The 2019 Road to the Kentucky Derby was a series of races through which horses qualified for the 2019 Kentucky Derby, which was held on May 4, 2019. The field for the Derby is limited to 20 horses, with up to four 'also eligibles' in case of a late withdrawal from the field. There are three separate paths for horses to take to qualify for the Derby: the main Road consisting of races in North America (plus one in Dubai), the Japan Road consisting of four races in Japan, and a European Road consisting of seven races in England, Ireland and France.
The main Road to the Kentucky Derby gives points to the top four finishers in specified races. The 2019 season was supposed to remain the same as the 2018 Road to the Kentucky Derby, consisting of 35 races broken down into 19 races for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and 16 races for the Kentucky Derby Championship Season. Earnings in non-restricted stakes act as a tie breaker.[1] However, the San Felipe Stakes was not run in 2019 due to difficulties with the track surface at Santa Anita Park in the wake of heavy winter rains, while the Rebel Stakes was run in two divisions with the posts adjusted to 37.5-15-7.5-3.75 for each division.[2]
For 2019, some small changes were made from 2018 for the other series:[1]
Points system changes: Fukuryu Stakes in Japan was set at 40-16-8-4 points to the top four placings. The Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun points were doubled to 20-8-4-2.
Main Road to the Kentucky Derby
Standings
The following table shows the points earned in the eligible races for the main series.[3][4] Entries for the 2019 Kentucky Derby were taken on April 30. Omaha Beach was originally entered but was scratched on May 1 due to an entrapped epiglottis.[5] Haikal subsequently scratched as well. As a result, Bodexpress drew into the race.
Country House, who qualified by finishing second in the Risen Star and third in the Arkansas Derby, was declared the winner after Maximum Security was disqualified for interference.[6]
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
The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby is intended to provide a place in the Derby starting gate to the top finisher in the series. If the connections of that horse decline the invitation, their place is offered to the second-place finisher and so on through the top four finishers. If none of the top four accept, this place in the starting gate reverts to the horses on the main road to the Derby.
In 2019, the top three finishers in the Japan Road declined the invitation as they had not been nominated to the Derby. The connections of the fourth-place finisher, Master Fencer, decided to accept the offer, marking the first time that a Japanese-bred horse will enter the Derby.[55]
Qualification table
The top four horses (colored brown within the standings) are eligible to participate in the Kentucky Derby provided the horse is nominated.
The European Road to the Kentucky Derby is designed on a similar basis to the Japan Road and is intended to provide a place in the Derby starting gate to the top finisher in the series. If the connections of that horse decline the invitation, their place is offered to the second-place finisher and so on. If none of the top four accept, this place in the starting gate reverts to the horses on the main road to the Derby.
The series consists of seven races – four run on the turf in late 2018 when the horses are age two, plus three races run on a synthetic surface in early 2018.
Qualification Table
The top four horses (colored brown within the standings) were eligible to participate in the Kentucky Derby provided the horse is nominated. However, none of the connections accepted the invitation, so this position in the starting gate reverted to horses on the main Road.[3]
^Earnings from non-restricted stakes prior to the running of the Kentucky Derby serve as a tie-breaker.
^Bodexpress, originally listed as also eligible, drew into the field when Omaha Beach was scratched
^Anothertwistafate is bypassing the Derby to focus on the Preakness
^Connections of Mind Control have removed the horse off the Kentucky Derby trail and are considering one turn races[26]
^Gunmetal Gray underwent surgery to repair a condylar fracture and is doubtful to participate in the Kentucky Derby[29]
^Maximus Mischief sustained an undisclosed injury in preparations for the Fountain of Youth Stakes and connections indicated that the horse would be sidelined indefinitely[33]
^Derma Lourve is also in the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby
^Super Steed sustained a bone bruise during training and connections indicated that the horse would not be ready for the Kentucky Derby[34]
^Connections of Cairo Cat decided to not to contend for the Kentucky Derby due to a setback in preparation[39]
^Originally the horse was owned by Cathal Lynch and Stanton Smith Jr. and trained by Cathal Lynch but was sold in a private purchase[45]
^Network Effect suffered a minor setback and connections are not considering entering the Kentucky Derby[46]
^Kentucky Wildcat suffered a condylar fracture in the Sam F. Davis Stakes and underwent surgery and connections are not considering entering the Kentucky Derby[48]
^The event was renamed in 2018 from the FrontRunner Stakes in honor of its 2014 winner, American Pharoah, who also won the U.S. Triple Crown in 2015.[51]
^Originally the San Felipe Stakes was scheduled to be held on Saturday, 9th March but the track administrators cancelled racing at the track indefinitely due to the number of equine fatalities and the state of the track which had been affected by the winter rains.[52] The administrators of Santa Anita Park decided not to reschedule the race indicating that there would be not enough time when the track reopens.[53]
^The event was split into two division after Oaklawn president Louis Cella presented a sporting gesture after the San Felipe Stakes was abandoned. Each division would carry a purse of $750,000 as the track was prepared to commit an additional $500,000 to the initial $1 million purse. Additionally, 20 entries were to be entered so that the split into divisions would occur. Qualification points for the first four finishers would be adjusted.[2]
^Connections of Master Fencer accepted the invitation to the Kentucky Derby having qualified in one of the four qualification positions[59]
^Originally the Patton Stakes was scheduled to be held on Friday, 1st March but the meeting was abandoned due to a medical emergency at the track after the second race.[69] The event was rescheduled for Wednesday, 6th March.[70]