	Mokku Mokku	Hero Call	Eifer Teio	Oro y Plata	^[77]

Note:
Cattleya Sho: 1st=10 points; 2nd=4 points; 3rd=3 points; 4th=2 points; 5th=1 point
Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun: 1st=20 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points
Hyacinth: 1st=30 points; 2nd=12 points; 3rd=9 points; 4th=6 points; 5th=3 points
Fukuyru : 1st=40 points; 2nd=16 points; 3rd=12 points; 4th=8 points; 5th=4 points
ƒ Filly

Qualification TableThe top four horses (colored brown within the standings) are eligible to participate in the Kentucky Derby provided the horse is nominated.

Rank	Horse	Points	Eligible Earnings	Trainer	Owner	Ref
1	Derma Sotogake (JPN)	120	$1,163,361	Hidetaka Otonashi	Hiroyuki Asanuma
2	Perriere (JPN)	56	$383,704	Yoichi Kuroiwa	Yuji Hasegawa
3	Continuar (JPN)	40	$338,095	Yoshito Yahagi	Lion Race Horse Co. Ltd.	Qualified
	Mitono O (JPN)	40	$273,281	Koji Maki	Royal Park
not nominated	Hero Call (JPN)	16	$367,641	Satoshi Kokubo	Yusuke Yamaguchi
4	Mokku Mokku (JPN)	16	$165,530	Ryo Terashima	Masayuki Yamaguchi
not nominated	Z Lien (JPN)	12	$172,038	Naohiro Yoshida	Forest Co. Ltd.
5	Eclogite (JPN)	9	$146,056	Takayuki Yusada	Sunday Racing Co.
not nominated	Omatsuri Otoko (JPN)	8	$504,449	Keizo Ito	Kohei Koreeda
not nominated	Eifer Teio (JPN)	8	$124,570	Ippo Sameshima	Minoru Nakashima
not nominated	Great Sand Sea	6	$207,727	Mitsumasa Nakauchida	Sanshisuimei
not nominated	Oro Oro y Plata (JPN)	4	$112,788	Hiroshi Miyamoto	Katsumi Yoshida
not nominated	Mirror of Mind (JPN)	4	$112,662	Koichi Shinkai	Shadai Race Horse
6	Goraiko (JPN)	3	$307,588	Koichi Shintani	Koji Oka
not nominated	Jasri (JPN)	3	$109,039	Toshiaki Tajima	Yoko Koshimura
not nominated	Maruka Rapid (JPN)	2	$217,526	Keizo Ito	Takeshi Kusakabe
7	Plavi (JPN)	2	$90,138	Haruki Sugiyama	Yuji Hasegawa
not nominated	Francorchamps (JPN)	1	$48,551	Noboru Takagi	La Mere

Notes:

• brown highlight – qualified
• grey highlight – did not qualify

European Road to the Kentucky Derby

The European Road to the Kentucky Derby was designed on a similar basis to the Japan Road and was intended to provide a place in the Derby starting gate to the top finisher in the series. If the connections of that horse declined the invitation, their place was offered to the second-place finisher and so on. If none of the top four accept, this place in the starting gate reverted to the horses on the main road to the Derby.

The series consisted of seven races – four run on the turf in late 2022 when the horses are age two, plus three races run on a synthetic surface in early 2023.

Race	Distance	Track	Date	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	Ref
Royal Lodge Stakes	1 mile	Newmarket	Sep 24 2022	The Foxes	Dubai Mile	Flying Honours	Greenland	—	^[78]
Beresford Stakes	1 mile	The Curragh	Sep 24 2022	Crypto Force	Adelaide River	Young Ireland	Roaring Gallagher	Lakota Seven	^[79]
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère	1,400 metres (about 7 furlongs)	Longchamp	Oct 2 2022	Belbek	Gamestop	Breizh Sky	Shartash	Vicious Harry	^[80]
Vertem Futurity Trophy	1 mile	Doncaster	Oct 22 2022	Auguste Rodin	Epictetus	Holloway Boy	Dancing Magic	Salt Lake City	^[81]
Patton Stakes	1 mile	Dundalk	Mar 3 2023	Cairo	News At Ten	Stormy Entry	Cash Out	Miss Caruso	^[82]
Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes	1 mile	Kempton Park	Mar 15 2023	Brave Emperor	Alzahir	Tenjin	Killybegs Warrior	Coco Jack	^[83]
Cardinal Stakes	1 mile		Apr 1 2023	Bold Act	Brave Emperor	Killybegs Warrior	Iconic Moment	Alzahir	^[84]

Note:

• the four races in 2022 for two-year-olds: 1st=10 points; 2nd=4 points; 3rd=3 points; 4th=2 points; 5th=1 point
• the first two races in 2023: 1st=20 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points
• The Cardinal Condition Stakes: 1st=30 points; 2nd=12 points; 3rd=9 points; 4th=6 points 5th=3 points

Qualification TableThe top four horses (colored brown within the standings) were eligible to participate in the Kentucky Derby provided the horse was nominated.

Rank	Horse	Points	Eligible Earnings	Trainer	Owner	Ref
1	Brave Emperor	32	$29,379	Archie Watson	Middleham Park Racing
not nominated	Bold Act	30	$0	Charlie Appleby	Godolphin
2	Cairo	20	$62,984	Aidan O'Brien	Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerburg
not nominated	Killybegs Warrior	13	$1,791	Charlie Johnston	Mr. M. Doyle
not nominated	Alzahir	11	$228,000	John & Thady Gosden	Al Wasmiyah Stud, G. Bailey, N. Wrigley
not nominated	Belbek	10	$279,323	Andre Fabre	Nurlan Bizakov
not nominated	Auguste Rodin	10	$222,687	Aidan O'Brien	Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerburg
not nominated	The Foxes	10	$76,913	Andrew Balding	King Power Racing
not nominated	Crypto Force	10	$69,768	Michael O’Callaghan	Amo Racing
not nominated	News At Ten	8	$8,478	Michael O’Callaghan	Michael O’Callaghan
not nominated	Iconic Moment	6	$31,154	James Tate	Sultan Ali
not nominated	Tenjin	6	$5,914	John Ryan	Mr. Jon A. Thompson
3	Stormy Entry	6	$4,239	W.P. Browne	Charles E. Fipke
not nominated	Gamestop	4	$101,588	Christophe Ferland	Wertheimer et Frère
not nominated	Epictetus	4	$64,909	John & Thady Gosden	George Strawbridge
not nominated	Adelaide River	4	$39,267	Aidan O'Brien	Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerburg
not nominated	Dubai Mile	4	$29,159	Charlie Johnston	Ahmad Al Shaikh
not nominated	Cash Out	4	$2,120	Joseph O'Brien	R. Scarborough
not nominated	Holloway Boy	3	$158,185	Karl Burke	Nick White & Mrs. E. Burke
not nominated	Breizh Sky	3	$91,301	Alessandro & Giusppe Botti	Alain Jathiere & Ecurie Elag
not nominated	Flying Honours	3	$39,968	Charlie Appleby	Godolphin
not nominated	Young Ireland	3	$12,833	Jim Bolger	Mrs. Jim S. Bolger
not nominated	Shartash	2	$160,989	Johnny Murtagh	Aga Khan
not nominated	Dancing Magic	2	$26,226	Roger Teal	Fishdance
4	Greenland	2	$9,011	Aidan O'Brien	Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerburg

Notes:

• brown highlight – qualified
• grey highlight – did not qualify

Notes and References

1. Web site: Churchill Downs Adjusts Derby-Qualifying Points System Horses trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert remain ineligible this year for points. . Churchill Downs Inc . 16 September 2022 . 16 September 2022.
2. Web site: Road to the Kentucky Derby 149 . 27 April 2023 . 27 April 2023 . www.kentuckyderby.com .
3. Web site: Report: Wild On Ice Euthanized Following Derby Work; El Paso Times reports Wild On Ice euthanized after suffering left hind leg fracture. . Eric . Mitchell . Bloodhorse.com . 27 April 2023 . 27 April 2023.
4. Web site: Blazing Sevens Out of Derby, Shidabhuti Skipping Oaks; Blazing Sevens was 17th in the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 46 points. . Joe . Perez . 23 April 2023 . 23 April 2023 . bloodhorse.com.
5. Bypass
6. Bypass
7. Web site: Litigate For Pletcher Off The Derby Trail. 20 March 2023 . 16 March 2023 . Thoroughbed Daily News.
8. Web site: 2023 Triple Crown Nominations. BloodHorse. TheTripleCrown.com. February 2023.
9. Bypass
10. Bypass
11. Web site: 2023 Triple Crown Nominations. BloodHorse. TheTripleCrown.com. February 2023.
12. Bypass
13. Bypass
14. Web site: 2023 Triple Crown Nominations. BloodHorse. TheTripleCrown.com. February 2023.
15. Web site: 2023 Triple Crown Nominations. BloodHorse. TheTripleCrown.com. February 2023.
16. Bypass
17. Web site: Breeders' Futurity Runner Up Loggins Off Derby Trail . 12 March 2023 . 20 February 2023 . Thoroughbed Daily News.
18. Bypass
19. Bypass
20. Bypass
21. Bypass
22. Bypass
23. Web site: 2023 Triple Crown Nominations. BloodHorse. TheTripleCrown.com. February 2023.
24. Web site: 2023 Triple Crown Nominations. BloodHorse. TheTripleCrown.com. February 2023.
25. Web site: 2023 Triple Crown Nominations. BloodHorse. TheTripleCrown.com. February 2023.
26. Web site: 2023 Triple Crown Nominations. BloodHorse. TheTripleCrown.com. February 2023.
27. Web site: 2023 Triple Crown Nominations. BloodHorse. TheTripleCrown.com. February 2023.
28. Web site: 2023 Triple Crown Nominations. BloodHorse. TheTripleCrown.com. February 2023.
29. Web site: 2023 Triple Crown Nominations. BloodHorse. TheTripleCrown.com. February 2023.
30. Web site: 2023 Triple Crown Nominations. BloodHorse. TheTripleCrown.com. February 2023.
31. Bypass
32. Bypass
33. Web site: 2023 Triple Crown Nominations. BloodHorse. TheTripleCrown.com. February 2023.
34. Web site: 2023 Triple Crown Nominations. BloodHorse. TheTripleCrown.com. February 2023.
35. Web site: 2023 Triple Crown Nominations. BloodHorse. TheTripleCrown.com. February 2023.
36. Web site: 2023 Triple Crown Nominations. BloodHorse. TheTripleCrown.com. February 2023.
37. Web site: 2022 Iroquois Stakes Grade 3 – (race 9) . Equibase . 17 September 2022 . 18 September 2022.
38. Web site: 2022 Champagne Stakes Grade 1 – (race 10) . Equibase . 1 October 2022 . 2 October 2022.
39. Web site: 2022 American Pharoah Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8) . Equibase . 8 October 2022 . 9 October 2022.
40. Web site: 2022 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity Grade 1 – (race 9) . Equibase . 8 October 2022 . 9 October 2022.
41. Web site: Breeders' Cup Juvenile (Grade 1 - race 9) . equibase.com . 4 November 2022 . 4 November 2022.
42. Web site: 2022 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Grade 2 – (race 11) . Equibase . 26 November 2022 . 4 December 2022.
43. Web site: 2022 Remsen Stakes Grade 2 – (race 7) . Equibase . 3 December 2022 . 3 December 2022.
44. Web site: 2022 Los Alamitos Futurity Grade 2 – (race 4) . Equibase . 17 December 2022 . 17 December 2022.
45. Web site: 2022 Remington Springboard Mile Stakes Listed – (race 12) . Equibase . 17 December 2022 . 18 December 2022.
46. Web site: 2022 Gun Runner Stakes Black type – (race 11) . Equibase . 26 December 2022 . 26 December 2022.
47. Web site: 2023 Smarty Jones Stakes Listed – (race 10) . Equibase . 1 January 2023 . 2 January 2023.
48. Web site: 2023 Jerome Stakes Listed – (race 8) . Equibase . 7 January 2023.
49. Web site: 2023 Sham Stakes Grade 3 – (race 8) . Equibase . 8 January 2023 . 8 January 2023.
50. Web site: 2023 El Camino Real Derby Listed – (race 8) . Equibase . 11 February 2023 . 12 February 2023.
51. Web site: 2023 Lecomte Stakes Grade 3 – (race 14) . Equibase . 21 January 2023 . 21 January 2023.
52. Web site: 2023 Southwest Stakes - Grade 3 (race 10) . Equibase . 29 January 2023.
53. Web site: 2023 Holy Bull Stakes - Grade 3 (race 12) . Equibase . 4 February 2023 . 6 February 2023.
54. Web site: 2023 Robert B. Lewis Stakes - Grade 3 (race 3) . Equibase . 4 February 2023 . 6 February 2023.
55. Web site: 2023 Withers Stakes - Grade 3 (race 9) . Equibase . 11 February 2023 . 12 February 2023.
56. Web site: 2023 Sam F. Davis Stakes - Grade 3 (race 10) . Equibase . 11 February 2023 . 12 February 2023.
57. Web site: 2023 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Listed (race 8) . Equibase . 4 March 2023 . 5 March 2023.
58. Web site: 2023 Risen Star Stakes presented by Lamarque Lincoln and Lamarque Crescent City Ford Grade 2 – (race 13) . Equibase . 18 February 2023 . 19 February 2023.
59. Web site: 2023 Rebel Stakes Grade 2 – (race 11) . Equibase . 25 February 2023 . 26 February 2023.
60. Web site: 2023 Fountain of Youth Stakes Grade 2 (race 14) . Equibase . 4 March 2023 . 5 March 2023.
61. Web site: 2023 Gotham Stakes Grade 3 (race 9) . Equibase . 4 March 2023 . 5 March 2023.
62. Web site: 2023 San Felipe Stakes Grade 2 (race 6) . Equibase . 4 March 2023 . 5 March 2023.
63. Web site: 2023 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby Grade 3 (race 11) . Equibase . 11 March 2023 . 12 March 2023.
64. Web site: 2023 Sunland Park Derby Grade 3 (race 10) . Equibase . 26 March 2023 . 27 March 2023.
65. Web site: 2023 UAE Derby sponsored by Atlantis The Royal (Group 2) . Racing Post . 25 March 2023 . 25 March 2023.
66. Web site: 2023 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby Grade 2 – (race 12) . Equibase . 25 March 2023 . 25 March 2023.
67. Web site: 2023 Jeff Ruby Steaks Grade 3 – (race 12) . Equibase . 25 March 2023 . 25 March 2023.
68. Web site: 2023 Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa Grade 1 – (race 14) . Equibase . 1 April 2023 . 2 April 2023.
69. Web site: 2023 Arkansas Derby Grade 1 – (race 12) . Equibase . 1 April 2023 . 2 April 2023.
70. Web site: 2023 Blue Grass Stakes Grade 1 – (race 9) . Equibase . 8 April 2023 . 9 April 2023.
71. Web site: 2023 RUNHAPPY Santa Anita Derby Grade 1 – (race 6) . Equibase . 8 April 2023 . 9 April 2023.
72. Web site: 2023 Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino Grade 2 – (race 11) . Equibase . 8 April 2023 . 9 April 2023.
73. Web site: 2023 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 15 April 2023 . 16 April 2022.
74. Web site: Saturday, November 26, 2022, 5th TOKYO 7-day Race 9: CATTLEYA STAKES . Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association . 22 December 2022 . 26 November 2022.
75. Web site: December 14, 2022 (Wednesday) Kawasaki 11th Race Dirt 1600 m (Left) Race 11: ZENNIPPON NISAI YUSHUN. Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association . 22 December 2022 . 14 December 2022.
76. Web site: Hyacinth (Result). Umanity – Japan Racing English results site. 19 February 2023 .
77. Web site: Fukuryu Stakes (Result). Umanity – Japan Racing English results site. 25 March 2023 .
78. Web site: Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2) . SportingLife.com . 24 September 2022 . 24 September 2022.
79. Web site: Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford Stakes (Group 2) . SportingLife.com . 24 September 2022 . 24 September 2022.
80. Web site: Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) (Group 1) . SportingLife.com . 2 October 2022 . 2 October 2022.
81. Web site: Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1) . SportingLife.com . 22 October 2022 . 22 October 2022.
82. Web site: Patton Stakes (Listed) . SportingLife.com . 4 March 2023 . 3 March 2023.
83. Web site: 'Road To The Kentucky Derby' Conditions Stakes (GBB Race) . SportingLife.com . 20 March 2023 . 15 March 2023.
84. Web site: Woodford Reserve Cardinal Conditions Stakes (The Road To The Kentucky Derby) (GBB Race) . racingpost.com . 1 April 2023 . 15 April 2023.