The 2018 Road to the Kentucky Derby was a series of races through which horses qualified for the 2018 Kentucky Derby, which was held on May 5. 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 34 races in North America plus one in Dubai, the Japan Road consisting of three races in Japan, and a new European Road consisting of seven races in England, Ireland and France.
The races in the Road to the Kentucky Derby were held from September 2017 (when the horses were two) through April 2018 (when they had turned three). The top four finishers in the specified races earned points, with the highest point values awarded in the major preparatory races held in late March or early April. Earnings in non-restricted stakes acted as a tie breaker.
Changes from 2017 series For 2018, several changes were made from the 2017 series: Race changes: Added the Springboard Mile to the main series. Added a third race to the Japan series. Points system changes: Jeff Ruby Steaks, formally the Spiral Stakes moved to a "Wild Card" race, along with the Lexington Stakes. Points for these races will now be awarded on 20-8-4-2 basis, which is a decrease for the Jeff Ruby and an increase for the Lexington Rules changes: European Road to the Kentucky Derby introduced on a similar basis to the Japan Road. Consists of seven races, four of them on the turf and three on a synthetic surface.
The Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes, which would have been the 36th race in the main series, was cancelled in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.
Main Road to the Kentucky Derby Standings
The following table shows the points earned in the eligible races for the main series. Entries for the Derby were taken on May 1.
RankHorsePointsEligibleEarningsTrainerOwnerRef1Magnum Moon150$1,140,000Todd PletcherLawana & Robert Low2Good Magic134$1,838,400Chad Browne Five Racing & Stonestreet Stables3Audible110$803,520Todd PletcherWinStar Farm, China Horse Club & SF Racing4Noble Indy110$640,000Todd PletcherWinStar Farm & Repole Stable5Vino Rosso107$572,500Todd PletcherRepole & St Elias Stables6Bolt d'Oro104$980,000Mick RuisRuis Racing7Enticed103$545,880Kiaran McLaughlinGodolphin Racing8Mendelssohn100$1,947,299Aidan O'BrienSmith, Magnier & Tabor9Justify100$600,000Bob BaffertChina Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, WinStar Farm, Starlight Racing bypassingQuip90$412,000Rodolphe BrissetWinStar Farm, China Horse Club & SF Racing10Flameaway70$672,260Mark CasseJohn Oxley11Solomini54$716,000Bob BaffertZayat Stables12Bravazo54$359,913 D. Wayne LukasCalumet Farm13My Boy Jack52$622,000J. Keith DesormeauxDon't Tell My Wife and Monomoy Stables14Promises Fulfilled52$266,480Dale RomansRobert Baron injuredRunaway Ghost50$456,350Todd FincherJoe Peacock15Free Drop Billy44$597,200Dale RomansAlbaugh Family Stables16Lone Sailor42$273,347 Thomas AmossTom BensonbypassingRayya40$600,000Doug WatsonRashid bin Humaid al NuaimiinjuredMcKinzie40$320,000Bob BaffertWatson, Pegram & Wellman17Hofburg40$192,000William I. MottJuddmonte Farms18Firenze Fire39$647,500Jason ServisMr. Amore Stable19Combatant32$350,000Steve AsmussenWinchell Thoroughbreds & Willis Horton Racing20Instilled Regard29$246,000Jerry HollendorferOXO Equine LLCinjuredCatholic Boy24$378,000Jonathan ThomasRobert LaPentabypassingSnapper Sinclair22$301,810Steve AsmussenBloom Racing21Blended Citizen22$159,644Doug O'NeillGreg Hall & Sayjay RacingbypassingReride20$298,000Steve AsmussenWinchell ThoroughbredsStrike Power20$209,560Mark HennigCourtland FarmsDream Baby Dream20$176,000Steve AsmussenDream Baby Dream Racing Stablenot nominatedCore Beliefs20$120,000Peter EurtonGary BroadRestoring Hope20$100,000Bob BaffertGary and Mary WestOld Time Revival20$100,000Kenneth DeckerFred BreiMississippi20$96,000Mark CasseMagnier, Tabor, Oxley, Smith and JoostePeace15$123,000Richard MandellaSpendthrift Farm & Town and Country RacinginjuredAvery Island14$320,000Kiaran McLaughlinGodolphin RacingSporting Chance12$337,000D. Wayne LukasRobert Baker & William MackGreyvitos 12$310,000Adam KitchingmanTriple B FarmsGivemeaminit12$196,000Thomas AmossValleen FarmsPony Up12$101,580Todd PletcherCalumet FarmeuthanizedMourinho11$143,360Bob BaffertPhoenix Thoroughbred IIIGold Town10$251,342Charlie ApplebyGodolphinnot nominatedThe Tabulator10$186,750Larry RivelliCarolyn Wilsonnot nominatedPaved 10$60,000Michael McCarthyCiaglia Racing & Eclipse ThoroughbredKanthaka10$168,000Jerry HollendorferWest Point ThoroughbredsWorld of Trouble10$145,000Jason ServisMichael Dubb & Bethlehem Stables Lombo10$90,345Michael PenderMichael LombardiSeven Trumpets9$80,000Dale RomansWest Point ThoroughbredsTelekinesis8$40,000Mark CasseStonestreet Stables LLCTiz Mischief6$80,900Dale RomansFrank Jones Jr.Ayacara5$71,345J. Keith DesormeauxCharles & Cynthia MarquisTitle Ready5$45,000Steve AsmussenCharles FipkeMachismo5$19,200Anthony QuartaroloLooch Racing & Quartarolonot nominatedCity Plan4$67,346Eoin HartyGodolphin RacingArawak4$63,156Doug O'Neill3R Racing, S. Kah & C T R StablesAll Out Blitz4$56,000Simon CallaghanKareem Shah, Inc.Principe Guilherme4$44,000Steve AsmussenThree Chimneys FarmColtandmississippi3$31,137Todd PletcherTeresa Viola Racing and St Elias StableeuthanizedTen City2$83,300Kenneth McPeekTommie Lewis & Magdalena Racingnot nominatedTap Daddy2$65,000Steve AsmussenWinchell Thoroughbredsnot nominatedKingsville2$44,000Danny PishArmstrong, Saenz & PishVouch2$25,000Arnaud DelacourLael Stables & Three Chimneys FarmDark Vader2$50,000Peter EurtonAlesia, Burns Racing, Ciaglia Racing & ChristensenMarconi2$36,520Todd PletcherBridlewood Farm, Magnier, Smith & TaborTake the One O One2$36,345J. Keith DesormeauxJay Em Ess Stablenot nominatedZanesville2$9,600Thomas AmossRosemont Farmsnot nominatedKowboy Karma1$90,000J. Larry JonesJones, Jones & Pressleynot nominatedBode's Maker1$27,500Allen MilliganKeane ThoroughbredsZing Zang1$26,600Steve AsmussenJackpot Ranchnot nominatedNight Strike1$26,000W. Bret CalhounErich BrehmLionite1$25,000Steve AsmussenWinchell Thor. and Willis Horton RacingFor Him1$24,000Michael PenderMichael LombardyHigh North1$17,200Brad H. CoxShortleaf Stablenot nominatedAlkhaatam1$12,500Chad BrownShadwell Stablenot nominatedMugaritz1$11,840Jonathan WongAlejandro Mercadonot nominatedEbben1$10,671Steve MargolisCraig AgularRegulate1$9,000Bob BaffertJuddmonte Farmsnot nominatedRegalian1$7,500Chris EngelhartIsland Wind RacingShivermetimbers1$6,000Jerry HollendorferM. DeDomenico and West Point Thor. Winner of Kentucky Derby in bold Entrants for Kentucky Derby in blue "Also eligible" for Kentucky Derby in green Sidelined/Not under Derby Consideration/Not nominated in gray
Prep season events
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)
RaceDistancePurseTrackDate1st2nd3rd4thRefIroquois miles$150,000Churchill DownsSep 16 2017 The Tabulator Hollywood Star Ten City Ebben FrontRunner miles$301,380Santa AnitaSep 30 2017 Bolt d'Oro Solomini Take the One O One Ayacara Champagne1 mile$500,000BelmontOct 7 2017 Firenze Fire Good Magic Enticed Kowboy Karma Breeders' Futurity miles$500,000KeenelandOct 7 2017 Free Drop Billy Bravazo Lone Sailor Lionite Breeders' Cup Juvenile miles$2,000,000Del MarNov 4 2017 Good Magic Solomini Bolt d'Oro Givemeaminit Delta Downs Jackpot miles$1,000,000Delta DownsNov 18 2017 cancelled Kentucky Jockey Club miles$200,000Churchill DownsNov 25 2017 Enticed Tiz Mischief Promises Fulfilled High North Remsen miles$250,000AqueductDec 2 2017 Catholic Boy Avery Island Vouch Alkhaatam Los Alamitos Futurity miles$300,000Los AlamitosDec 9 2017McKinzie Instilled Regard Solomini For Him Springboard Mile1 mile$400,000RemingtonDec 17 2017GreyvitosCombatant Kingsville Night Strike Sham1 mile$100,345Santa AnitaJan 6 2018McKinzieAll Out BlitzMy Boy JackShivermetimbers Jerome1 mile$150,000AqueductJan 13 2018 Firenze FireSeven TrumpetsColtandmississippiRegalian Lecomte $200,000Fair GroundsJan 13 2018Instilled Regard Principe GuilhermeSnapper SinclairZing Zang Smarty Jones1 mile$150,000OaklawnJan 15 2018MourinhoCombatant Tap DaddyBode's Maker Withers miles$245,000AqueductFeb 3 2018Avery Island Firenze FireMarconiColtandmississippi Robert B. Lewis miles$151,380Santa AnitaFeb 3 2018LomboAyacaraDark VaderRegulate Holy Bull miles$350,000GulfstreamFeb 3 2018 Audible Free Drop Billy Tiz Mischief Enticed Sam F. Davis Stakes miles$250,000Tampa BayFeb 10 2018Flameaway Catholic Boy Vino Rosso Hollywood Star El Camino Real Derby miles$100,900Golden GateFeb 17 2018PavedCity PlanBlended CitizenMugaritz Southwest miles$500,000OaklawnFeb 19 2018 My Boy Jack Combatant Sporting Chance Mourinho
Championship series events
First leg of series Note: 1st=50 points; 2nd=20 points; 3rd=10 points; 4th=5 points RaceDistancePurseGradeTrackDate1st2nd3rd4thRefRisen Star miles$400,0002Fair GroundsFeb 17 2018 Bravazo Snapper Sinclair Noble Indy Instilled Regard Fountain of Youth miles$400,0002GulfstreamMar 3 2018 Promises Fulfilled Strike Power Good Magic Machismo Tampa Bay Derby miles$355,0002Tampa Bay Mar 10 2018Quip FlameawayWorld of TroubleVino Rosso Gotham1 mile$300,0003AqueductMar 10 2018 Enticed Old Time Revival Free Drop Billy Firenze Fire San Felipe miles$400,6902Santa AnitaMar 10 2018Bolt d'Oro McKinzie Kanthaka Peace Rebel miles$900,0002OaklawnMar 17 2018 Magnum Moon Solomini Combatant Title Ready Sunland Derby miles$800,0003Sunland Park Mar 25 2018 Runaway Ghost Dream Baby Dream Peace Seven Trumpets
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 RaceDistancePurseGradeTrackDate1st2nd3rd4thRefLouisiana Derby miles$1,000,0002Fair Grounds Mar 24 2018 Noble Indy Lone Sailor My Boy Jack Givemeamint UAE Derby1,900 metres(~)$2,000,0002Meydan Mar 31 2018 Mendelssohn Rayya Reride Gold Town Florida Derby miles$1,100,0001Gulfstream Mar 31 2018 Audible Hofburg Mississippi Catholic Boy Wood Memorial miles$1,000,000 2Aqueduct Apr 7 2018 Vino Rosso Enticed Restoring Hope Firenze Fire Blue Grass Stakes miles$1,000,0002Keeneland Apr 7 2018 Good Magic Flameaway Free Drop Billy Sporting Chance Santa Anita Derby miles$1,000,3451Santa Anita Apr 7 2018 Justify Bolt d'Oro Core Beliefs Instilled Regard Arkansas Derby miles $1,000,0001 Oaklawn Park Apr 14 2018 Magnum Moon Quip Solomini Combatant
"Wild Card" events Note: 1st=20 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=4 points; 4th=2 point RaceDistancePurseTrackDate1st2nd3rd4thRefSpiral miles$202,400Turfway Mar 17 2018 Blended Citizen Pony Up Arawak Zanesville Lexington miles $200,000Keeneland Apr 14 2018 My Boy Jack Telekinesis Pony Up Greyvitos
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 so on through the top four finishers. If neither of the top four accept, this place in the starting gate reverts to the horses on the main road to the Derby. Eligible Earnings, defined as career earnings through April 14, 2018, serves as the tie-break if two or more horses have the same number of points.Standings Bloodhorse For 2018, none of the invitations was accepted.
Qualification table The top four horses (colored brown within the standings) are eligible to participate in the Kentucky Derby provided the horse is nominated.