The Road to the Kentucky Derby goes through just about every major track in the U.S., with the top three-year-olds in training attempting to accumulate enough graded stakes earnings to make it into the starting gate for the Run for the Roses on Saturday, May 5 at Churchill Downs.
Last year Animal Kingdom used the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park as his final prep for the Run for the Roses.
In 2010 Super Saver made his final Kentucky Derby prep with a runner up finish in the Arkansas Derby. Mine That Bird pulled off the huge Derby upset in 2009 after checking in fourth in the Sunland Derby at Sunland Park.
Last year it took $120,000 (Derby Kitten) in graded earnings to assure a starting spot in the gate in Louisville on the first Saturday of May.
In 2011 the last horse to get into the field was Make Music for Me with $218,750 in graded earnings.
This year with several key preps having increased purses, the cutoff may approach the $250,000 mark to assure a spot in the starting gate for the Run for the Roses.
For an update on the graded earnings list for this year’s Kentucky Derby, click here.
If you are looking for an online Racebook for your Kentucky Derby future wagering or just your everyday horse betting click here for Turf ‘n’ Sport’s recommended places to wager.
Here is a look at the key prep races for three-year-olds that are looking to make it to Louisville on the first Saturday of May, with the top three finishers in each race:
Jan. 1
Gulfstream Park Derby
Win: Reveron Place: Casual Trick Show: King Kid
Jan. 7
Count Fleet S.
Win: Alpha Place: Stephanoatsee Show: Il Villano
Sham S.
Win: Out of Bounds Place: Secret Circle Show: Longview Drive
Turfway Prevue S.
Win: Mr. Prankster Place: Magical Season Show: Frankie Is Rock
Jan. 21
LeComte S.
Win: Mr. Bowling Place: Z Dager Show: Shared Property
Kitten’s Joy S.
Win: Howe Great Place: Lucky Chappy (IRE) Show: Empire Builder
Jan. 22
San Pedro S.
Win: Midnight Transfer Place: Got Even Show: Let’s Get Crackin
Jan. 29
Holy Bull S.
Win: Algorithms Place: Hansen Show: My Adonis
Feb. 4
Withers S.
Win: Alpha Place: Speightscity Show: Tiger Walk
Sam F. Davis S
Win: Battle Hardened Place: Prospective Show: Reveron
Robert B. Lewis S
Win: I’ll Have Another Place: Empire Way Show: Rousing Sermon
WEBN S.
Win: Mr. Prankster Place: Phantom Fury Show: Magical Season
Feb. 11
Hutcheson S
Win: Thunder Moccasin Place: Il Villano Show: Quick Wit
Feb. 18
El Camino Real Derby
Win: Daddy Nose Best Place: Lucky Chappy (IRE) Show: Handsome Mike
Feb. 19
San Vicente S
Win: Drill Place: American Act Show: Creative Cause
Feb. 20
Southwest S
Win: Secret Circle Place: Scatman Show: Adirondack King
Feb. 25
Risen Star S.
Win: El Padrino Place: Mark Valeski Show: Z Dager
Borderland Derby
Win: Isn’t He Clever Place: Zackn’mat Show: Major Hope
Miracle Wood S
Win: The Lumber Guy Place: Brimstone Island Show: Rocky Gap
Turf Paradise Derby
Win: Taylors Deal Place: Makors Finale Show: Born Force
Feb. 26
Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S.
Win: Union Rags Place: News Pending Show: Discreet Dancer
Mar. 3
Gotham S
Win: Hansen Place: My Adonis Show: Finnegans Wake
John Battaglia Memorial S
Win: State of Play Place: Ill Conceived Show: Dynamical
Mar. 10
Fred “Cappy” Capossela S
Win: Hardened Wildcat Place: Beggarthyneighbor Show: How Do I Win
Tampa Bay Derby
Win: Prospective Place: Golden Ticket Show: Cozzetti
San Felipe S
Win: Creative Cause Place: Bodemeister Show: Midnight Transfer
Swale S
Win: Trinniberg Place: Hello Prince Show: Ever So Lucky
Mar. 11
Palm Beach S
Win: Howe Great Place: Dullahan Show: Csaba
Mar. 12
OBS Championship (Colts and Geldings Division) S.
Win: Crafty Unicorn Place: Burn the Mortgage Show: Moon Traveler
Mar. 17
Rebel S
Win: Secret Circle Place: Optimizer Show: Scatman
Private Terms S
Win: Raconteur Place: Hakama Show: Brimstone Island
Mar. 24
Vinery Racing Spiral S.
Win: Went the Day Well Place: Holiday Promise Show: Heavy Breathing
Mar. 25
Sunland Derby
Win: Daddy Nose Best Place: Isn’t He Clever Show: Stirred Up
Mar. 31
Florida Derby
Win: Take Charge Lady Place: Reveron Show: Union Rags
Apr. 1
Louisiana Derby
Win: Hero of Order Place: Mark Valeski Show: Rousing Sermon
Apr. 7
Wood Memorial S
Win: Gemologist Place: Alpha Show: Teeth of the Dog
Santa Anita Derby
Win: I’ll Have Another Place: Creative Cause Show: Blueskiesnrainbows
Illinois Derby
Win: Done Talking Place: Morgan’s Guerrilla Show: Hakama
Bay Shore S
Win: Trinniberg Place: Hardened Wildcat Show: How Do I Win
Apr. 14
Arkansas Derby
Win: Bodemeister Place: Secret Circle Show: Sabercat
Toyota Blue Grass S
Win: Dullahan Place: Hansen Show: Gung Ho
21 Apr
Jerome S.
Coolmore Lexington S
Apr. 28
The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial S
Michael Dempsey provides his selections for major tracks each racing day. Mike’s Best Plays Report is available each weekend, with his strongest plays and selections including the top stakes races.
For the third time in the last five years subscribers using Mike’s Reports had the winner of the Kentucky Derby. In 2011 Mike nailed Animal Kingdom with his top pick, the upset winner paying $43.20 to win, $19.60 to place & $13.00 to show!
In the 2010 Kentucky Derby, Mike hit Super Saver with his top pick, the winner returning $18.00, $8.80, and $6.00.
Street Sense was his top pick in 2007, the winner returning $11.80, $6.40, and $4.60.
