By Jarrod Horak I’m diving into the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, run Saturday, April 11 as Race 10. It’s a $400,000 event for three-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the main track, offering 20 Kentucky Derby points to the winner. Despite the points on offer, this race likely won’t produce a Derby qualifier. […]
Tag Archives: Derby points race
By Jarrod Horak I’m back with my latest Road to the Kentucky Derby breakdown, and this time I’m diving into the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. This $1.25 million Derby prep is one of the final and most important stepping stones on the trail, with three-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles on the main […]
By Jarrod Horak The Road to the Kentucky Derby rolls through Aqueduct with the Grade 2 Wood Memorial, a $750,000 test for three-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles on the main track. As the 12th race on the card, this is a pivotal Derby points race, and I’m looking to separate contenders from pretenders based on […]
By Jarrod Horak I’m breaking down the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, a $1.5 million Kentucky Derby points race at 1 1/8 miles. This race consistently produces serious Derby contenders, and this year’s field brings a mix of proven stakes runners and lightly raced upside types. From a pace perspective, Redland Rebels figures […]
By Jarrod Horak I’m breaking down the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park, a key Kentucky Derby prep worth 100-50-25-15-10 points to the top five finishers. This $777,000 race is contested at 1 1/8 miles over the all-weather surface, and it’s a fascinating mix of proven synthetic runners, turf shippers, and developing three-year-olds […]
By Jarrod Horak The Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park is one of the most important early-season prep races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Run at one mile and a sixteenth for three-year-olds, the race offers valuable Derby qualifying points and frequently produces contenders for the first Saturday in May. […]
By Jarrod Horak The Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park is one of the most important early-season tests on the Road to Kentucky Derby 2026. Run at 1 1/16 miles for three-year-olds, this $425,000 event offers valuable Derby points and serves as a key stepping stone toward longer and tougher assignments this […]
The Road to the Kentucky Derby runs straight through New York this Saturday as the Gotham Stakes Aqueduct picks take center stage at Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park. With Derby qualifying points on the line and a competitive undercard featuring the Busher Stakes and Stymie Stakes, this is one of the most important winter […]
Hallandale Beach, FL — Saturday’s program at Gulfstream Park is built like a springboard. The $425,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) headlines a stakes-heavy card that shapes the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” picture, but for bettors the bigger opportunity is how the undercard creates multi-race leverage. The Fountain of Youth awards 50-25-15-10-5 Derby […]