2015 Kentucky Derby Points Leaderboard

2015 Kentucky Derby Points Leaderboard (Updated through Saturday, April 11, 2015)

Since 2013 there has been a new points system in place to determine the 20 entrants into the Kentucky Derby. The points system replaced the “Graded Earnings” rule that determined entrants into the Derby by how much they won in Graded Stakes races.

Under the new system points are awarded to the first four finishers of the 35 designated stakes races. Those races can be found here. Points awarded range from 10 points for the win to 100 for the latter prep races.

In 2013, the point cut-off to make the Kentucky Derby field was 10 points by Giant Finish. Fear the Kitten was the first also-eligible with 6 points while the second also-eligible horse, Carving, had 2 points.

In 2014, the magic number was 20 points with Commanding Curve being the last horse to make the field. Pablo Del Monte was the first also-eligible in 2014 with 20 points and drew into the race after the scratch of Hoppertunity. However, the connections decided against running Pablo Del Monte in the Kentucky Derby.

Injuries can and probably will play a factor in the cut-off line for the Derby entrants. 2013 had a rash of injuries, which is why the point total was only 6 to make the also-eligible list. 2014 was closer to the expected norm as it took 20 points to make the Kentucky Derby and even that 20 point total left a horse on the outside looking in on the also-eligible list.

The leaderboard will be updated at the conclusion of each day’s prep race beginning with the Jerome Stakes on Saturday, January 3.