The 2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby was a series of races through which horses qualified for the 2020 Kentucky Derby, which was held on September 5 (rescheduled from the traditional first Saturday in May due to the coronavirus pandemic). 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 the European Road with seven European races in England, Ireland and France. The top four finishers in the specified races receive points, with higher points awarded in the major prep races. Earnings in non-restricted stakes races act as a tie breaker.
When originally announced in September 2019, the main Road to the Kentucky Derby would have remained substantially the same as the 2019 Road to the Kentucky Derby, consisting of 35 races, 19 races for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and 16 races for the Kentucky Derby Championship Season.[1]Fair Grounds Race Course subsequently made minor changes to the length of the three qualifying races that it hosts: the Lecomte Stakes goes from a mile and 70 yards to 1+1⁄16 miles, the Risen Star from 1+1⁄16 to 1+1⁄8 miles, and the Louisiana Derby goes from 1+1⁄8 to 1+3⁄16 miles.[2] However, in March 2020, the growing coronavirus pandemic prompted the cancellation of several prep races, and the rescheduling of the Derby itself. Churchill Downs added more qualifying races to the series in May [3] which became known as the Extended Series.
Main Road to the Kentucky Derby
Standings
The following table shows the points earned in the eligible races for the main series. The ranking is for horses that are still pointing towards the race, as shown on the Derby Leaderboard published by Churchill Downs on August 22,[4] updated for subsequently announced withdrawals from the field.[5][6][7][8]
Authentic, who was the eventual winner of the Kentucky Derby, qualified for the race in second place by winning the Haskell, Sham and San Felipe, plus finishing second in the Santa Anita Derby.
These races are the major preps for the Kentucky Derby, and are thus weighted more heavily. Additional races are scheduled to be added in the summer as to make up for cancelled races towards the September 5 Derby. Note: 1st=100 points; 2nd=40 points; 3rd=20 points; 4th=10 points
The following races were announced for the extension of the Road to the Kentucky Derby as a result of the Derby being run in September instead of May.[72]
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 neither of the top four accept, this place in the starting gate reverts to the horses on the main road to the Derby.
brown highlight – qualified on points but declined offer
grey highlight – did not qualify
European Road to the Kentucky Derby
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 was supposed to consist of seven races – four run on the turf in late 2019 when the horses were age two, plus three races run on a synthetic surface in early 2020. The last race in the series, the Cardinal Stakes, was postponed when horse racing in Britain was suspended from mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.[84]
The top point earners were Nobel Prize (30 points), Crossfirehurricane (20 points), Chares (20 points) and Kameko (14 points). None of the invitations were accepted.[4]
^Earnings from non-restricted stakes prior to the running of the Kentucky Derby serve as a tie-breaker.
^Authentic's original ownership group was SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, F. Hertrich III, J. Fielding and Golconda Stables
^Nadal was retired after sustaining a condylar fracture[12]
^Wells Bayou sustained ankle bruising and is off the Kentucky Derby trail[17]
^Originally King Guillermo was not nominated for the Triple Crown, but after his victory in the Tampa Bay Derby connections paid the late payment fee for nomination[19]
^Maxfield has suffered a condylar fracture and off the Kentucky Derby trail[17]
^Gouverneur Morris was diagnosed with colitis in June and was taken out of training to give him time to recover[28]
^Originally Pneumatic was not nominated for the Triple Crown, but his connections paid the late payment fee for nomination
^The filly qualified for entry to the Kentucky Derby, but her trainer confirmed they would run in the Kentucky Oaks[36]
^South Bend's connections originally planned to bypass the race, but changed their mind in the final week
^Connections of Independence Hall has decided to bypass the Kentucky Derby trail[49]
^Dennis' Moment is not in consideration for the Kentucky Derby
^Originally Lebda was not nominated for the Triple Crown, but his connections paid the late payment fee for nomination
^Toledo is ahead of Zimba Warrior in the standings due to higher stakes earned from non-restricted stakes[4]
^Tizamagician is ahead of Wine and Whiskey in the standings due to higher stakes earned from non-restricted stakes[4]
^Shirl's Speight did not earn points on the Road, but became eligible for the race when there was still a position left in the starting gate after all point earners had made their decision about whether or not to enter. He was the top ranked non-points earner based on his graded stakes earnings from the Marine Stakes in Canada[57]
^Money Moves did not earn points on the Road, but became eligible for the race when there was still a position left in the starting gate after all point earners and graded stakes earners had made their decision about whether or not to enter.
^Dead heat for second place, both horses received three qualification points
^Racing officials split the event into two divisions after the number of entries entered exceeded the number for one event[58]
^Originally the purse for the Florida Derby was $1,100,000 but due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States the administration of Gulfstream Park lowered the purse as the race was run behind closed doors while the accompany casino was closed.[62]
^Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States the administration of Keeneland cancelled the Spring meeting between April 2–24 including the Blue Grass Stakes[64] The event was moved to the Extended series events.
^The event was split into two division after 22 entries were nominated as a result of race cancellations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Each division would carry a purse of $500,000 as the track was prepared to commit an additional $250,000 to the initial reduced $750,000 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 not be adjusted.[65]
^Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States the administration of Oaklawn Park moved the Arkansas Derby from April 4 and lowered the purse from $1 million to $750,000 as the race is run behind closed doors.[66] When the track announced that the event would be split into two divisions the purse returned to $1 million, with each division having a $500,000 purse.[65]
^Charlatan crossed the finish line first but was subsequently disqualified for a test positive of lidocaine. The placings for the race were subsequently adjusted and the qualifying points were redistributed to the horses that ran behind him: Basin, Gouverneur Morris, Winning Impression & Anneau d'Or[4] However, after an appeal was lodged the Arkansas Racing Commission on 20 April 2021 ruled on restoring the original result.[67] The disqualification was later overturned on appeal.[68]
^Originally scheduled for 4 April but due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the administration of the track with instructions received from Los Angeles County Health Department postponed racing at Santa Anita until further notice.[70] On 30 April Santa Anita Park administration announced the reopening of the track on May 15 with the rescheduling of Santa Anita Derby to 6 June.[71] The event was moved to the Extended series events.
^Blue Grass Stakes was moved to the Extended Season due to rescheduling of the event.[74]
^Originally the race was scheduled on 26 October 2019 at Doncaster Racecourse but the event was canceled due to the waterlogged condition of the track. Event was rescheduled for Friday, 1 November 2019.[88]