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 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.

Standings

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.

RankHorsePointsEarningsTrainerOwnerRef1 Girvin 150 $849,800 Joe Sharp Brad Grady 2 Classic Empire 132 $2,093,820 Mark Casse John C. Oxley 3 Gormley 125 $884,000 John Shirreffs Jerry and Ann Moss 4 Irap 113 $760,000 Doug O'Neill Reddam Racing 5 Irish War Cry 110 $676,660 H. Graham Motion Isabelle de Tomaso 6 Thunder Snow (IRE) 100 $1,621,063 Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 7 Always Dreaming 100 $589,000 Todd Pletcher Brooklyn Boyz Stables, MeB Racing, St Elias Stables et al. 8 Gunnevera 84 $1,137,800 Antonio Sano Peacock Racing 9 Practical Joke 74 $966,000 Chad Brown Klaravich Stables & William Lawrence 10J Boys Echo63 $305,000 Dale Romans Albaugh Family Stables11State of Honor62 $310,564Mark CasseConrad Farms injured Mastery 60 $480,000 Bob Baffert Cheyenne Stables not nominated Conquest Mo Money 60 $370,000 Miguel Hernandez Judge Lanier Racing12Tapwrit 54 $325,570Todd PletcherBridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred & Robert LaPenta bypass Malagacy 50 $570,000 Todd Pletcher Sumaya U.S. Stable 13 Hence 50 $401,129Steve AsmussenCalumet Farm 14 Fast and Accurate 50 $320,712 Michael Maker Kendall Hansen declinedEpicharis (JPN)40$851,195Kiyoshi HagiwaraU Carrot Farm 15McCraken40 $385,048Ian WilkesWhitham Thoroughbreds16Battle of Midway40 $224,000Jerry HollendorferFox Hill Farms17Patch40 $200,000Todd PletcherCalumet Farm bypass Battalion Runner 40 $140,000Todd PletcherSt. Elias StablebypassCloud Computing40 $115,000Chad BrownKlaravich Stables & William Lawrence18Untrapped34 $210,000Steve AsmussenMichael Langford 19 Lookin At Lee 32 $428,600 Steve Asmussen L and N Racing injuredEl Areeb30 $330,000Cathal LynchM M G Stables 20 Sonneteer 30 $236,000 J. Keith Desormeaux Calumet Farm 21Royal Mo30 $213,000John Shirreffs Jerry & Ann Moss -Local Hero30 $140,000Steven M. Asmussene Five Racing Thoroughbreds -Iliad20 $220,000Doug O'NeillKaleem Shah22Master Plan20 $214,700Todd PletcherAl Shaqab Racing, Winstar Farm & China Horse Club - Blueridge Traveler 20 $95,000 Kenneth McPeek Horizon Stables injured Not This Time 18 $430,210 Dale Romans Albaugh Family - Wild Shot 17 $132,200 George ArnoldCalumet Farm - True Timber 16 $124,000 Kiaran McLaughlin Calumet Farm -Guest Suite15 $144,040Neil HowardFarish and Kilroy - Petrov 13 $195,000 Ron Moquett Rialto Racing & Southern Springs Stables - No Dozing 12 $126,500 Arnaud Delacour Lael Stables - Term of Art 11 $119,000 Doug O'Neill Calumet Farm - Uncontested 11 $99,300 Wayne Catalano Lapenta & Rosenblum - Lancaster Bomber10 $417,430Aidan O'BrienTabor, Smith & Magnier One Liner 10 $300,000 Todd Pletcher WinStar Farm, China Horse Club & SF Racing - Mo Town 10 $188,000 Anthony W. Dutrow Magnier, Tabor, Smith, Team D - Senior Investment 10 $130,000 Kenneth McPeek Fern Circle Stables - Zakaroff 10 $120,000 Steven Specht Antone Metaxas -Three Rules10 $142,240Jose PinchinShade Tree Thoroughbreds euthanized Reach the World 10 $50,000 Bob Baffert Don Alberto Stable - Convict Pike 10 $47,500 George R. Arnold Ashbrook Farm -Hollywood Handsome10 $40,000Dallas StewartMark H. Stanley - Talk Logistics 6 $60,100 Edward Plesa Jr. Hardway Stables Bonus Points5 $52,500Todd PletcherThree Diamonds Farm - Action Everyday 5 $15,000 St. Elias Stable Todd Pletcher bypassKlimt4 $380,000Bob BaffertKaleem Shah -Hot Sean4 $180,000Bob BaffertWatson, Pegram & Weilman -Dangerfield 4 $171,500 Doug O'Neill WC Racing & Zayat Stables - Syndergaard 4 $160,000 Todd PletcherFein, McKenna, et al. - More Power to Him 4 $40,000 Faith Taylor Brett Mason - American Anthem 4 $23,000 Bob Baffert WinStar Farm, S F Bloodstock & China Horse Club - Warrior's Club 3 $27,528 Wayne Catalano Churchill Downs Racing Club -Straight Fire2$96,000J. Keith DesormeauxJungle Racing et al. -Recruiting Ready2$52,025Horacio DePazSagamore Farm - Favorable Outcome 2 $50,345 Chad Brown Klaravich Stables & William Lawrence - Rowdy the Warrior 2 $34,429 Donnie Von Hemel Robert Zoellner - Takaful 2 $31,500 Kiaran McLaughlin Shadwell Stable - Tribal Storm 2 $24,000 Ed Moger Jr. Curt and Lila Lanning - Win With Pride 2 $22,500 Todd Pletcher Repole & St Elias Stables -Takeoff2 $20,000Mark CasseJohn Oxley -Sheer Flattery2 $18,000Jerry Hollendorfer Barrow, Robertson & Hollendorfer - Big Hit 2 $12,000 Philip D'Amato Gary & Mary West -Midnight Pleasure1$54,000Shelbe RuisRuis Racing Silver Dust 1 $54,857Randy L. Morse Tom Durant - Big Gray Rocket 1 $25,000Bob Baffert Frank Fletcher Racing - Ann Arbor Eddie 1 $32,000 Doug O'Neill Reddam Racing - Bobby Abu Dhabi 1 $18,000 Peter Miler Rockingham Ranch - Arklow 1 $8,000 Brad H. Cox Donegal Racing

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

Prep season

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) RaceDistancePurseTrackDate1st2nd3rd4thRefIroquois1-1/16 miles$150,000Churchill DownsSep 17 2016 Not This Time Lookin At Lee Recruiting Ready Honor Thy Father FrontRunner1-1/16 miles$300,000Santa AnitaOct 1 2016GormleyKlimtStraight FireMidnight PleasureChampagne1-mile$300,000BelmontOct 8 2016 Practical Joke Syndergaard Favorable Outcome Big Gray Rocket Breeders' Futurity1-1/16 miles$400,000KeenelandOct 8 2016Classic EmpireLookin at LeeWild ShotNo DozingBreeders' Cup Juvenile1-1/16 miles$2,000,000Santa AnitaNov 5 2016Classic EmpireNot This TimePractical JokeLookin at LeeDelta Downs Jackpot1-1/16 miles$1,000,000Delta DownsNov 19 2016GunneveraHot SeanDangerfieldJ Boys EchoRemsen1-1/8 miles$300,000AqueductNov 26 2016Mo TownNo DozingTakafulWin With PrideKentucky Jockey Club1-1/16 miles$150,000Churchill DownsNov 26 2016McCrakenWild ShotWarrior's ClubUncontestedLos Alamitos Futurity1-1/16 miles$500,000Los AlamitosDec 10 2016MasteryIrapDangerfieldBobby Abu DhaiJerome1-mile 70 yards$200,000AqueductJan 2 2017El AreebBonus PointsTrue TimberWin With PrideSham1-mile$100,000Santa AnitaJan 7 2017GormleyAmerican AnthemBig HitBird Is The WordSmarty Jones1-mile$150,000OaklawnJan 16 2017UncontestedPetrovRowdy the WarriorWarrior's ClubLecomte1-mile 70 yards$200,000Fair GroundsJan 21 2017Guest SuiteUntrappedTakeoffArklowHoly Bull1-1/16 miles$350,000GulfstreamFeb 4 2017Irish War CryGunneveraClassic EmpireTalk LogisticsWithers1-1/16 miles$200,000AqueductFeb 4 2017 El Areeb True Timber J Boys Echo Bonus Points Robert B. Lewis1-1/16 miles$150,000Santa AnitaFeb 4 2017Royal MoIrapSheer FlatteryTerm of ArtSam F. Davis Stakes1-1/16 miles$150,000Tampa BayFeb 11 2017 McCraken TapwritState of Honor Wild Shot El Camino Real Derby1-1/8 miles$200,000Golden GateFeb 18 2017 ZakaroffMore Power to Him Tribal Storm Ann Arbor Eddie Southwest1-1/16 miles$500,000OaklawnFeb 20 2017One LinerPetrovLookin At LeeSilver Dust

Championship series

First leg of series Note: 1st=50 points; 2nd=20 points; 3rd=10 points; 4th=5 points RaceDistancePurseTrackDate1st2nd3rd4thRefRisen Star1-1/16 miles$400,000Fair GroundsFeb 25 2017GirvinUntrappedLocal HeroGuest SuiteFountain of Youth1-1/16 miles$400,000GulfstreamMar 4 2017GunneveraPractical JokeThree RulesTalk LogisticsGotham1-1/16 miles$500,000AqueductMar 4 2017J Boys EchoCloud ComputingEl AreebAction EverydayTampa Bay Derby1-1/16 miles$350,000Tampa Bay Mar 11 2017TapwritState of HonorWild ShotNo DozingSan Felipe1-1/16 miles$300,000Santa AnitaMar 11 2017MasteryIliadTerm of ArtGormleyRebel1-1/16 miles$900,000OaklawnMar 18 2017MalagacySonneteerUntrappedPetrovSpiral1-1/8 miles$500,000Turfway Mar 25 2017 Fast and AccurateBlueridge TravelerConvict PikeKitten's CatSunland Derby1-1/8 miles$800,000Sunland Park Mar 26 2017 Hence Conquest Mo Money Hedge Fund Irap

Second leg of series 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 RaceDistancePurseTrackDate1st2nd3rd4thRefUAE Derby1,900 metres~1-3/16 miles$2,000,000Meydan Mar 25 2017 Thunder Snow (IRE) Epicharis (JPN) Master Plan Lancaster Bomber Louisiana Derby1-1/8 miles$1,000,000Fair Grounds Apr 1 2017 Girvin Patch Local Hero Hollywood Handsome Florida Derby1-1/8 miles$1,000,000Gulfstream Apr 1 2017 Always Dreaming State of Honor Gunnevera Impressive Edge Wood Memorial1-1/8 miles$750,000Aqueduct Apr 8 2017 Irish War Cry Battalion Runner Cloud Computing True Timber Blue Grass Stakes1-1/8 miles$1,000,000Keeneland Apr 8 2017 Irap Practical Joke McCraken J Boys EchoSanta Anita Derby1-1/8 miles$1,000,000Santa Anita Apr 8 2017 Gormley Battle of Midway Royal Mo Reach the World Arkansas Derby1-1/8 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 RaceDistancePurseTrackDate1st2nd3rd4thRefLexington1-1/8 miles $200,000Keeneland Apr 15 2017 Senior Investment West Coast No Dozing Time to Travel

Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby

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.

RankHorsePointsTrainerOwnerRef1Epicharis50Kiyoshi HagiwaraU Carrot Farm 2 Mont Saint Legame 40 Koji Maki Shinichi Yamashita 3Adirato20Naosuke SugaiKoji Yasuhara 4Caucus16Hideaki FujiwaraSheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum 5Hypernova10Hiroyuki OnedaJunzo Miyakawa 6Blanc Eclat8Ryo TakeiKT Racing 7Foggy Night5Noriyuki HoriKaneko Makoto Holdings 8Lavapies4Ryuki OkuboSilk Racing

RaceDistanceTrackDate1st2nd3rd4thRefCattleya 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

See also 2017 Road to the Kentucky Oaks

Notes

References

External links