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.
Standings 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.
RankHorsePointsEarningsTrainerOwnerRef 1 Burnham Square 130 $927,425 Ian R. Wilkes Whitham Thoroughbreds 2 Sandman 129 $1,117,995 Mark E. Casse D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds & CJ Stables 3 Journalism 122.5 $600,000 Michael W. McCarthy Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, Robert V. LaPenta; as lessees Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor 4–scratched Rodriguez 121.25 $476,000 Bob Baffert SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan 5 Tiztastic 119 $1,395,800 Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor injuredTappan Street110$619,400Brad H. CoxChina Horse Club, WinStar Farm & Cold Press Racing 6 Sovereignty 110 $548,800 William I. Mott Godolphin 7 Final Gambit 100 $446,400 Brad H. Cox Juddmonte Farms 8 Coal Battle 95 $1,169,500 Lonnie Briley Norman Stables 9 Chunk of Gold 75 $324,400 Ethan West Terry L. Stephens 10 Citizen Bull 71.25 $1,436,000 Bob Baffert SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan 11Owen Almighty 65$430,935Brian A. LynchFlying Dutchmen12East Avenue60$612,500Brendan P. WalshGodolphin 13 Publisher 60 $355,000 Steven M. Asmussen Gus King & Estate of Brereton C. Jones 14 American Promise 55 $335,000 D. Wayne Lukas BC Stables injured Magnitude 55 $325,005 Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds bypassing River Thames 50 $176,700 Todd A. Pletcher WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Pantofel Stable & Wachtel Stable bypassing Flood Zone 50 $174,993 Brad H. Cox Wathnan Racing 15 Flying Mohawk 50 $156,800 Whit Beckman Two Eight Racing, Berry Family Racing & Kaleta Racing 16–scratched Grande 50 $140,000 Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable bypassing Getaway Car 46 $578,000 Bob Baffert SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan bypassing Madaket Road46$290,000Bob BaffertSF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan bypassing Built 45 $180,000 Wayne M. Catalano Eclipse Thoroughbreds Partners 17 Neoequos 40 $153,250 Saffie Joseph Jr. Ian Parsard, Shining Stables & Stefania Farms 18 Render Judgment 39 $163,172 Kenneth G. McPeek Baccari Racing Stable, Dream Walkin Farms, MJM Racing & Rocket Ship Racing 19 Luxor Cafe Japan $257,209 Noriyuki Hori Koichi Nishikawa 20 $599,044 Yukihiro Kato Junko Kondo bypassing $281,558 Jamie Osbourne Jim & Claire Limited 21 Baeza 37.5 $100,000 John Shirreffs C R K Stable & Grandview Estate bypassing 35 $565,625 Chad C. Brown Flanagan Racing bypassing Captain Cook 35 $187,500 Richard Dutrow Jr. St. Elias Stable bypassing John Hancock 35 $160,000 Brad H. Cox China Horse Club & WinStar Farm bypassing Maximum Promise 33 $96,150 Kenneth G. McPeek Back Racing & Run for LaRoses bypassing Poster 31 $194,700 Eoin G. Harty Godolphin bypassing Barnes 26.25 $180,000 Bob Baffert Zedan Racing Stables bypassing Omaha Omaha 26 $142,500 Michael Gorham Nathan J. Nelson, Gary T. Carlson and Shawn M. Sullivan bypassing Speed King 25 $668,750 Ron Moquett Triton Thoroughbreds Instant Replay 25 $217,000 Brad H. Cox Gary & Mary West bypassing Sand Devil 25 $82,500 Linda L. Rice Chester Broman Sr. bypassing Passion Rules 25 $75,000 Brad H. Cox Calumet Farm injured Hill Road 24 $215,000 Adrian Murray Arno Racing bypassing Gosger 20 $241,800 Brenden P. Walsh Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables injured Disco Time 20 $150,000 Brad H. Cox Juddmonte Farms bypassing California Burrito 20 $109,208 Tommy Drury Jr. Aaron & Victoria Haberman not nominated Westwood 18.75 $30,000 John Shirreffs C R K Stable bypassing Gaming 18 $608,000 Bob Baffert Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman bypassingAdmiral Dennis17$96,188Brad H. CoxAlbaugh Family Stables injured Jonathan's Way 15 $213,530 Philip Bauer Rigney Racing bypassing Cornucopian 15 $81,000 Bob Baffert SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan not nominated McAfee 15 $42,000 Richard Dutrow Jr. Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Judy B. Hicks & Scott C. Rice bypassing Garamond 15 $36,000 Chad C. Brown Juddmonte Farms bypassing Patch Adams 14 $71,500 Brad H. Cox China Horse Club & WinStar Farm bypassing Giocoso 13 $55,345 J. Keith Desormeaux Rocker O Ranch deceased Ferocious 12 $244,500 Gustavo Delgado JR Ranch, Ramiro Restrepo, High Step Racing & OGMA Investments bypassing Studlydoright 11 $272,275 John Robb David R. Hughes bypassing Bracket Buster 11 $83,820 Victoria Oliver BBN Racing injured First Resort 10 $296,776 Eoin G. Harty Godolphin bypassing Caldera 10 $134,360 D. Wayne Lukas MyRacehorse bypassing Baby Max 10 $114,776 Kelsey Danner J S Stables not nominated Brereton's Baytown 10 $85,250 Paul McEntee Baytown Partnerships & Trawitzki Thoroughbreds bypassing Cyclone State 10 $82,500 Chad Summers Gold Square, George Messina & Michael Lee injured Surfside Moon 10 $71,000 James Lawrence II Manor Stable & Mair Lee Stables bypassing Disruptor 10 $27,600 Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable, Spendthrift Farm, Big Easy Racing, Titletown Racing, Winners Win, Golconda Stable, Ali Goodrich & Mark Parkinson bypassing Vassimo 10 $30,000 Todd A. Pletcher Team Penney Racing not nominated My Mitole 10 $18,000 Carlos Martin Half Hollow Stable injured Mo Quality 9 $63,750 Christopher Davis Walmac Farm bypassing Mellencamp 8.75 $22,000 Bob Baffert SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan bypassing Touchy 6 $145,000 Wesley A. Ward Three Chimneys Farm bypassing Innovator 6 $103,658 D. Wayne Lukas BC Stables bypassing Dapper Moon 6 $46,238 Dallas Stewart Valene Farms bypassing Praetor 6 $30,000 Chad C. Brown William H. Lawrence, CHP Racing & Gainesway Stable injured Burning Glory 6 $24,500 William I. Mott Juddmonte Farms bypassing Gate To Wire 5 $148,950 Todd A. Pletcher Donegal Racing bypassing Tip Top Thomas 5 $100,000 Todd A. Pletcher James J. Bakke & Gerald Isbister injured Aviator Gui 5 $59,000 Chad C. Brown Three Chimneys Farm bypassing Brodeur 5 $10,500 Mark E. Casse D. J. Stable bypassing Take Charge Tom 4 $200,500 Robertino Diodoro Randy Howg not nominated Banks 4 $159,753 Joe Sharp Tom Lambro bypassing Clock Tower 4 $111,438 Wesley A. Ward Mrs. Fitriani Hay bypassing Golden Afternoon 4 $73,875 Nicholas Vaccarezza Pat & Eddie Greco, Scott Jaffe, Michael P. Cloonan & Vaccarezza Racing bypassing Hypnus 4 $60,750Kenneth G. McPeekBrookdale Racing bypassing Camp Hale 4 $10,000 Ian R. Wilkes Whitham Thoroughbreds bypassing Smooth Cruisein 3.75 $18,000 Karen Headley Matson Racing, Sandra L. Brown, Elise & Marsha Naify injured Kale's Angel 3 $355,265 Pete Miller Tom Kagele & Ernest Marchosky bypassing Mo Plex 3 $238,750 R and H Stable not nominated McKinzie Street 3 $112,000 Justin Evans Leslie A. & Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr. & Roger K. Beasley bypassing Filoso 3 $59,875 Chad Summers Gold Square not nominated Dominant Spirit 3 $48,000 W. Bret Calhoun Martin Racing Stable, Bob Gorsky, Circustown Racing Stables, D and B Racing & Luke Brown not nominated Mesero 3 $31,200 Dale L. Romans CJ Thoroughbreds & Delia Nash injured Tux 3 $30,000 William I. Mott LNJ Foxwoods not nominated Ican 3 $25,500 Richard Dutrow Jr. FMQ Stables bypassing Smoken Wicked 2 $200,450 Dallas Stewart Valene Farms bypassing Bullard 2 $95,700 Michael W. McCarthy By Talla Racing, St. Elias Stables, Three Chimneys Farm & West Point Thoroughbreds bypassing He's Not Joking 2 $86,259 Josie Carroll Gianni Di Scola bypassing Monet's Magic 2 $73,500 Ben Colebrook Midway Racing bypassing Bon Temps 2 $39,625 D. Wayne Lukas Calumet Farm bypassing Itsmybirthday 2 $23,640 Robertino Diodoro Arnold Bennewith, Clayton & Rick Wiest injured Very Bold 2 $21,000 Eoin G. Harty Calumet Farm bypassing Emerald Bay 2 $18,000 Bob Baffert Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman not nominated Dr Ruben M 2 $18,000 Doug F. O'Neill The Del Mar Group bypassing Rank 2 $14,500 Doug F. O'Neill Calumet Farm bypassing Uncle Jim 2 $10,000 Linda L. Rice Linda Rice not nominated Valentines Candy 2 $4,000 Jesus Mendoza Dale Brewer not nominated Jolly Samurai 1 $106,500 Danny Pish Jake Brown not nominated Vekoma Rides 1 $20,000 John C. Kimmel Nedlaw Stable, Denholtz Stables, Dennis A. Drazin & Jerold L. Zaro not nominated Keewaydin 1 $10,000 Chad C. Brown OXO Equine not nominated Hot Property 1 $9,750 Brad H. Cox Gary & Mary West not nominated Show of Force 1 $8,000 Todd W. Fincher Triple V Racing not nominated Mansetti 1 $7,100 Kevin Attard Al & Bill Ulwelling not nominated Chris's Revenge 1 $2,000 Brittany Russell Nice Guys Stables
Legend:
Prep season Initial prep events 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.