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2017 Road to the Kentucky Derby
The 2017 Road to the Kentucky Derby was a series of races through which horses qualified for the 2017 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.
The 2017 Road to the Kentucky Derby was a series of races through which horses qualified for the 2017 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.
The Road to the Kentucky Derby gives points to the top four finishers in specified races. The 2017 season consisted of 35 races, 19 races for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and 16 races for the Kentucky Derby Championship Season. Earnings in non-restricted stakes acted as a tie breaker. The races for the 2017 series were mostly the same as in the 2016 series, except that the Sam F. Davis stakes replaced the Iroquois Stakes.
On September 12, 2016, Churchill Downs announced the introduction of a separate Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, which consisted of two races: the Cattleya Sho on November 26, 2016, and the Hyacinth on February 19, 2017. The winner of this series was offered one of the 20 positions available in the Kentucky Derby starting gate. However, the offer was declined by the connections of the winner, Epicharis, and those of the two runners-up. Therefore, all 20 positions and the 'also eligibles' were determined through the regular Road to the Kentucky Derby.
The following table shows the points earned in the eligible races. Entries for the Kentucky Derby were taken on May 3. The race was won by Always Dreaming.
As of May 3, 2017
- Winner of Kentucky Derby in bold
- Entrants for Kentucky Derby in blue
- "Also eligible" for Kentucky Derby in green
- Sidelined/Inactive/No longer under Derby Consideration/Not nominated in gray
Note: 1st=10 points; 2nd=4 points; 3rd=2 points; 4th=1 point (except the Breeders' Cup Juvenile: 1st=20 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=4 points; 4th=2 point)
| Race | Distance | Purse | Track | Date | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iroquois | 1-1/16 miles | $150,000 | Churchill Downs | Sep 17 2016 | Not This Time | Lookin At Lee | Recruiting Ready | Honor Thy Father | |
| FrontRunner | 1-1/16 miles | $300,000 | Santa Anita | Oct 1 2016 | Gormley | Klimt | Straight Fire | Midnight Pleasure | |
| Champagne | 1-mile | $300,000 | Belmont | Oct 8 2016 | Practical Joke | Syndergaard | Favorable Outcome | Big Gray Rocket | |
| Breeders' Futurity | 1-1/16 miles | $400,000 | Keeneland | Oct 8 2016 | Classic Empire | Lookin at Lee | Wild Shot | No Dozing | |
| Breeders' Cup Juvenile | 1-1/16 miles | $2,000,000 | Santa Anita | Nov 5 2016 | Classic Empire | Not This Time | Practical Joke | Lookin at Lee | |
| Delta Downs Jackpot | 1-1/16 miles | $1,000,000 | Delta Downs | Nov 19 2016 | Gunnevera | Hot Sean | Dangerfield | J Boys Echo | |
| Remsen | 1-1/8 miles | $300,000 | Aqueduct | Nov 26 2016 | Mo Town | No Dozing | Takaful | Win With Pride | |
| Kentucky Jockey Club | 1-1/16 miles | $150,000 | Churchill Downs | Nov 26 2016 | McCraken | Wild Shot | Warrior's Club | Uncontested | |
| Los Alamitos Futurity | 1-1/16 miles | $500,000 | Los Alamitos | Dec 10 2016 | Mastery | Irap | Dangerfield | Bobby Abu Dhai | |
| Jerome | 1-mile 70 yards | $200,000 | Aqueduct | Jan 2 2017 | El Areeb | Bonus Points | True Timber | Win With Pride | |
| Sham | 1-mile | $100,000 | Santa Anita | Jan 7 2017 | Gormley | American Anthem | Big Hit | Bird Is The Word | |
| Smarty Jones | 1-mile | $150,000 | Oaklawn | Jan 16 2017 | Uncontested | Petrov | Rowdy the Warrior | Warrior's Club | |
| Lecomte | 1-mile 70 yards | $200,000 | Fair Grounds | Jan 21 2017 | Guest Suite | Untrapped | Takeoff | Arklow | |
| Holy Bull | 1-1/16 miles | $350,000 | Gulfstream | Feb 4 2017 | Irish War Cry | Gunnevera | Classic Empire | Talk Logistics | |
| Withers | 1-1/16 miles | $200,000 | Aqueduct | Feb 4 2017 | El Areeb | True Timber | J Boys Echo | Bonus Points | |
| Robert B. Lewis | 1-1/16 miles | $150,000 | Santa Anita | Feb 4 2017 | Royal Mo | Irap | Sheer Flattery | Term of Art | |
| Sam F. Davis Stakes | 1-1/16 miles | $150,000 | Tampa Bay | Feb 11 2017 | McCraken | Tapwrit | State of Honor | Wild Shot | |
| El Camino Real Derby | 1-1/8 miles | $200,000 | Golden Gate | Feb 18 2017 | Zakaroff | More Power to Him | Tribal Storm | Ann Arbor Eddie | |
| Southwest | 1-1/16 miles | $500,000 | Oaklawn | Feb 20 2017 | One Liner | Petrov | Lookin At Lee | Silver Dust |
Note: 1st=50 points; 2nd=20 points; 3rd=10 points; 4th=5 points
| Race | Distance | Purse | Track | Date | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Risen Star | 1-1/16 miles | $400,000 | Fair Grounds | Feb 25 2017 | Girvin | Untrapped | Local Hero | Guest Suite | |
| Fountain of Youth | 1-1/16 miles | $400,000 | Gulfstream | Mar 4 2017 | Gunnevera | Practical Joke | Three Rules | Talk Logistics | |
| Gotham | 1-1/16 miles | $500,000 | Aqueduct | Mar 4 2017 | J Boys Echo | Cloud Computing | El Areeb | Action Everyday | |
| Tampa Bay Derby | 1-1/16 miles | $350,000 | Tampa Bay | Mar 11 2017 | Tapwrit | State of Honor | Wild Shot | No Dozing | |
| San Felipe | 1-1/16 miles | $300,000 | Santa Anita | Mar 11 2017 | Mastery | Iliad | Term of Art | Gormley | |
| Rebel | 1-1/16 miles | $900,000 | Oaklawn | Mar 18 2017 | Malagacy | Sonneteer | Untrapped | Petrov | |
| Spiral | 1-1/8 miles | $500,000 | Turfway | Mar 25 2017 | Fast and Accurate | Blueridge Traveler | Convict Pike | Kitten's Cat | |
| Sunland Derby | 1-1/8 miles | $800,000 | Sunland Park | Mar 26 2017 | Hence | Conquest Mo Money | Hedge Fund | Irap |
These races are the major preps for the Kentucky Derby, and are thus weighted more heavily. Note: 1st=100 points; 2nd=40 points; 3rd=20 points; 4th=10 points
| Race | Distance | Purse | Track | Date | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE Derby | 1,900 metres~1-3/16 miles | $2,000,000 | Meydan | Mar 25 2017 | Thunder Snow (IRE) | Epicharis (JPN) | Master Plan | Lancaster Bomber | |
| Louisiana Derby | 1-1/8 miles | $1,000,000 | Fair Grounds | Apr 1 2017 | Girvin | Patch | Local Hero | Hollywood Handsome | |
| Florida Derby | 1-1/8 miles | $1,000,000 | Gulfstream | Apr 1 2017 | Always Dreaming | State of Honor | Gunnevera | Impressive Edge | |
| Wood Memorial | 1-1/8 miles | $750,000 | Aqueduct | Apr 8 2017 | Irish War Cry | Battalion Runner | Cloud Computing | True Timber | |
| Blue Grass Stakes | 1-1/8 miles | $1,000,000 | Keeneland | Apr 8 2017 | Irap | Practical Joke | McCraken | J Boys Echo | |
| Santa Anita Derby | 1-1/8 miles | $1,000,000 | Santa Anita | Apr 8 2017 | Gormley | Battle of Midway | Royal Mo | Reach the World | |
| Arkansas Derby | 1-1/8 miles | $1,000,000 | Oaklawn Park | Apr 15 2017 | Classic Empire | Conquest Mo Money | Lookin At Lee | Sonneteer |
"Wild Card"
Note: 1st=10 points; 2nd=4 points; 3rd=2 points; 4th=1 point
| Race | Distance | Purse | Track | Date | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | 1-1/8 miles | $200,000 | Keeneland | Apr 15 2017 | Senior Investment | West Coast | No Dozing | Time to Travel |
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 if necessary to the third-place finisher. If neither of the top three accept, this place in the starting gate reverts to the 20th-place finisher on the regular road to the Derby. For 2017, the top three-finishers in the Japan Road declined the offer.
| Rank | Horse | Points | Trainer | Owner | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Epicharis | 50 | Kiyoshi Hagiwara | U Carrot Farm | |
| 2 | Mont Saint Legame | 40 | Koji Maki | Shinichi Yamashita | |
| 3 | Adirato | 20 | Naosuke Sugai | Koji Yasuhara | |
| 4 | Caucus | 16 | Hideaki Fujiwara | Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum | |
| 5 | Hypernova | 10 | Hiroyuki Oneda | Junzo Miyakawa | |
| 6 | Blanc Eclat | 8 | Ryo Takei | KT Racing | |
| 7 | Foggy Night | 5 | Noriyuki Hori | Kaneko Makoto Holdings | |
| 8 | Lavapies | 4 | Ryuki Okubo | Silk Racing |
| Race | Distance | Track | Date | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cattleya Sho | 1,600 m (about 1 mile) | Tokyo Racecourse | Nov 26 2016 | Mont Saint Legame | Caucus | Blanc Eclat | Lavapies | |
| Hyacinth | 1,600 m (about 1 mile) | Tokyo Racecourse | Feb 19, 2017 | Epicharis | Adirato | Hyper Nova | Foggy Night |
Note: Cattleya Sho: 1st=40 points; 2nd=16 points; 3rd=8 points; 4th=4 points Note: Hyacinth: 1st=50 points; 2nd=20 points; 3rd=10 points; 4th=5 points
- 2017 Road to the Kentucky Oaks
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