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]

• The Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas
• The Group 3 Saudi Derby
• The Listed Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes (formerly the Al Bastakiya)

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 18 January 2026

Rank [3]	Horse	Points	Earnings [b]	Trainer	Owner	Ref
1	Ted Noffey	40	$1,602,963	Todd A. Pletcher	Spendthrift Farm	[4]
2	Golden Tempo	20	$150,000	Cherie DeVaux	Phipps Stable & St. Elias Stable	[5]
3	Litmus Test	19	$302,188	Bob Baffert	Zedan Racing Stables	[6]
injured [c]	Mr. A. P.	15	$340,000	Vladimir Cerin	Holly & David Wilson	[6]
4	Chip Honcho	14	$70,000	Steven M. Asmussen	Leland Ackerley Racing	[8]
5	Intrepido	13	$240,000	Jeff Mullins	Dutch Girl Holdings & Irving Ventures	[9]
6	Universe	13	$184,650	Kenneth G. McPeek	Four G Racing, Gregg Day & Steven Crain	[10]
7	Spice Runner	11	$247,426	Steven M. Asmussen	Winchell Thoroughbreds	[11]
8	Napoleon Solo	10	$275,000	Chad Summers	Gold Square	[10]
9	Further Ado	10	$242,470	Brad H. Cox	Spendthrift Farm	[12]
10	Express Kid [d]	10	$199,900	Justin Evans	Bradley James & Sharon Kleven	[14]
11	My World	10	$165,000	Brad H. Cox	Robert LaPenta & Madaket Stables	[15]
12	Strategic Risk	10	$154,500	Mark E. Casse	John C. Oxley	[16]
13	Paladin	10	$137,500	Chad C. Brown	Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Peter Brant, Brook T. Smith & Summer Wind Equine	[17]
14	Incredibolt	10	$122,070	Riley Mott	Pin Oak Stud	[18]
15	Mesquite	10	$50,000	Cherie DeVaux	LBD Stable	[5]
16	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	[6]
17	Balboa [e]	9	$132,000	Brittany T. Russell	SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan	[9]
18	Very Connected	6	$42,525	Kenneth G. McPeek	Dream Big Racing	[18]
19	Carson Street	6	$25,000	Brendan P. Walsh	Ike & Dawn Thrash	[5]
20	Comport	5	$264,050	Eddie Kenneally	Joseph W. Sutton	[11]
21	Desert Gate	5	$210,000	Bob Baffert	Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman	[9]
22	Blackout Time	5	$128,375	Kenneth G. McPeek	Brookdale Racing, Lance Gasaway & Magdalena Racing	[4]
23	Talkin	5	$101,250	Danny Gargan	Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Pine Racing Stables, Legendary Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing & Breeding & R. A. Hill Stable	[10]
24	Silent Tactic	5	$67,630	Mark E. Casse	John C. Oxley	[16]
25	Arctic Beast	5	$60,000	Michael J. Maker	Paradise Farms, JP Racing Stable, David Staudacher, Zilla Racing Stables & Jennifer Rice	[14]
26	Renegade	5	$50,000	Todd A. Pletcher	Robert & Lawana Low & Repole Stable	[17]
27	Blacksmith	5	$40,000	Bob Baffert	Wathnan Racing	[19]
28	Liberty National	5	$20,000	Kenneth G. McPeek	Brookdale Racing & Fern Circle Stables	[8]
29	Quality Mischief	4	$11,000	Brad H. Cox	West Paces Racing & Donegal Racing	[5]
30	Baytown Dreamer	3	$131,410	Paul McEntee	Baytown Partnerships	[16]
31	Soldier N Diplomat	3	$57,350	Steven M. Asmussen	St. Elias Stable	[12]
32	Plutarch	3	$56,000	Bob Baffert	Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor	[9]
33	Royalamerican	3	$33,000	C. R. Trout	C. R. Trout	[14]
34	Vost	3	$28,875	William Walden	OXO Equine	[11]
35	Provenance	3	$24,000	Bob Baffert	Spendthrift Farm	[19]
36	Enforced Agenda	3	$18,000	George Weaver	St. Elias Stable	[15]
37	Crown the Buckeye	3	$13,500	Michael J. Maker	Paradise Farms, David Staudacher & Hooties Racing	[8]
38	Diciassette	2	$68,337	Patrick L. Biancone	Green With MV Stable	[4]
39	Civil Liberty	2	$54,000	Doug F. O'Neill	Great Friends Stables & Mark D. Davis	[9]
40	It's Our Time	2	$30,000	Thomas M. Amoss	Double Down Horse Racing	[10]
41	Western Man	2	$18,000	Joe Offotler	Bart D. & Sandra A. Howard	[14]
42	Courting	2	$15,000	Todd A. Pletcher	Whisper Hill Farm, Stonestreet Stables and Windancer Farm	[17]
43	Nothing Personal	2	$14,438	Gregory Compton	Mag Racing	[11]
44	Sleepingonfreedom	2	$13,875	Kenneth G. McPeek	Dream Big Racing LLC & Magdalena Racing	[16]
45	Acknowledgemeplz	2	$12,000	Doug F. O'Neill	Purple Rein Racing & Mark D. Davis	[19]
46	I Did I Did	2	$11,175	Michael J. Maker	Paradise Farms, David Staudacher, Turman Racing Stable & Skychai Racing	[18]
47	Freedom's Echo	2	$9,000	Guadalupe Preciado	Nicholas Cammarano Jr.	[15]
48	Maximus Prime	1	$58,262	Anthony Mitchell	Gary & Tiffany Bizzack	[11]
49	Stradale	1	$42,500	Steven M. Asmussen	Kaleem Shah	[10]
50	Way Beyond	1	$14,000	Steven M. Asmussen	Ed & Susie Orr	[14]
51	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	[12]
52	Ganaas	1	$11,655	Andrew McKeever	Shadwell Stable	[18]
53	Grittiness	1	$10,000	Todd A. Pletcher	Repole Stable	[17]
54	Rancho Santa Fe	1	$9,250	Brad H. Cox	Gary & Mary West	[16]
55	American King	1	$4,000	Ruben Gomez	Gary J. Folgner	[19]

Legend:

  Injured/Bypassing/Inactive/Not nominated

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)

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	[11]
Champagne	1 mile	$500,000	1	Aqueduct	Oct 4 2025	Napoleon Solo	Talkin	Universe	It's Our Time	Stradale	[10]
American Pharoah	1+1⁄16 miles	$300,500	1	Santa Anita	Oct 4 2025	Intrepido	Desert Gate	Plutarch	Civil Liberty	Balboa	[9]
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	[18]
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	[6]
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	[12]
Remsen	1+1⁄8 miles	$250,000	2	Aqueduct	Dec 6 2025	Paladin	Renegade	Balboa	Courting	Grittiness	[17]
Los Alamitos Futurity	1+1⁄16 miles	$200,500	2	Los Alamitos	Dec 13 2025	Litmus Test	Blacksmith	Provenance	Acknowledgemeplz	American King	[19]
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	[8]
Springboard Mile	1 mile	$300,000	Listed	Remington	Dec 20 2025	Express Kid	Arctic Beast	Royalamerican	Western Man	Way Beyond	[14]
Jerome [f]	1 mile	$139,500	Black-Type	Aqueduct	Jan 3 2026	My World	Balboa	Enforced Agenda	Freedom's Echo	—	[15]
Smarty Jones	1 mile	$250,000	Listed	Oaklawn	Jan 3 2026	Strategic Risk	Silent Tactic	Baytown Dreamer	Sleepingonfreedom	Rancho Santa Fe	[16]

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	$250,000	3	Fair Grounds	Jan 17 2026	Golden Tempo	Mesquite	Carson Street	Chip Honcho	Quality Mischief	[5]
Southwest	1+1⁄16 miles	$800,000	3	Oaklawn	Jan 31 2026
Holy Bull	1 mile	$250,000	3	Gulfstream	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	Listed	Tampa Bay	Feb 7 2026
Robert B. Lewis	1 mile	$150,000	3	Santa Anita	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	[20]
Royal Lodge Stakes	1 mile	Newmarket	Sep 27 2025	Bow Echo	Humidity	Action	Pacific Avenue	Daytona	[21]
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère	1,400 metres (about 7 furlongs)	Longchamp	Oct 5 2025	Puerto Rico	Nighttime	Rayif	Campacite Imperial Me Cen [g]		[22]
Futurity Trophy	1 mile	Doncaster	Oct 25 2025	Hawk Mountain	Action	Benvenuto Cellini	Rochfortbridge	Oxagon	[23]
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

Qualification Table

The top four horses (colored brown within the standings) are eligible to participate in the Kentucky Derby provided the two horses that can be nominated.

Rank	Horse	Points	Eligible Earnings	Trainer	Owner	Ref
1	Hawk Mountain (IRE)	20	$233,829	Aiden O'Brien	Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor	[20]
2	Puerto Rico (IRE)	10	$476,281	Aiden O'Brien	Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor	[22]
3	Bow Echo (IRE)	10	$132,683	George Boughey	Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum [h]	[21]
4	Action (IRE)	10	$76,531	Aiden O'Brien	Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor	[21]

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	[25]
Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun	1,600 metres (~1 mile)	Kawasaki Racecourse	Dec 17 2025	Pyromancer	ƒ Tamamo Freesia	Best Green	Ayasan Jotaro	Cosmo Gigantea	[26]
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. Mr. A. P.'s trainer Vladimir Cerin announced that the horse is injured and that he is doubtful that the horse will be ready to run in the Kentucky Derby. ^[7]
4. Before January 12, 2025 Express Kid was trained by Wade Rarick and owned by Steve Haahr ^[13]
5. Before November 2025 Balboa was trained by Bob Baffert
6. There were only four starters in the 2026 Jerome Stakes.
7. Dead heat for fourth place
8. Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum passed away 29 December 2025 ^[24]

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. "Road to the Kentucky Derby 151" (PDF). www.kentuckyderby.com. 17 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
4. "Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (Gr. 1)". equibase. 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
5. "2026 Lecomte Stakes Grade 3 – (race 13)". equibase. 17 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
6. "FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (Gr. 1)". equibase. 31 October 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
7. Perez, Joe (21 December 2025). "Injury Sidelines Mr. A. P. Until March Mr. A. P. finished second to Ted Noffey in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1)". Bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
8. "Gun Runner Stakes (Listed) (race 11)" (PDF). equibase. 20 December 2025. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
9. "American Pharoah S. Presented by DK Horse (Gr. 1)". equibase. 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
10. "Champagne Stakes (Gr. 1)" (PDF). equibase. 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
11. "Iroquois Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". equibase. 13 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
12. "Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (Gr. 2)". equibase. 29 November 2025. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
13. Davis, Lillian (12 January 2026). "'Derby Dream': Express Kid Transferred To Trainer Justin Evans After Digital Sale; Son of Bodexpress will make his 3-year-old debut in the Sunland Park Derby". paulickreport.com. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
14. "Remington Park (December 20, 2025) (race 12)" (PDF). equibase. 20 December 2025. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
15. "AQUEDUCT - Jan 03, 2026 - Race 3 Jerome S. Black Type - Thoroughbred" (PDF). equibase. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
16. "January 3, 2026 - Race 10 STAKES Smarty Jones S. Listed". equibase. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
17. "Remsen Stakes (Gr. 2)". equibase. 6 December 2025. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
18. "Street Sense Stakes (Gr. 3)". equibase. 26 October 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
19. "Los Alamitos Futurity (Gr. 2)". equibase. 13 December 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
20. "Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club Beresford Stakes (Group 2)". Racing Post. 27 September 2025.
21. "Tattersalls Online Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings)". Racing Post. 27 September 2025.
22. "Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Group 1)". Racing Post. 5 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
23. "William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1)". Racing Post. 26 October 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
24. Berry, Emma (December 30, 2025). "'A Huge Loss By Any Metric': Racing World Mourns Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum". thoroughbreddailynews.com. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
25. "CATTLEYA STAKES - 29/11/2025 Tokyo9R|Result". Umanity!. 2025-11-29. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
26. "ZENNIPPON NISAI YUSHUN". jbis.jp. Japan's Largest Horse Racing Information Database - JBIS Search. 17 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.