(Chief Wallabee / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY

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 five finishers in each race. The top 17 point-earners will earn a spot in the starting gate for the 152nd

running of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I), which is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2026. Up to two invitations will be

extended to the top point-earners in the Euro/Mideast 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 ¼-mile race for 3-year-olds in 24 of the last 27 years.

Road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard

  1. Commandment — 150 points
  2. Further Ado — 135
  3. Renegade — 125
  4. So Happy — 115
  5. Fulleffort — 110
  6. The Puma — 106
  7. Silent Tactic — 100
  8. Emerging Market — 100
  9. Albus — 100
  10. Potente — 100
  11. Pavlovian — 70
  12. Right to Party — 65
  13. Incredibolt — 60
  14. Golden Tempo — 60
  15. Stark Contrast
  16. Iron Honor — 50
  17. Chief Wallabee — 50
  18. Danon Bourbon — Japan RTKD
  19. Wonder Dean — Europ / Mideast RTKD
  20. Six Speed — Euro / Mideast RTKD
  21. Chip Honcho — 40
  22. Intrepido — 38
  23. Litmust Test — 34
  24. Great White — 30
  25. Napoleon Solo — 25
  26. Ocelli — 25

(Prom Queen gets a spa treatment on Sunday at Churchill Downs / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

 

ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY OAKS

HOW TO GET INTO THE KENTUCKY OAKS STARTING GATE – The Road to the Kentucky Oaks is a series that awards points to the top

five finishers in each race. The top 14 point-earners nominated to the Longines Kentucky Oaks will earn a spot in the starting gate for the 152nd

running of the Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I), which is scheduled for Friday, May 1, 2026. The 1 1/8-mile Oaks is the nation’s premier race for 3-

year-old fillies. At least 14 horses have entered the race in 10 of the last 11 years (a rescheduled September 2020 is the lone exception).

Road to the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard

  1. Meaning — 126 points
  2. Percy’s Bar — 114
  3. Bella Ballerina — 110
  4. Counting Stars — 100
  5. Prom Queen — 100
  6. Always a Runner — 100
  7. Explora — 95
  8. Zany — 80
  9. She Be Smooth — 75
  10. My Miss Me — 75
  11. Search Party — 67.5
  12. Pashmina — 63
  13. Paradise — 62.5
  14. Bottle of Rouge — 57.5
  15. Lorelei Lee — 50
  16. Brooklyn Blonde — 50
  17. Dazzling Dame — 40.75
  18. Lovely Grey — 35
  19. Nycon — 33.75
  20. Resist — 21