Road to the Derby - Derby Points Finalized

With the Kentucky Derby a little more than three weeks away, only one race remains where Kentucky Derby qualifying points will be awarded. That race is the Lexington Stakes, which is to be run at Keenland Race Course on April 13, 2024. While qualifying points are available, it's not like the 10 points to be awarded to the winner will make any difference at all.

Given that the Lexington will have no possible impact on the Derby field, the possible starters are pretty much set. It's noteworthy that the top 20 points earners will get preference when entries are taken. Should any horse in the top 20 defect from the race, the owner of the next point earner will get a chance to throw their horse's hat into the ring. Also, up to four (4) alternates will be allowed to enter to compensate for potential defections after the starters have been announced.

Here is a look at the top 25 points earners (points and earnings to date listed):

1. Sierra Leone - 155 pts - $871,250
2. Fierceness - 137 pts - $1,646,100
3. Catching Freedom - 125 pts - $802,000
4. Stronghold - 125 pts - $742,800
5. Resilience - 110 pts - $416,000
6, Forever Young (JPN) - 100 pts - $1,769,919
7. Endlessly - 100 pts - $658,000
8. Dornoch - 75 pts - $472,375
9. Just a Touch - 75 pts - $247,500
10. Track Phantom - 70 pts - $300,000
11. West Saratoga - 67 pts - $363,640
12. Just Steel - 65 pts - $628,295
13. Honor Marie - 65 pts - $448,455
14. Domestic Product - 60 pts - 260,500
15. Catalytic - 50 pts - $186,000
16. Deterministic - 50 pts - $180,000
17. Society Man - 50 pts - $141,875
18. Mystik Dan - 46 pts - $550,050
19. No More Time - 45 pts - $194,380
20. T O Password - Japan RTKD Invite - $120,474
21. Grand Mo the First - 40 pts - $164,250
22. Common Defense - 37 pts - $253,450
23. Epic Ride - 35 pts - $198,315
24. Hades - 30 pts - $189,800
25. Uncle Heavy - 30 pts - $167,500

This year's Kentucky Derby will be run on May 4, 2024, at the historical Churchill Downs Race Track in Louisville, Kentucky. Final entries are due a week before the race and post positions are scheduled four (4) days before the race.

The Muth Issue

In any other year, Muth would be considered one of the top three (3) contenders for the 2024 Kentucky Derby. This became clear after he easily beat a field of top horses in the Arkansas Derby in late March. Unfortunately, Muth is trained by Bob Baffert, the top trainer in the U.S. Baffert horses have been banned from earning Derby points for the last three (3) years due to a medicine infraction ruling regarding Medina Spirit, winner of the 2021 Derby.

While Muth is currently prohibited from entering the starting gate, owner Amr Zedan has filed a lawsuit against Churchill Downs. The lawsuit seeks an injunction that would allow him to enter Muth into the race. If allowed to race, points would be adjusted and Muth would have more than enough to qualify.

A hearing has been set for April 15.