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] Entrants that have been nominated are ranked in the standings.[4]

As of 21 March 2026
Rank[3] Horse Points Earnings[b] Trainer Owner Ref
1 Fulleffort 110 $507,900 Brad H. Cox St. Elias Stable & Starlight Racing [5]
2 Emerging Market 100 $600,000 Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables [6]
3 Pavlovian 70 $527,000 Doug F. O'Neill Reddam Racing [7]
4 Paladin 60 $437,500 Chad C. Brown Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Peter Brant, Brook T. Smith & Summer Wind Equine [8]
5 Incredibolt 60 $424,570 Riley Mott Pin Oak Stud [9]
6 Golden Tempo 60 $300,000 Cherie DeVaux Phipps Stable & St. Elias Stable [10]
7 The Puma 56 $230,000 Gustavo Delgado OGMA Investments, JR Ranch & High Step Racing [11]
8 Silent Tactic 50 $742,630 Mark E. Casse John C. Oxley [12]
9 Class President 50 $569,700 Todd A. Pletcher WinStar Farm, First Go Racing & China Horse Club [13]
10 Stark Contrast 50 $439,900 Michael McCarthy Amerman Racing [14]
11 Commandment 50 $329,220 Brad H. Cox Wathnan Racing [15]
12 Iron Honor 50 $165,000 Chad C. Brown St. Elias Stable, William H. Lawrence & Glassman Racing [16]
13 Potente 50 $120,000 Bob Baffert Speedway Stables [17]
14 Chip Honcho 49 $190,000 Steven M. Asmussen Leland Ackerley Racing [18]
injured[c] Ted Noffey 40 $1,602,963 Todd A. Pletcher Spendthrift Farm [20]
15 Universe 38 $244,650 Kenneth G. McPeek Four G Racing, Gregg Day & Steven Crain [21]
16 Grittiness 36 $150,000 Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable [8]
17 Further Ado 35 $312,470 Brad H. Cox Spendthrift Farm [22]
18 Litmus Test 34 $392,188 Bob Baffert SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan [23]
not nominated[4] Crown the Buckeye 28 $73,500 Michael J. Maker Paradise Farms, David Staudacher & Hooties Racing [18]
19 Renegade 25 $170,000 Todd A. Pletcher Robert & Lawana Low & Repole Stable [8]
not nominated[4] Medici 25 $94,950 Richard Mandella Perry R. & Ramona S. Bass [14]
20 Chief Wallabee 25 $76,800 William I. Mott Michael & Katherine Bell [15]
21 Robusta 25 $40,500 Doug F. O'Neill Calumet Farm [17]
22 Intrepido 23 $260,000 Jeff Mullins Dutch Girl Holdings & Irving Ventures [24]
bypassing[3] Plutarch 23 $140,000 Bob Baffert Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor [24]
23 Express Kid[d] 20 $308,800 Justin Evans Bradley James & Sharon Kleven [26]
24 Nearly 20 $170,950 Todd A. Pletcher Centennial Farms [27]
25 Talk to Me Jimmy 20 $110,000 Rudy R. Rodriguez SEI Thoroughbreds & Rudy R. Rodriguez [28]
26 Great White 20 $107,440 John Eniss Three Chimneys Farm & John Ennis [5]
27 Bravaro 20 $68,700 Saffie Joseph Jr. Albert Ciuffetelli, Stephanie S. Brennan, Shining Stables, BAG Racing Stables & Paul Braverman [27]
28 Soldier N Diplomat 18 $258,350 Steven M. Asmussen St. Elias Stable [22]
29 Buetane 16 $212,500 Bob Baffert Zedan Racing Stables [12]
30 Secured Freedom 16 $24,000 Tim Yakteen Leslie A.& Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr. & Roger K. Beasley [29]
injured[e] Mr. A. P. 15 $340,000 Vladimir Cerin Holly & David Wilson [23]
31 Napoleon Solo 15 $286,520 Chad Summers Gold Square [21]
bypassing[3] Solitude Dude 15 $190,470 Saffie Joseph Jr. Chris Fountoukis [15]
32 Blackout Time 15 $182,375 Kenneth G. McPeek Brookdale Racing, Lance Gasaway & Magdalena Racing [20]
33 So Happy 15 $144,000 Mark Glatt Norman Stables & Saints or Sinners [17]
34 Confessional 15 $55,000 Brad H. Cox Steve Landers Racing [31]
35 Stop the Car 15 $39,975 Brendan P. Walsh Trade Winds Farm [14]
not nominated[4] Right to Party 15 $36,000 Kenneth G. McPeek Chester Broman Sr. [16]
36 Canaletto 15 $35,000 Chad C. Brown Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Peter Brant & Brook T. Smith [32]
37 Brant 14 $364,000 Bob Baffert Zedan Racing Stables [23]
38 Balboa[f] 14 $144,000 Brittany T. Russell SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan [24]
bypassing[3] Spice Runner 11 $247,426 Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds [33]
39 Carson Street 11 $35,000 Brendan P. Walsh Ike & Dawn Thrash [10]
40 Argos 10 $265,160 Brad H. Cox David S. Romanik, Warren Cheekes, Deborah K. Dougherty, C2 Racing Stable, BAG Racing Stable & Robert Liedel [14]
bypassing[3] Strategic Risk 10 $204,500 Mark E. Casse John C. Oxley [34]
41 My World 10 $165,000 Brad H. Cox Robert LaPenta & Madaket Stables [35]
42 Talkin 10 $111,750 Danny Gargan Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Pine Racing Stables, Legendary Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing & Breeding & R. A. Hill Stable [21]
not nominated[4] Wayne's Law 10 $105,000 Amador Merei Sanchez Baalbek Corp. [11]
43 Redland Rebels 10 $51,900 Patrick Biancone Calypso Racing Stables 2022 [32]
injured[g] Mesquite 10 $50,000 Cherie DeVaux LBD Stable [10]
not nominated[4] Exhibition Only 10 $18,000 Rudy R. Rodriguez SEI Thoroughbreds & Rudy R. Rodriguez [16]
44 Desert Gate 9 $216,000 Bob Baffert Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman [24]
45 Baytown Dreamer 7 $171,109 Paul McEntee Baytown Partnerships [34]
46 Maximus Prime 7 $81,411 Anthony Mitchell Gary & Tiffany Bizzack [33]
47 Bricklin 6 $52,000 Rodolphe Brisset Imagine Racing [7]
48 Very Connected 6 $42,525 Kenneth G. McPeek Dream Big Racing [9]
49 Project Ace 6 $24,750 Dale L. Romans Albaugh Family Stables [27]
50 Ottinho 6 $24,000 Chad C. Brown Three Chimneys Farm [28]
bypassing[3] Comport 5 $264,050 Eddie Kenneally Joseph W. Sutton [33]
51 Rancho Santa Fe 5 $83,750 Brad H. Cox Gary & Mary West [34]
52 Arctic Beast 5 $60,000 Michael J. Maker Paradise Farms, JP Racing Stable, David Staudacher, Zilla Racing Stables & Jennifer Rice [26]
53 Blacksmith 5 $50,000 Bob Baffert Wathnan Racing [37]
euthanized[38] Liberty National 5 $45,000 Kenneth G. McPeek Brookdale Racing & Fern Circle Stables [18]
54 Lockstocknpharoah 5 $15,000 Thomas Drury Jr. Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate & Front Page Equestrian [31]
not nominated[4] Daneyko 4 $90,450 Edward Kereluk Roys Mansur [7]
55 Quality Mischief 4 $16,000 Brad H. Cox West Paces Racing & Donegal Racing [18]
56 Cannoneer 4 $12,375 Brad H. Cox St. Elias Stable & Stonestreet Stables [27]
57 Schoolyardsuperman 4 $12,000 Chad C. Brown Hit The Bid Racing Stable & CMNWLTH [28]
bypassing[3] Game for It 4 $10,000 Chad Summers Gold Square, Wynnstay & Chad Summers [11]
not nominated[4] Royalamerican 3 $33,000 C. R. Trout C. R. Trout [26]
not nominated[4] Vost 3 $28,875 William Walden OXO Equine [33]
bypassing[3] Provenance 3 $24,000 Bob Baffert Spendthrift Farm [37]
bypassing[3] Enforced Agenda 3 $18,000 George Weaver St. Elias Stable [35]
58 Cherokee Nation 3 $13,805 Bob Baffert SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan [22]
not nominated[4] Diciassette 2 $75,762 Patrick L. Biancone Green With MV Stable [20]
59 Civil Liberty 2 $54,000 Doug F. O'Neill Great Friends Stables & Mark D. Davis [24]
60 Sleepingonfreedom 2 $38,875 Kenneth G. McPeek Dream Big Racing & Magdalena Racing [34]
61 Acknowledgemeplz 2 $36,000 Doug F. O'Neill Purple Rein Racing & Mark D. Davis [37]
62 Circle Tap 2 $33,000 Dallas Stewart Willis Horton Racing [12]
bypassing[3] It's Our Time 2 $30,000 Thomas M. Amoss Double Down Horse Racing [21]
63 Courting 2 $20,000 Todd A. Pletcher Whisper Hill Farm, Stonestreet Stables and Windancer Farm [8]
not nominated[4] Western Man 2 $18,000 Joe Offotler Bart D. & Sandra A. Howard [26]
64 Forty Twenty 2 $14,850 Robertino Diodoro Randy Howg [7]
bypassing[3] Nothing Personal 2 $14,438 Gregory Compton Mag Racing [33]
not nominated[4] I Did I Did 2 $11,175 Michael J. Maker Paradise Farms, David Staudacher, Turman Racing Stable & Skychai Racing [9]
not nominated[4] Star Sweeper 2 $11,000 Louis C. Linder Jr. Bran Jam Stable & David W. Clark [28]
not nominated[4] Freedom's Echo 2 $9,000 Guadalupe Preciado Nicholas Cammarano Jr. [35]
bypassing[3] Global Aviator 2 $7,425 Rohan G. Crichton Special Aviators [27]
65 Epic Desire 2 $7,200 Todd A. Pletcher Epic Horses [11]
66 Steel Imperium 2 $5,070 Caio Caramori LCI [5]
not nominated[4] Stradale 1 $42,500 Steven M. Asmussen Kaleem Shah [21]
not nominated[4] Way Beyond 1 $14,000 Steven M. Asmussen Ed & Susie Orr [26]
not nominated[4] Ganaas 1 $11,655 Andrew McKeever Shadwell Stable [9]
bypassing[3] American King 1 $4,000 Ruben Gomez Gary J. Folgner [37]

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 [33]
Champagne 1 mile $500,000 1 Aqueduct Oct 4 2025 Napoleon Solo Talkin Universe It's Our Time Stradale [21]
American Pharoah 1+1⁄16 miles $300,500 1 Santa Anita Oct 4 2025 Intrepido Desert Gate Plutarch Civil Liberty Balboa [24]
Breeders' Futurity 1+1⁄16 miles $642,594 1 Keeneland Oct 4 2025 Ted Noffey Blackout Time Litmus Test Diciassette Spice Runner [20]
Street Sense 1+1⁄16 miles $200,000 3 Churchill Downs Oct 26 2025 Incredibolt Universe Very Connected I Did I Did Ganaas [9]
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 [23]
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 [22]
Remsen 1+1⁄8 miles $250,000 2 Aqueduct Dec 6 2025 Paladin Renegade Balboa Courting Grittiness [8]
Los Alamitos Futurity 1+1⁄16 miles $200,500 2 Los Alamitos Dec 13 2025 Litmus Test Blacksmith Provenance Acknowledgemeplz American King [37]
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 [18]
Springboard Mile 1 mile $300,000 Listed Remington Dec 20 2025 Express Kid Arctic Beast Royalamerican Western Man Way Beyond [26]
Jerome[h] 1 mile $139,500 Black-Type Aqueduct Jan 3 2026 My World Balboa Enforced Agenda Freedom's Echo — [35]
Smarty Jones 1 mile $250,000 Listed Oaklawn Jan 3 2026 Strategic Risk Silent Tactic Baytown Dreamer Sleepingonfreedom Rancho Santa Fe [34]

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 [10]
Holy Bull 1 mile $267,500 3 Gulfstream Jan 31 2026 Nearly Bravaro Project Ace Cannoneer Global Aviator [27]
Withers[i] 1+1⁄8 miles $200,000 Listed Aqueduct Feb 6 2026 Talk to Me Jimmy Grittiness Ottinho Schoolyardsuperman Star Sweeper [28]
Southwest[j] 1+1⁄16 miles $1,000,000 3 Oaklawn Feb 6 2026 Silent Tactic Soldier N Diplomat Buetane Rancho Santa Fe Circle Tap [12]
Sam F. Davis Stakes 1+1⁄16 miles $210,000 Listed Tampa Bay Feb 7 2026 Renegade Wayne's Law The Puma Game For It Epic Desire [11]
Robert B. Lewis 1 mile $101,000 3 Santa Anita Feb 7 2026 Plutarch Intrepido Secured Freedom Desert Gate Cherokee Nation [29]
Sunland Park Derby 1+1⁄16 miles $500,000 Listed Sunland Park Feb 15 2026 Pavlovian Express Kid Bricklin Daneyko Forty Twenty [7]
John Battaglia Memorial Stakes 1+1⁄16 miles $174,835 Listed Turfway Feb 21 2026 Great White Fulleffort Maximus Prime Baytown Dreamer Steel Imperium [5]

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 $495,000 2 Fair Grounds Feb 14 2026 Paladin Chip Honcho Golden Tempo Universe Carson Street [41]
Gotham 1 mile $300,000 3 Aqueduct Feb 28 2026 Iron Honor Crown the Buckeye Right to Party Exhibition Only Balboa [16]
Fountain of Youth 1+1⁄16 miles $400,000 2 Gulfstream Feb 28 2026 Commandment Chief Wallabee Solitude Dude Bravaro Napoleon Solo [15]
Rebel 1+1⁄16 miles $1,000,000 2 Oaklawn Mar 1 2026 Class President Silent Tactic Litmus Test Blackout Time Soldier N Diplomat [13]
Tampa Bay Derby 1+1⁄16 miles $350,000 3 Tampa Bay Mar 7 2026 The Puma Further Ado Canaletto Redland Rebels Talkin [32]
San Felipe 1+1⁄16 miles $201,000 2 Santa Anita Mar 7 2026 Potente Robusta So Happy Secured Freedom Brant [17]
Virginia Derby 1+1⁄8 miles $506,000 Black-Type Colonial Downs Mar 14 2026 Incredibolt Grittiness Confessional Buetane Lockstocknpharoah [31]

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
Jeff Ruby 1+1⁄8 miles $777,000 3 Turfway Mar 21 2026 Fulleffort Stark Contrast Medici Stop The Car Argos [14]
Louisiana Derby 1+3⁄16 miles $1,000,000 2 Fair Grounds Mar 21 2026 Emerging Market Pavlovian Golden Tempo Universe Chip Honcho [6]
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 [42]
Royal Lodge Stakes 1 mile Newmarket Sep 27 2025 Bow Echo Humidity Action Pacific Avenue Daytona [43]
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère 1,400 metres
(about 7 furlongs) 		Longchamp Oct 5 2025 Puerto Rico Nighttime Rayif Campacite
Imperial Me Cen[k] 		[44]
Futurity Trophy 1 mile Doncaster Oct 25 2025 Hawk Mountain Action Benvenuto Cellini Rochfortbridge Oxagon [45]
UAE 2000 Guineas 1,600 metres
(about 1 mile) 		Meydan Jan 23 2026 Six Speed Devon Island Union Security Lino Padrino Raajehh [46]
Saudi Derby 1,600 metres
(about 1 mile) 		King Abdulaziz
Racetrack 		Feb 14 2026 Al Haram Obliteration Satono Voyage Wonder Dean Keiai Agito [47]
Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes 1,900 metres
(about 1+3⁄16 miles) 		Meydan Feb 20 2026 Brotherly Love (GB) Duke of Immatin Lino Padrino Sary Shahin Raajehh [48]
European Road to the Kentucky Derby
Conditions Stakes[l] 		1 mile Kempton Park Feb 25 2026 Hidden Force (GB) Venetian Prince Tadej Utmost Good Faith — [49]
Patton Stakes 1 mile Dundalk Feb 27 2026 ƒ Blanc de Blanc Whatchadoin Redemption Road Flanker Jet Outlaw Man [50]
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.

As of 2 March 2026
Rank Horse Points Eligible
Earnings 		Trainer Owner Ref
not nominated[4] Al Haram (IRE) 30 $900,000 Abdullah Alsidrani Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah [42]
not nominated[4] Hawk Mountain (IRE) 20 $233,829 Aidan O'Brien Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor [42]
1 Six Speed 20 $114,366 Bhupat Seemar Brunetti Dugan Stables, Black Type Thoroughbreds, Steve Adkisson, Swinbank Stables [46]
not nominated[4] Brotherly Love (GB) 20 $131,058 Jamie Osborne Jim & Claire Bryce [48]
not nominated[4] Hidden Force (GB)[m] 20 $0 Charlie Appleby Godolphin Racing [49]
not nominated[4] ƒ Blanc de Blanc 20 $0 Robson De Aguiar AMO Racing [50]
2 Obliteration 15 $824,250 Steven M. Asmussen Leland Ackerley Racing, James Sherwood, Jode Shupe & John Cilia [47]
3 Puerto Rico (IRE) 10 $476,281 Aidan O'Brien Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor [44]
not nominated[4] Bow Echo (IRE) 10 $132,683 George Boughey Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum[n] [43]
not nominated[4]` Duke of Immatin 10 $31,373 Musabbeh Al Mheiri Mohamed Eldubeba [48]
not nominated[4]` Devon Island 10 $38,122 Charlie Appleby Godolphin Racing [43]
4 Lino Padrino 10 $31,373 Bhupat Seemar Suited & Booted – My Future Champion Racing [46]
not nominated[4] Whatchadoin (IRE) 10 $1,170 Josh Halley Carly Halley [50]
not nominated[4] Venetian Prince (GB) 10 $0 Andrew Balding Mr. J.C. Smith [49]
not nominated[4]` Satono Voyage (JPN) 9 $328,707 Hiroyasu Tanaka Hajime Satomi [47]
not nominated[4]` Action (IRE) 8 $76,531 Aidan O'Brien Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor [46]
5 Wonder Dean (JPN) 6 $145,172 Daisuke Takayanagi Yoshinari Yamamoto [47]
not nominated[4]` Tadej (GB) 6 $60,151 Archie Watson Jinky Farms & Partner [49]
not nominated[4]` Union Security 6 $19,061 Ahmad Harmash Mohammed Ahmad Ali Al Subousi [46]

Legend:
  Can qualify for the Derby
  Injured/Bypassing/Inactive/Not nominated

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 [52]
Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun 1,600 metres
(~1 mile) 		Kawasaki Racecourse Dec 17 2025 Pyromancer ƒ Tamamo Freesia Best Green Ayasan Jotaro Cosmo Gigantea [53]
Hyacinth 1,600 metres
(~1 mile) 		Tokyo Racecourse Feb 22 2026 Lucky Kid Don Erectus Itterasshai Boku Mada Nemuiyo Your Felicity [54]
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

Qualification Table

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

As of 27 February 2026
Rank Horse Points Eligible
Earnings 		Trainer Owner Ref
1 Lucky Kid (JPN) 30 $228,417 Yukihiro Kato Godolphin Racing [54]
2 Pyromancer (JPN) 20 $396,606 Keiji Yoshimura Godolphin Racing [53]
not nominated[4]` Don Erectus (JPN) 20 $159,161 Noboru Takagi Koichi Yamada [52]
not nominated[4]` Satono Voyage (JPN) 10 $387,431 Hiroyasu Tanaka Hajime Satomi [52]
not nominated[4]` Tamamo Freesia (JPN) 10 $371,765 Yuki Ohashi Tamamo [53]

Legend:
  Can qualify for the Derby
  Injured/Bypassing/Inactive/Not nominated

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. ^ Connections of Ted Noffey announced that the horse was off the Derby trail after developing bone bruising[19]
  4. ^ Before January 12, 2026 Express Kid was trained by Wade Rarick and owned by Steve Haahr[25]
  5. ^ 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.[30]
  6. ^ Before November 2025 Balboa was trained by Bob Baffert
  7. ^ Mesquite was taken off the Kentucky Derby trail due to a soft tissue injury[36]
  8. ^ There were only four starters in the 2026 Jerome Stakes.
  9. ^ Originally scheduled for January 31st, the Withers was moved to February 6th due to inclement weather caused by Winter Storm Fern.[39]
  10. ^ Like the Withers, the Southwest was postponed from January 31st to February 6th due to inclement weather.[40]
  11. ^ Dead heat for fourth place
  12. ^ There were only four starters in the 2026 European Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes
  13. ^ Hidden Force is ahead of Blanc de Blanc due to more career earnings.
  14. ^ Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum died 29 December 2025[51]

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 d e f g h i j k l m n o "Road to the Kentucky Derby 151" (PDF). www.kentuckyderby.com. 14 March 2026. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah "2026 Triple Crown Nominations". BloodHorse. February 3, 2026. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d "2026 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Listed - (race 9)". equibase. 21 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  6. ^ a b "2026 TwinSpires Louisiana Derby Grade 2 - (race 12)". equibase. 21 March 2026. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Sunland Park Derby" (PDF). equibase. 15 February 2026. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Remsen Stakes (Gr. 2)". equibase. 6 December 2025. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Street Sense Stakes (Gr. 3)". equibase. 26 October 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d "2026 Lecomte Stakes Grade 3 – (race 13)". equibase. 17 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Sam F. Davis Stakes". equibase. 7 February 2026. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  12. ^ a b c d "Southwest Stakes (Gr. 3)" (PDF). equibase. 6 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  13. ^ a b "2026 Rebel Stakes Grade 2 - (race 11)". equibase. 1 March 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  14. ^ a b c d e "2026 Jeff Ruby Steaks Grade 3 - (race 12)". equibase. 21 March 2026. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  15. ^ a b c d "2026 Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes Grade 2 - (race 14)". equibase. 28 February 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
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