The Road to the Kentucky Derby is a series of select races that award a sliding scale of points to the Top 4 finishers.
This has determined preference for the 20-horse Kentucky Derby (Grade I) field since 2013.
The 1 ¼-mile classic for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds will be run at the historic Louisville, Kentucky racetrack for the 148th consecutive year on Saturday, May 7th, 2022.
As was the case last year, the 2022 Kentucky Derby will be run without the permitted use of Lasix.
Points will only be awarded to horses who compete on race day without Lasix in Road to the Kentucky Derby races.
The official Road to the Kentucky Derby began last September 18th at Churchill Downs with the running of the $300,000 Iroquois (Grade III) for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on opening weekend of its 12-day September Meet.
MAJOR GENERAL, from the Todd Pletcher barn, with Javier Castellano aboard, Won that race in a pretty spiffy 1:43.58.
As of September 30th, 2021, points from any race in the Road to the Kentucky Derby will not be awarded to any horse trained by any individual who is suspended from racing in the 2022 Kentucky Derby or any trainer directly or indirectly employed, supervised, or advised by a suspended trainer.
Should a horse trained by a suspended trainer, or any trainer directly or indirectly employed, supervised, or advised by a suspended trainer, finish in a position that would have earned points in a Road to the Kentucky Derby race occurring after September 30th, 2021, the points associated with that finish position will be vacated.
The same rules apply for the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series, which awards points to fillies to qualify for the Kentucky Oaks (GI) at 1 1/8 miles on Friday, May 6th, 2022.
The total number of races in the primary Road to the Kentucky Derby series has increased by one to 37.
The inaugural $100,000 Gun Runner, a 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds at Fair Grounds– which was contested on Sunday, December 26th, was added to the Prep Season and is worth 10-4-2-1 to the top four placings.
EPICENTER, with Brian Hernandez Jr. in the irons scored the points in that race for trainer Steve Asmussen.
The Daily Racing Blog will keep its readers appraised of all the up coming Debry prep races as they appear on the racing schedule.
