(Ky Derby trophy / Coady Photography)

From the Churchill Downs Media Team:

HOW TO GET INTO THE KENTUCKY DERBY STARTING GATE – The Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve is a series of races that awards points to the Top 4 finishers in each race. The top 18 point earners will earn a spot in the starting gate for the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I), which is scheduled for Saturday, May 7, 2022. One invitation will be extended to the top point earners in the Europe Road to the Kentucky Presented by Woodford Reserve and one invitation will be extended to the top point earners in the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. The Kentucky Derby field has been limited to 20 starters since 1975. At least 20 horses have entered the 1 1⁄4-mile race for 3-year-olds in 20 of the last 23 years and every year from 2004-19.

Top Contenders & Points Leaders for 2022 KY Derby:

  1. Epicenter — 164 points
  2. Crown Pride (JPN) — 100
  3. Classic Causeway — 66
  4. Un Ojo — 54
  5. Simplification — 54
  6. Forbidden Kingdom — 50
  7. Morello — 50
  8. Summer Is Tomorrow — 40
  9. Zozos — 40
  10. Smile Happy — 30
  11. Pioneer of Medina — 25
  12. Grantham — 21
  13. Rattle N Roll — 20
  14. Ethereal Road — 20
  15. Island Falcon — 20
  16. In Due Time — 20
  17. Dean’s List — 20
  18. Barber Road — 18
  19. Pappacap — 14
  20. Zandon — 14
  21. Shipsational — 14
  22. White Abarrio — 12
  23. Mo Donegal — 12
  24. Tiz the Bomb — 10
  25. Slow Down Andy — 10
  26. Dash Attack — 10
  27. Early Voting — 10
  28. Call Me Midnight — 10
  29. Courvoisier — 10
  30. Bendoog — 10
  31. Happy Jack — 10
  32. Goden Code — 10
  33. O Captain — 10