2016 Road to the Kentucky Derby


The field for the Kentucky Derby is limited each year to 20 horses, with two 'also eligibles' in case of a late withdrawal from the field. To determine eligibility, Churchill Downs developed the Road to the Kentucky Derby, which gives points to the top four finishers in specified races. The 2016 season consists of 34 races, 19 races for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and 15 races for the Kentucky Derby Championship Season. Earnings in non-restricted stakes act as a tie breaker. Gun Runner finished first in the standings thanks to wins in the Risen Star Stakes and Louisiana Derby, then finished third in the Kentucky Derby. Nyquist, who finished second in the qualification standings, won the Derby.

Standings

RankHorsePointsEarningsTrainerOwnerRef
1Gun Runner151$849,200Steven M. AsmussenWinchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Three Chimneys Farm
2Nyquist130$3,289,000Doug F. O'NeillReddam Racing LLC
3Exaggerator126$1,628,000Keith DesormeuxBig Chief Racing, LLC, Head of Plains Partners LLC, Rocker O Ranch, LLC et al.
4Outwork120$660,800Todd A. PletcherRepole Stable
5Brody's Cause114$1,100,000Dale L. RomansAlbaugh Family Stable
6Creator110$690,000Steven M. AsmussenWinStar Farm LLC
7Lani100$1,300,119Mikio MatsunagaYoko Maeda
8Mor Spirit84$616,800Bob BaffertMichael Lund Petersen
9Mohaymen80$807,750Kiaran P. McLaughlinShadwell Stable
10Danzing Candy60$290,000Clifford W. Sise, JrHalo Farms, Bashor, Jim and Bashor, Dianne
11Destin51$338,000Todd A. PletcherTwin Creeks Racing Stables, LLC
12Suddenbreakingnews50$637,000Donnie Von HemelSamuel F. Henderson
---Cupid50$540,000Bob BaffertTabor, Michael B., Magnier, Mrs. John, and Smith, Derrick
13Oscar Nominated50$321,360Mike MakerRamsey, Kenneth and Sarah
14Shagaf50$270,000Chad BrownShadwell Stable
15Whitmore44$400,000Ron MoquettLaPenta, Robert V., Rosenblum, Harry T. and Southern Springs Stables
16Tom's Ready44$270,670Dallas StewartG M B Racing
17My Man Sam40$200,000Chad BrownSheep Pond Partners, Newport Stables LLC and Bligh, Jay W.
18Majesto40$190,000Gustavo DelgadoGrupo 7C Racing Stable
19Trojan Nation40$190,000Paddy GallagherGilbert, Julie and Sones, Aaron
---Polar River40
20Mo Tom32$268,326Tom AmossG M B Racing
---Fellowship32$206,590Mark CasseJacks or Better Farm, Inc.
---Adventist32$155,000Leah GyarmatiTreadway Racing Stable
21Laoban32$142,000Eric GuillotMcCormick Racing LLC and Southern Equine Stable LLC
---Dazzling Gem30$145,000Brad CoxSteve Landers Racing LLC
---Uncle Lino29$174,000Eric GuillotMansor, Tom, Purple Shamrock Racing and Sherlock, Gary
22Cherry Wine25$145,000Dale RomansPacella, William, Jones, Jr., Frank L. and Shoop, Frank
---Sunny Ridge23
---Collected21
---Azar20
---Foreamo20
---Yu Change20
---Zulu20
---Flexibility15
---Greenpointcrusader14
---Swipe12
---Airoforce10
---Cocked and Loaded10
---Discreetness10
---Frank Conversation10
---Matt King Coal10
---Riker10
---Star Hill10
---Surgical Strike10
---Vale Dori10
---Vorticity8
---Kasseopia6
---Rated R Superstar6
---Awesome Speed5
---Candy My Boy5
---Rafting5
---Two Step Time5
---Gordy Florida4
---Let's Meet in Rio4
---One More Round4
---Synchrony4
---Toews On Ice4
---Tusk4
---American Dubai2
---Found Money2
---Gift Box2
---Harlan Punch2
---Holliday Don2
---I Will Score2
---I'malreadythere2
---In Equality2
---Portfolio Manager2
---Sail Ahoy2
---Tizarunner2
---Unbridled Outlaw2
---Uncle Walter2
---Bird of Trey1
---Conquest Big E1
---Conquest Windycity1
---Direct Message1
---Dressed in Hermes1
---Luna de Loco1
---Rare Candy1
---San Dimas1
---Sticksstatelydude1
---Urlacher1
---Van Damme1

Note: 1st=10 points; 2nd=4 points; 3rd=2 points; 4th=1 point
RaceDistanceSurfacePurseTrackDate1st2nd3rd4thRef
Iroquois1-1/16 milesDirt$150,000Churchill DownsSep 12 2015Cocked and LoadedRated R SuperstarUnbridled OutlawConquest Windycity
FrontRunner1-1/16 milesDirt$300,000Santa AnitaSep 26 201NyquistSwipeHollywood DonRare Candy
Champagne1-mileDirt$300,000BelmontOct 3 2015GreenpointcrusaderSunny RidgePortfolio ManagerSail Ahoy
Breeders' Futurity1-1/16 milesDirt$400,000KeenelandOct 3 2015Brody's CauseExaggeratorRated R SuperstarSticksstatelydude
Grey Stakes1-1/16 milesSynthetic$150,000WoodbineOct 4 2015RikerKasseopia TizzarunnerVan Damme
Breeders' Cup Juvenile1-1/16 milesDirt$2,000,000KeenelandOct 31 2015NyquistSwipeBrody's CauseExaggerator
Delta Downs Jackpot1-1/16 milesDirt$1,000,000Delta DownsNov 21 2015ExaggeratorSunny RidgeHarlan PunchFound Money
Remsen1-1/8 milesDirt$300,000AqueductNov 28 2015MohaymenFlexibilityGift BoxSail Ahoy
Kentucky Jockey Club1-1/16 milesDirt$150,000Churchill DownsNov 28 2015AiroforceMor SpiritMo TomGun Runner
Los Alamitos Futurity1-1/16 milesDirt$500,000Los AlamitosDec 19 2015Mor SpiritToews On IceI'malreadythereUrlacher
Jerome1-mile 70 yardsDirt$200,000AqueductJan 2 2016FlexibilityVorticityIn EqualityBird of Trey
Sham1-mileDirt$100,000Santa AnitaJan 9 2016CollectedLet's Meet in RioLaobanFound Money
Lecomte1-mile 70 yardsDirt$200,000Fair GroundsJan 16 2016Mo TomTom's ReadyUncle WalterDestin
Smarty Jones1-mileDirt$150,000OaklawnJan 18 2016DiscreetnessGordy FloridaSynchronyLuna de Loco
Holy Bull1-1/16 milesDirt$350,000GulfstreamJan 30 2016MohaymenGreenpointcrusaderFellowshipConquest Big E
Withers1-1/16 milesDirt$200,000AqueductJan 30 2016Sunny RidgeVorticityAdventistFlexibility
Robert B. Lewis1-1/16 milesDirt$150,000Santa AnitaFeb 6 2016Mor SpiritUncle LinoI Will ScoreDressed in Hermes
El Camino Real Derby1-1/8 milesSynthetic$200,000Golden GateFeb 13 2016Frank ConversationTuskKasseopia San Dimas
Southwest1-1/16 milesDirt$250,000OaklawnFeb 15 2016SuddenbreakingnewsWhitmoreAmerican DubaiCollected

Championship series

First leg of series

Note: 1st=50 points; 2nd=20 points; 3rd=10 points; 4th=5 points
The Sunland Derby was not eligible in 2016 because of quarantine restrictions associated with an outbreak of equine herpesvirus.
RaceDistanceSurfacePurseTrackDate1st2nd3rd4thRef
Risen Star1-1/16 milesDirt$400,000Fair GroundsFeb 20 2016Gun RunnerForevamoMo TomCandy My Boy
Fountain of Youth1-1/16 milesDirt$400,000GulfstreamFeb 27 2016MohaymenZuluFellowshipAwesome Speed
Gotham1-1/16 milesDirt$500,000AqueductMar 5 2016ShagafLaobanAdventistSunny Ridge
San Felipe1-1/16 milesDirt$300,000Santa AnitaMar 12 2016Danzing CandyMor SpiritExaggeratorUncle Lino
Tampa Bay Derby1-1/16 milesDirt$350,000Tampa Bay DownsMar 12 2016DestinOutworkStar HillRafting
Rebel1-1/16 milesDirt$700,000OaklawnMar 19 2016CupidWhitmoreCreatorCherry Wine
Spiral1-1/8 milesSynthetic$500,000TurfwayApr 2 2016Oscar NominatedAzarSurgical StrikeTwo Step Time
Sunland Derbyn/a

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
RaceDistanceSurfacePurseTrackDate1st2nd3rd4thRef
UAE Derby~1-3/16 milesDirt$2,000,000Meydan RacecourseMar 26 2016LaniPolar RiverYu ChangeVale Dori
Louisiana Derby1-1/8 milesDirt$1,000,000Fair GroundsMar 26 2016Gun RunnerTom's ReadyDazzling GemMo Tom
Florida Derby1-1/8 milesDirt$1,000,000GulfstreamApr 2 2016NyquistMajestoFellowshipMohaymen
Wood Memorial1-1/8 milesDirt$1,000,000AqueductApr 9 2016OutworkTrojan NationAdventistMatt King Coal
Blue Grass Stakes1-1/8 milesDirt$1,000,000KeenelandApr 9 2016Brody's CauseMy Man SamCherry WineLaoban
Santa Anita Derby1-1/8 milesDirt$1,000,000Santa AnitaApr 9 2016ExaggeratorMor SpiritUncle LinoDanzing Candy
Arkansas Derby1-1/8 milesDirt$1,000,000Oaklawn ParkApr 16 2016CreatorSuddenbreakingnewsWhitmoreDazzling Gem

;"Wild Card"
Note: 1st=10 points; 2nd=4 points; 3rd=2 points; 4th=1 point
RaceDistanceSurfacePurseTrackDate1st2nd3rd4thRef
Lexington1-1/8 milesDirt$150,000KeenelandApr 16 2016CollectedOne More RoundSynchronyDirect Message

;Notes