Road to the 2026 Kentucky Derby

Welcome to the Road to the 2026 Kentucky Derby. The 152nd running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2026. The determination of who will run in this years 2026 Kentucky Derby will be selected by a tiered point system in select races.

The official Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve will begin Saturday, Sept. 13 at the home of America’s greatest race as Churchill Downs stages the 44th running of the $300,000 Iroquois (Grade III) for 2-year-olds at one mile on opening weekend of its 14-day September Meet. At the conclusion of the series, the leaderboard will determine the preference list for entries into the 20-horse Kentucky Derby – the 1 ¼-mile classic for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds annually held on the first Saturday in May at historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Below is the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby Top 10 Standings. It will increase to 20 as more races happen. Updated 11/30/2025.

  1. Ted Noffey — 40 pts (total)
    • Breeders’ Futurity (Keeneland, Oct 4, 2025) — 1st (10 pts).
    • Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Del Mar, Oct 31 — 1st (30 pts).​
  2. Mr. AP — 15 pts (total)
    • Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Del Mar, Oct 31 — 2nd (15 pts).
  3. Intrepido — 13 pts (total)
    • American Pharoah (Santa Anita, Oct 4, 2025) — 1st (10 pts).
    • Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Del Mar, Oct 31 — 5th (3 pts).
  4. Spice Runner — 11 pts (total)
    • Iroquois (Churchill Downs, Sep 13, 2025) — 1st (10 pts).
    • Breeders’ Futurity (Keeneland, Oct 4, 2025) — 5th (1 pt).
  5. Further Ado — 10 pts (total)
    • Kentucky Jockey Club (Churchill Downs, Nov 29, 2025) — 1st (10 pts).
  6. Napoleon Solo — 10 pts (total)
    • Champagne (Aqueduct, Oct 4, 2025) — 1st (10 pts).
  7. Incredibolt — 10 pts (total)
    • Street Sense (Churchill Downs, Oct 26, 2025) — 1st (10 pts).
  8. Litmus Test — 9 pts (total)
    • Breeders’ Futurity (Keeneland, Oct 4, 2025) — 3rd (3 pts).
    • Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Del Mar, Oct 31 — 4th (6 pts).
  9. Brant — 9 pts (total)
    • Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Del Mar, Oct 31 — 3rd (9 pts).
  10. Universe — 8 pts (total)
    • Champagne (Aqueduct, Oct 4, 2025) — 3rd (3 pts).
    • Street Sense (Churchill Downs, Oct 26, 2025) — 2nd (5 pts).