2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby

The 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby was a series of races in 2024–2025 through which horses qualified for the 2025 Kentucky Derby, which was held on May 3.

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 seven 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 2025, the main Road to the Kentucky Derby resembled the 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby, consisting of 36 races, with 21 races for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and 15 races for the Kentucky Derby Championship Season with the following changes:

• The Virginia Derby, a new event introduced by Churchill Downs Inc, was held on March 15 at Colonial Downs on the dirt and has been added to the Championship Season
• The Listed Sunland Park Derby was moved from the Kentucky Derby Championship Season to the Kentucky Derby Prep Season
• The UAE Derby was moved from the main North American road and placed in the rebranded Euro/Mideast road
• The Cardinal Stakes was removed from the Euro/Mideast road

Also there was an adjustment of points in Championship Series races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. A minimum of six horses was required for full points to be awarded. Reduced points were offered if fewer than six horses started. Three-fourth points were available when five horses started, and half points if four or fewer horses started.

The following table shows the points earned in the eligible races for the main series. Entrants that have been nominated are ranked in the standings.

As of May 2, 2025

Legend:

  Also eligible

  Scratched

  Injured/Bypassing/Inactive/Not nominated

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)

The dates for most races shown below are based on the placement in the racing calendar from 2023/2024. Similarly, the purses shown below are based on the amounts from the previous year and will be updated when finalized.

Note: 1st=20 points; 2nd=10 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points

Note: 1st=50 points; 2nd=25 points; 3rd=15 points; 4th=10 points; 5th=5 points

San Felipe Stakes: 1st=37.5 points; 2nd=18.75 points; 3rd=11.25 points; 4th=7.5 points; 5th=3.75 points

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 following events:

Santa Anita Derby: 1st=75 points; 2nd=37.5 points; 3rd=18.75 points; 4th=11.25 points; 5th=7.5 points

Lexington Stakes; 1st=20 points; 2nd=10 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points

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 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. If neither 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 seven races – four run on the turf in late 2024 when the horses are age two, plus two races run on a synthetic surface in early 2025 and the UAE Derby which has been moved to this rebranded Road to the Kentucky Derby for the first time.

Note:

• the four races in 2024 for two-year-olds: 1st=10 points; 2nd=5 points; 3rd=3 points; 4th=2 points; 5th=1 point
• the first two races in 2025: 1st=20 points; 2nd=10 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 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 horse is nominated.

Legend:

ƒ Filly

  qualified

  did not qualify

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.

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

Fukuryu: 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.

Legend:

ƒ Filly

  qualified

  did not qualify