The Kentucky Derby is known as “The Two Greatest Minutes in Sports” and is the first leg of the American Triple Crown of horse racing. It is a Grade I stakes race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs Racetrack.
The Road to the Kentucky Derby is a series of races in the months leading up to the Kentucky Derby that award points to the top four finishers. Horses earn points to qualify for one of 20 spots in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby. The series consists of 34 races around the world between September and April.
The point system awards higher points to horses that place in longer races and those with higher purse values. Series races include the Breeders Cup Juvenile, UAE Derby, Florida Derby, Santa Anita Derby, Arkansas Derby, and more. The standings provide rankings of the top contenders expected to compete in the Kentucky Derby based on points accumulated.
Kentucky Derby: Leaderboard Ranks
Sierra Leone (155 points)
Fierceness (136 points)
Catching Freedom (125 points)
Stronghold (125 points)
Resilience (110 points)
Forever Young (100 points)
Endlessly (100 points)
Dornoch (75 points)
Just a Touch (75 points)
Track Phantom (70 points)
West Saratoga (67 points)
Just Steel (65 points)
Honor Marie (65 points)
Domestic Product (60 points)
Catalytic (50 points)
Deterministic (50 points)
Society Man (50 points)
Mystik Dan (46 points)
Encino (40 points)
Grand Mo the First (45 points)
Common Defense (40 points)
Sierra Leona is the current points leader heading into the Kentucky Derby with 155 points. The talented colt is trained by Bob Baffert and is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Frederick Hertrich III, John Fielding, and Golconda Stables.
Fierceness has been one of the leading contenders on the Road to the Kentucky Derby this year. This colt is trained by John Smith at Golden Gate Fields in California. He is sired by Fierceness out of the mare Savage.
Catching Freedom, a son of Constitution, has become one of the leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby this year. Trained by Todd Pletcher, this colt has shown grit and determination in his races so far.
Kentucky Derby Qualifiers: Latest Races Roundup
The Kentucky Derby prep races are history, and we’re all alone in anticipation of what will happen at Churchill Downs in the main event in a few weeks. Here’s how the most important races of the last few weeks of the Kentucky Derby Qualifiers went.
Louisiana Derby – G1
When:
Saturday, March 23th, 2024
Where:
US
Podium:
1. Catching Freedom
2. Honor Marie
3. Tuscan Gold
4. Track Phantom
Florida Derby – G1
When:
Saturday, March 30th, 2024
Where:
US
Podium:
1. Fierceness
2. Catalytic
3. Grand Mo the First
4. Conquest Warrior
Santa Anita Derby – G1
When:
Saturday, April 6th, 2024
Where:
US
Podium:
1. Stronghold
2. Imagination
3. E J Won the Cup
4. Curlin’s Kaos
Blue Grass S. – G1
When:
Saturday, April 6th, 2024
Where:
US
Podium:
1. Sierra Leone
2. Just a Touch
3. Epic Ride
4. Dornoch
Wood Memorial S.– G1
When:
Saturday, April 6th, 2024
Where:
US
Podium:
1. Resilience
2. Society Man
3. Protective
4. Lonesome Boy
5. Uncle Heavy
Lexington – G3
When:
Saturday, April 13th, 2024
Where:
US
Podium:
1. Encino
2. The Wine Steward
3. Dilger
4. Secret Chat
5. Footprint
At Lexington, we enjoyed Encino’s first stakes win and his first try around two turns. The improved colt showed new dimensions while proving he can be competitive with the leading Derby contenders. While the win gives him a ticket to the Derby, he will still be one of the lighter-raced horses if he starts at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.
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