Carpe Diem leads the Kentucky Derby Points Leaderboard as we enter 2015 (Keeneland/Coady Photography)
Carpe Diem leads the Kentucky Derby Points Leaderboard as we enter 2015 (Keeneland/Coady Photography)
Carpe Diem leads the Kentucky Derby Points Leaderboard as we enter 2015 (Keeneland/Coady Photography)

2015 Road To The Kentucky Derby

The 2015 Road To The Kentucky Derby begins in earnest on Saturday, January 3. There will be 25 prep races between January 3 and April 18 in the run up to the 141st Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 2. There have already been 10 Kentucky Derby prep races ran last year in 2014 to bring the total amount of prep races to 35. Below is a sortable table of the 2014-15 Kentucky Derby prep races.

 

DateTrackRaceGradeDistancePoints AwardedWinner2nd Place3rd Place4th Place
9/6/2014Churchill DownsIroquoisIII1 1/16 Miles10-4-2-1Lucky PlayerBold ConquestHashtag BourbonDanny Boy
9/27/2014Santa AnitaFrontRunnerI1 1/16 Miles10-4-2-1American PharoahCalculatorTexas RedLord Nelson
10/4/2014Belmont ParkChampagneI1 Mile10-4-2-1DaredevilUpstartThe Truth Or ElseEl Kabeir
10/4/2014KeenelandBreeders' FuturityI1 1/16 Miles10-4-2-1Carpe DiemMr. ZBold ConquestTough Customer
10/5/2014WoodbineGreyIII1 1/16 Miles (Synthetic)10-4-2-1International StarConquest TyphoonHollywood CriticFlashaway
11/1/2014Santa AnitaBreeders' Cup JuvenileI1 1/16 Miles10-4-2-1Texas RedCarpe DiemUpstartThe Great War
11/22/2014Delta DownsDelta Downs JackpotIII1 1/16 Miles10-4-2-1Ocho Ocho OchoMr. ZFar RightSaratoga Heater
11/29/2014AqueductRemsenII1 1/8 Miles10-4-2-1Leave The Light OnFrostedKeen IceClassy Class
11/29/2014Churchill DownsKentucky Jockey ClubII1 1/16 Miles10-4-2-1El KabeirImperiaEagleInternational Star
12/20/2014Los AlamitosLos Alamitos FuturityI1 1/16 Miles10-4-2-1DortmundFiring LineMr. ZBench Warrant
1/3/2015AqueductJeromeIII1 Mile 70 Yards10-4-2-1El KabeirNasaGeneral BellamyAckeret
1/10/2015Santa AnitaShamIII1 Mile10-4-2-1CalculatorRock ShandyPioneerof The WestSt. Joe Bay
1/17/2015Fair GroundsLecomteIII1 Mile 70 Yards10-4-2-1International StarWar StoryTiznow R JAnother Lemon Drop
1/19/2015OaklawnSmarty Jones1 Mile10-4-2-1Far RightBayerdMr. ZPrivate Prospect
1/24/2015GulfstreamHoly BullII1 1/16 Miles10-4-2-1UpstartFrostedBluegrass SingerJuan and Bina
2/7/2015AqueductWithersIII1 1/16 Miles10-4-2-1Far From OverEl KabeirClassy ClassTencendur
2/7/2015Santa AnitaRobert B. LewisIII1 1/16 Miles10-4-2-1DortmundFiring LineRock ShandyHero Ten All
2/14/2015Golden GateEl Camino Real DerbyIII1 1/8 Miles (Synthetic)10-4-2-1MetabossCross the LineConquest TyphoonHarmonic
2/21/2015GulfstreamFountain Of YouthII1 1/16 Miles50-20-10-5ItsaknockoutUpstartFrammentoFrosted
2/21/2015Fair GroundsRisen StarII1 1/16 Miles50-20-10-5International StarWar StoryKeen IceSt. Joe Bay
2/22/2015 (Rescheduled from 2/16/15)OaklawnSouthwestIII1 1/16 Miles10-4-2-1Far RightThe Truth Or ElseMr. ZBold Conquest
3/7/2015AqueductGotham StakesIII1 1/16 Miles50-20-10-5El KabeirTiz Shea DClassy ClassToasting Master
3/7/2015Santa AnitaSan FelipeII1 1/16 Miles50-20-10-5DortmundProspect ParkBoloLord Nelson
3/7/2015Tampa BayTampa Bay DerbyII1 1/16 Miles50-20-10-5Carpe DiemAmi's FlatterDivining RodDanzig Moon
3/14/2015OaklawnRebel StakesII1 1/16 Miles50-20-10-5American PharoahMadefromluckyBold ConquestThe Truth or Else
3/21/2015TurfwaySpiral StakesIII1 1/8 Miles (Synthetic)50-20-10-5Dubai SkyConquest TyphoonFirespikeTask Force Glory
3/22/2015SunlandSunland DerbyIII1 1/8 Miles50-20-10-5Firing LineWhere's The MoonPain and MiseryTiznow R J
3/28/2015MeydanUAE Derby1 3/16 Miles100-40-20-10MubtaahijMaftoolGolden BarowsMotaa
3/28/2015GulfstreamFlorida DerbyI1 1/8 Miles100-40-20-10MaterialityUpstartAmi's FlatterItsaknockout
3/28/2015Fair GroundsLouisiana DerbyII1 1/8 Miles100-40-20-10International StarStanfordWar StoryKeen Ice
4/4/2015AqueductWood MemorialI1 1/8 Miles100-40-20-10FrostedTencendurEl KabeirDaredevil
4/4/2015KeenelandBlue Grass StakesI1 1/8 Miles100-40-20-10Carpe DiemDanzig MoonOcho Ocho OchoFrammento
4/4/2015Santa AnitaSanta Anita DerbyI1 1/8 Miles100-40-20-10DortmundOne Lucky DaneBoloProspect Park
4/11/2015OaklawnArkansas DerbyI1 1/8 Miles100-40-20-10American PharoahFar RightMr. ZMadefromlucky
4/18/2015KeenelandLexington StakesIII1 1/16 Miles10-4-2-1Divining RodDonworthFame and PowerComfort

 

It is also important to note this is the third year points system to determine the 20 entrants into the Kentucky Derby. Under the points system, the first, second, third, and fourth place finishers are awarded points.

The first 19 races, from the Iroquois Stakes on September 6, 2014 through the Southwest Stakes on February 16, 2015, comprise the Kentucky Derby Prep Season. Points are awarded for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season in amounts of 10, 4, 2, and 1 to the first, second, third, and fourth place finishers in those races respectively.

The final 16 races, from the Fountain of Youth Stakes through the Lexington Stakes, make up the Kentucky Derby Championship Series and this is where the majority of points are earned. The points range from 50, 20, 10 and 5 to the first four finishers to 100, 40, 20, and 10 points in the final 7 races prior to the Lexington Stakes.

The Lexington Stakes is considered a wild card race and only awards points of 10, 4, 2, and 1 to the top four finishers. It is often a last ditch effort to make the field for the Kentucky Derby.

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.

20 points is probably a solid number to attain in order to be guaranteed a spot in the 2015 Kentucky Derby. The 2013 point total was low due to a large number of injuries to contenders.

Be sure to check back often to see the schedule and updated Kentucky Derby Leaderboard.

Leave a Reply