Classic Empire after his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). He makes his final Derby prep on Saturday. (photo credit: Breeders’ Cup Ltd.)
The 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) is slated for Saturday, May 6, 2017 at historic Churchill Downs, with the Road to the Kentucky Derby points race underway.
There were 10 Road to the Kentucky Derby points races contested in 2016 and 26 more points races to be decided in 2017.
To earn a spot in the starting gate, horses must travel along the Road to the Kentucky Derby, a series of designated races at tracks across the country and around the world. Points are awarded to the top four finishers in each race. The 20 horses with the most points will earn a spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May for the Run for the Roses.
Girvin sits atop the Road to the Kentucky Derby points standings with 150. The colt won the Risen Star (G2) and Louisiana Derby (G2) in his last two starts.
Thunder Snow is second in the points standing with 100. The colt won the UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan Race Course in his last start.
There are three points races coming up on Saturday—the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct, Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland and the Santa Anita Derby (G1).
Join AmWager and get a $250 First Deposit Bonus and Great Player Rewards!
For the best source for sports betting bonuses check out BonusCorner.
Road to Kentucky Derby Points Schedule
| 9/17/16 | Iroquois | Not This Time |
| 10/1/16 | FrontRunner | Gormley |
| 10/8/16 | Champagne | Practical Joke |
| 10/8/16 | Breeders’ Futurity | Classic Empire |
| 11/5/16 | BC Juvenile | Classic Empire |
| 11/19/16 | Delta Downs Jackpot | Gunnevera |
| 11/26/16 | Remsen | Mo Town |
| 11/26/16 | Kentucky Jockey Club | McCraken |
| 11/26/16 | Cattleya Sho | Mont Saint Legame (JPN) |
| 12/10/16 | CashCall Futurity | Mastery |
| 1/2/17 | Jerome | El Areeb |
| 1/7/17 | Sham | Gormley |
| 1/16/17 | Smarty Jones | Uncontested |
| 1/21/17 | Lecomte | Guest Suite |
| 2/4/17 | Withers | El Areeb |
| 2/4/17 | Holy Bull | Irish War Cry |
| 2/4/17 | Robert B. Lewis | Royal Mo |
| 2/11/17 | Sam F. Davis | McCraken |
| 2/18/17 | El Camino Real Deby | Zakaroff |
| 2/20/17 | Southwest | Into Mischief |
Kentucky Derby Championship Series
| 2/25/17 | Risen Star | Girvin |
| 3/4/17 | Fountain of Youth | Gunnevera |
| 3/4/17 | Gotham | J Boys Echo |
| 3/11/17 | Tampa Bay Derby | Taprit |
| 3/11/17 | San Felipe | Mastery |
| 3/18/17 | Rebel | Malagacy |
| 3/25/17 | UAE Derby | Thunder Snow |
| 3/25/17 | Spiral | Fast and Accurate |
| 3/26/17 | Sunland Derby | Hence |
| 4/1/17 | Florida Derby | Always Dreaming |
| 4/1/17 | Louisiana Derby | Girvin |
| 4/8/17 | Wood Memorial | Irish War Cry |
| 4/8/17 | Blue Grass | Irap |
| 4/8/17 | Santa Anita Derby | Gormley |
| 4/15/17 | Arkansas Derby | |
| 4/15/17 | Lexington |
Catch Derby Fever with Michael Dempsey’s Road to the Kentucky Derby Package! Subscribers receive ALL of Michael’s Saturday’s Reports now until the first Saturday of May!
Included in the package is coverage of all the major Derby preps, his Best Plays Report and his full card reports each Saturday! In addition, this package includes his Kentucky Oaks Day and Kentucky Derby Day Reports!
