Essential Quality is the leader in the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby. (Photo credit: Wendy Wooley/Breeders’ Cup/Eclipse Sportswire/CSM)
The 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby is well underway, with nine races in the books and plenty more opportunities available over the next five months.
The 147th running of the $3 million guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) will be run Saturday, May 1, 2021 and for the seventh consecutive year, a tiered point system in select races will determine who qualifies.
Churchill Downs introduced the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby” to provide a potential entry in the Kentucky Derby for a horse based in Japan and the “European Road to the Kentucky Derby” extending an invite to European horsemen as well.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Essential Quality is the early leader in the clubhouse with 30 points. The Brad Cox trainee won the Juvenile by 1 ¾ lengths, returning his backers $9.40.
The colt is perfect in is three career starts. He broke his maiden at Churchill Downs on Sept. 5 and won the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland in his first start in stakes company, earning his first 10 Derby points.
Essential Quality Early Derby Favorite
Essential Quality is the early betting favorite in Kentucky Derby wagering at BUSR at 12-1.
Jackie’s Warrior is second in the Derby points standings with 12 points. The colt was the beaten favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile where he checked in fourth, picking up two points.
He earned 10 points with his victory in the Champagne (G1) at Belmont Park on Oct. 10.
The next Derby points race is the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs on Nov, 28. There are 104-2-1 pints up for grabs to the top four finishers.
The first race of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby will be held the same day. The Cattleya Sho at Tokyo Racecourse will get that series underway, the first of four races.
The points increase with the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 13. That race will be worth 50-20-10-5 to the top four finishers.
The European Road to the Kentucky Derby has completed four races with Sealiway, Mac Swiney, New Mandate and High Definition each earning 10 points for victories.
The next race of the series is the Patton Stakes at Dundalk on March 1.
The 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby
| RACE | TRACK | DATE | POINTS |
| Iroquois | Churchill Downs | Sep 5, 2020 | 10-4-2-1 |
| American Pharoah | Santa Anita Park | Sep 26, 2020 | 10-4-2-1 |
| The Royal Lodge | Newmarket | Sep 26, 2020 | 10-4-2-1 |
| The Beresford | Curragh | Sep 26, 2020 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Breeders’ Futurity | Keeneland | Oct 3, 2020 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Prix Jean Luc Lagardere | Longchamp | Oct 4, 2020 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Champagne | Belmont Park | Oct 10, 2020 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Vertem Futurity Trophy | Doncaster | Oct 24, 2020 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Breeders’ Cup Juvenile | Keeneland | Nov 6, 2020 | 20-8-4-2 |
| Kentucky Jockey Club | Churchill Downs | Nov 28, 2020 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Cattleya | Tokyo Racecourse | Nov 28, 2020 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Remsen | Aqueduct | Dec 5, 2020 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun | Kawasaki | Dec 16, 2020 | 20-8-4-2 |
| Los Alamitos Futurity | Los Alamitos Race Course | Dec 19, 2020 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Springboard Mile | Remington Park | Dec 20, 2020 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Jerome | Aqueduct | Jan 1, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Sham | Santa Anita Park | Jan 2, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Lecomte | Fair Grounds | Jan 16, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Smarty Jones | Oaklawn Park | Jan 22, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Holy Bull | Gulfstream Park | Jan 30, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Hyacinth | Tokyo Racecourse | TBA | 30-12-6-3 |
| Robert B. Lewis | Santa Anita Park | Feb 6, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Withers | Aqueduct | Feb 6, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Sam F. Davis | Tampa Bay Downs | Feb 6, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 |
| John Battaglia Memorial | Turfway Park | Feb 6, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 |
| El Camino Real Derby | Golden Gate Fields | Feb 13, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Risen Star Division | Fair Grounds | Feb 13, 2021 | 50-20-10-5 |
| Southwest | Oaklawn Park | Feb 15, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Fountain of Youth | Gulfstream Park | Feb 27, 2021 | 50-20-10-5 |
| Patton Stakes | Dundalk | Mar 1, 2021 | 20-8-4-2 |
| Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes | Kempton Park | Mar 4, 2021 | 20-8-4-2 |
| Gotham | Aqueduct | Mar 6, 2021 | 50-20-10-5 |
| Tampa Bay Derby | Tampa Bay Downs | Mar 6, 2021 | 50-20-10-5 |
| San Felipe | Santa Anita Park | Mar 6, 2021 | 50-20-10-5 |
| Rebel | Oaklawn Park | Mar 13, 2021 | 50-20-10-5 |
| Jeff Ruby Steaks | Turfway Park | Mar 20, 2021 | 20-8-4-2 |
| Louisiana Derby | Fair Grounds | Mar 20, 2021 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Florida Derby | Gulfstream Park | Mar 27, 2021 | 100-40-20-10 |
| UAE Derby | Meydan Racecourse | Mar 27, 2021 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Fukuryu | Nakayama | TBA | 40-16-8-4 |
| Sunland Derby | Sunland Park | Mar 30, 2021 | 50-20-10-5 |
| Blue Grass | Keeneland | Apr 1, 2021 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Santa Anita Derby | Santa Anita Park | Apr 1, 2021 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Cardinal Condition Stakes | Chelmsford city | Apr 1, 2021 | 30-12-6-3 |
| Wood Memorial | Aqueduct | Apr 3, 2021 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Arkansas Derby | Oaklawn Park | Apr 10, 2021 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Lexington | Keeneland | Apr 10, 2021 | 20-8-4-2 |
