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With 20,000 thoroughbred horses born and registered with The Jockey Club each year, but only 20 slots in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby, finding a way to narrow the field to only the best three-year-olds is a process.
There are 21 races total during “prep season,” most of which award points to the top five finishers on a 10-4-3-2-1 basis. That triples to 30-12-9-6-3 for the Breeders Cup Juvenile, and doubles to 20-8-6-4-2 for the last races seven stakes races on the calendar.
From there it’s two legs of the “championship season,” where the first seven races are 50-20-15-10-5, and the last eight are 100-40-30-20-10. As you can see, a win late in the season counts far better than finishing barely on the board earlier in the year.
Last year it took just 15 points to make the field, but there were several extenuating factors to make the total that low. Any horses with ties to suspended trainer Bob Baffert weren’t allowed to appear, and the top four finishers in the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and the European Road to the Kentucky Derby had all their eligible horses refuse their position.
One horse from both the Japan and European series is given a spot if they choose, which is rolled down as far as the fourth place in the points standings, but all eight horses chose not to make the equine-taxing journey.
The time this year for a horse to be peaking is from March 25 to April 8. The Louisiana Derby, UAE Derby, Jeff Ruby, Florida Derby, Arkansas Derby, Bluegrass Stakes, Santa Anita Derby, and Wood Memorial are take place during those precious last three qualifying Saturdays. If you cross the line first here you’re guaranteed a spot in the field, and a second place finish can feel very good about their chances as well.
Here’s a look at the complete standings in the qualifying period for the Kentucky Derby.
2023 Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, updated April 9
| Rank | Horse | Points | Non-restricted stake earnings | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Horse | Points | Non-restricted stake earnings | Trainer | Owner |
| 1 | Forte | 190 | $2,359,730 | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable |
| 2 | Practical Move | 160 | $822,000 | Tim Yakteen | Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr., Leslie A. Amestoy & Roger K. Bersley |
| 3 | Angel of Empire | 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 | Lord Miles | 105 | $427,100 | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Vegso Racing Stable |
| 7 | Derma Sotogake (JPN) | 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. & 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 |
| 15 | Wild On Ice | 50 | $366,400 | Joel Marr | Frank Sumpter |
| 16 | Mage | 50 | $205,200 | Gustavo Delgado | OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing & CMNWLTH |
| 17 | Blazing Sevens | 46 | $507,600 | Chad C. Brown | Rodeo Creek Racing |
| 18 | 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 |
| 19 | Jace's Road | 45 | $200,350 | Brad H. Cox | West Point Thoroughbreds & Albaugh Family Stables |
| 20 | Skinner | 45 | $174,500 | John Shirreffs | C R K Stable |
| 21 | Cyclone Mischief | 45 | $137,525 | Dale L. Romans | Albaugh Family Stables |
| bypassing | Dura Erede (JPN) | 40 | $774,897 | Manabu Ikezoe | Three H Racing |
| 22 | Major Dude | 40 | $401,595 | Todd A. Pletcher | Spendthrift Farm |
| 23 | Mandarin Hero (JPN) | 40 | $339,041 | Terunobu Fujita | Hiroaki Arai |
| 24 | King Russell | 40 | $227,500 | Ron Moquett | Brereton C. Jones & Naber Racing |
| 25 | Disarm | 40 | $200,000 | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds |
| 26 | Arctic Arrogance | 36 | $180,000 | Linda L. Rice | Chester Broman Sr. & Mary Broman |
| 27 | Red Route One | 33 | $417,125 | Steven Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds |
| 28 | Instant Coffee | 32 | $395,065 | Brad H. Cox | Gold Square |
| 29 | Continuar (JPN) | 30 | $289,954 | Yoshito Yahagi | Lion Race Horse |
| 30 | Funtastic Again | 30 | $150,116 | Wesley A. Ward | Three Chimneys Farm |
| 31 | Dreamlike | 30 | $75,000 | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable |
| 32 | Classic Car Wash | 26 | $100,000 | Mark E. Casse | Gary Barber |
| 33 | General Banker | 24 | $84,000 | James W. Ferraro | Seacoast Thoroughbreds of New England |
| bypassing | Perriere (JPN) | 20 | $332,805 | Yoichi Kuroiwa | Yuji Hasegawa |
| 34 | 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 |
| 35 | Congruent | 20 | $221,585 | Antonio Sano | Tami Bobo & Lugamo Racing Stable |
| 36 | Low Expectations | 20 | $130,680 | Antonio Garcia | Reddam Racing |
| injured | Litigate | 20 | $120,000 | Todd A. Pletcher | Centennial Farms |
| 37 | Slip Mahoney | 20 | $82,500 | Brad H. Cox | Gold Square |
| bypassing | Geaux Rocket Ride | 20 | $80,000 | Richard E. Mandella | Pin Oak Stud |
| 38 | Mr. Ripple | 20 | $46,500 | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Legacy Racing |
| 39 | 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 |
| 40 | 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 |
| not nominated | How Did He Do That | 11 | $100,100 | Steven M. Asmussen | J. Kirk & Judy Robison |
| 41 | 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 | Go Soldier Go | 10 | $132,062 | Fawzi Abdulla | Victorious |
| injured | 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 |
| 42 | 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 | Airtime | 10 | $18,750 | Robertino Diodoro | Randy Howg |
| injured | 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 | 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 |
| bypassing | Denington | 8 | $43,110 | Kenneth G. McPeek | Fern Circle Stables & Magdalena Racing |
| not nominated | Groveland | 8 | $40,000 | Eoin Harty | Godolphin |
| not nominated | 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 | 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 | 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 | Honed | 4 | $65,700 | Kenneth G. McPeek | Three Chimneys Farm & Magdalena Racing |
| injured | Legacy Isle | 4 | $44,325 | Rohan Crichton | Daniel L. Walters, Dennis G. Smith, Anthony Smith & Rohan Crichton |
| injured | Moon Landing | 4 | $6,150 | Kevin Attard | Robert V. LaPenta, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds & Madaket Stables |
| injured | Gulfport | 3 | $267,070 | Steven M. Asmussen | William L. & Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, Whispering Oaks Farm & Coolmore Stud |
| injured | Tuskegee Airmen | 3 | $90,000 | John C. Servis | Cash Is King & LC Racing |
| not nominated | Echo Again | 3 | $48,625 | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds |
| bypassing | Determinedly | 3 | $20,500 | Mark E. Casse | John C. Oxley |
| not nominated | Harcyn | 3 | $12,000 | Steve Sherman | Jerry Moss |
| not nominated | Packs a Wahlop | 2 | $196,000 | Jeff Mullins | Red Baron's Barn & Rancho Temescal |
| not nominated | Zydeceaux | 2 | $111,000 | Ramon Minguet | Stud Carmen Cristina |
| not nominated | Passarando | 2 | $64,450 | Steven Specht | Larry D. & Marianne Williams |
| not nominated | 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 | Gunflash | 2 | $24,000 | Karl Broberg | Jerry Namy |
| not nominated | Quick To Accuse | 2 | $15,000 | Horacio De Paz | Rupp Racing |
| injured | Tall Boy | 2 | $12,000 | Leandro Mora | Calumet Farm |
| injured | Neural Network | 2 | $9,000 | Chad C. Brown | Klaravich Stables |
| bypassing | Miranda Rights | 2 | $4,290 | Mark E. Casse | D. J. Stable |
| not nominated | Andthewinneris | 1 | $248,363 | Wayne Catalano | Susan Moulton |
| not nominated | Campfire Creed | 1 | $77,000 | Danny Pish | Dennis E. Foster |
| not nominated | Midnight Trouble | 1 | $35,000 | Peter R. Walder | Paradise Farm Corp., David Staudacher & Peter R. Walder |
| not nominated | 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 |