The “Road to the Kentucky Derby” is a 34-race series that awards points to the Top 4 finishers in each race. The Top 20 point earners will earn a spot in the starting gate for the 142nd running of the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade 1) on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Earnings in non-restricted stakes races serve as a tie-breaker. 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 every year since 2004, and 15 of the last 17 years.
Below is the final Road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard following the Arkansas Derby and Lexington. The field is limited to 20 starters and we’ve never seen a higher required point total (currently sitting at 32) to get into the starting gate on that first Saturday in May.
| Rank | Horse | Trainer | Points | Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gun Runner | Steve Asmussen | 151 | $849,200 |
| 2 | Nyquist | Doug O'Neill | 130 | $3,289,000 |
| 3 | Exaggerator | Keith Desormeaux | 126 | $1,628,000 |
| 4 | Outwork | Todd Pletcher | 120 | $660,000 |
| 5 | Brody's Cause | Dale Romans | 114 | $1,100,000 |
| 6 | Creator | Steve Asmussen | 110 | $690,000 |
| 7 | Lani | Mikio Matsunaga | 100 | $1,300,119 |
| 8 | Mor Spirit | Bob Baffert | 84 | $616,800 |
| 9 | Mohaymen | Kiaran McLaughlin | 80 | $807,750 |
| 10 | Danzing Candy | Cliff Sise Jr. | 60 | $290,000 |
| 11 | Destin | Todd Pletcher | 51 | $338,000 |
| 12 | Suddenbreakingnews | Donnie Von Hemel | 50 | $637,000 |
| 13 | $+ Oscar Nominated | Mike Maker | 50 | $321,360 |
| 14 | Shagaf | Chad Brown | 50 | $270,000 |
| 15 | Whitmore | Ron Moquett | 44 | $400,000 |
| 16 | Tom's Ready | Dallas Stewart | 44 | $270,670 |
| 17 | My Man Sam | Chad Brown | 40 | $200,000 |
| 18 | Majesto | Gustavo Delgado | 40 | $190,000 (Career: $239,500) |
| 19 | Trojan Nation | Paddy Gallagher | 40 | $190,000 (Career: $213,290) |
| 20 | Mo Tom | Tom Amoss | 32 | $268,326 |
| 21 | Fellowship | Mark Casse | 32 | $206,590 |
| 22 | Adventist | Leah Gyarmati | 32 | $155,000 |
| 23 | Laoban | Eric Guillot | 32 | $142,000 |
| 24 | Dazzling Gem | Brad Cox | 30 | $150,000 |
| 25 | Cherry Wine | Dale Romans | 25 | $145,000 |
| 26 | Discreetness | Williams Fires | 10 | $251,011 |
$+ = Not Triple Crown nominated but owner intends to pay $200,000 supplemental nomination at time of entry
Sidelined, inactive or appears to be no longer under serious Kentucky Derby consideration have been removed
2015 FINAL LEADERBOARD – 1. International Star (171), 2. Dortmund (170), 3. Carpe Diem (164), 4. American Pharoah (160), 5. Frosted (113), 6. Mubtaahij-IRE (100, $1,400,000), 7. Materiality (100, $632,028), 8. El Kabeir (95), 9. Upstart (76), 10. Far Right (62), 11. Itsaknockout (60), 12. Firing Line (58), 13. Danzig Moon (45), 14. War Story (44), 15. Tencendur (41), 16. Stanford (40), 17. Mr. Z (34), 18. Ocho Ocho Ocho (30, $760,250), 19. Bolo (30, $214,980), 20. Keen Ice (22), AE 21. Frammento (20) and AE 22. Tale of Verve (0).
2014 FINAL LEADERBOARD –1. California Chrome (150), 2. Vicar’s in Trouble (120), 3. Dance With Fate (108), 4. Wicked Strong (102), 5. Samraat (100, $640,000), 6. Danza (100, $620,000), 7. Hoppertunity (95), 8. Intense Holiday (93), 9. Wildcat Red (90), 10. We Miss Artie (60), 11. Ride On Curlin (55), 12. Chitu (54), 13. Tapiture (52), 14. General a Rod (40, $240,000), 15. Medal Count (40, $226,500), 16. Candy Boy (30), 17. Uncle Sigh (24), 18. Vinceremos (20, $191,666), 19. Harry’s Holiday (20, $152,622), 20. Commanding Curve (20, $104,000) and AE 21. Pablo Del Monte (20, $102,000).
2013 FINAL LEADERBOARD –1. Orb (150, $840,000), 2. Verrazano (150, $810,000), 3. Goldencents (129), 4. Java’s War (122), 5. Overanalyze (110, $908,381), 6. Revolutionary (110, $720,000), 7. Lines of Battle (100), 8. Vyjack (70), 9. Will Take Charge (60), 10. Itsmyluckyday (50, $593,600), 11. Black Onyx (50, $317,130), 12. Palace Malice (50, $200,000), 13. Normandy Invasion (44, $258,000), 14. Frac Daddy (44, $240,596), 15. Mylute (42), 16. Oxbow (36), 17. Falling Sky (30), 18. Charming Kitten (20), 19. Golden Soul (14), 20. Giant Finish (10) and AE 21. Fear the Kitten (6).
