The powers-that-be in the Triple Crown decided, apparently, that last year's mess, with the races being run in reverse order and the Belmont Stakes being run at a much shorter distance, was a disaster. This year, with a second season of racing still occurring under pandemic conditions, the Triple Crown races will be run on the usual dates and at the usual distances, in the usual places.
The Kentucky Derby will be run at Churchill Downs on Saturday, 1 May. The 3-year-olds will race 1 1/4 miles and the colts will carry 126 pounds each. The purse is $3 million. There have been two notable scratches from the Derby ranks in the last week - the Shug McGaughey trainee, Greatest Honour, and Rebel's Romance, the winner of the UAE Derby will be missing. Greatest Honour is getting a 60-day vacation from training; Rebel's Romance will be pointed at the Belmont Stakes, instead.
Essential Quality, with 140 points, is undefeated
As in the recent past, a three-year-old must qualify to run in the Kentucky Derby by earning enough points to be qualified. Only 20 entrants are allowed to race each year. The Kentucky Derby is sponsored by Woodford Reserve, and they approve 36 races which will award points for Derby qualifications. The first four finishers in each of these approved points races receive a certain number of points. - Rebel's Romance won 100 points for winning the UAE Derby on 27 March in Dubai; and King Fury, who won the Lexington Stakes today, was awarded 20 points.
On the day of the Post Position Draw for the Derby, besides the top 20 points-earners, who have declared their entry, a few more horses will also be drawn, in case one of the top 20 scratches, for whatever reason. The colt with the most points is the 2-year-old champion of last year, Essential Quality, who won the Breeder's Cup Juvenile.
Bourbonic, who won the Wood Memorial, has 100 points
and is tied for the 6/7 position
Below is a listing of the top 30 contenders for the Kentucky Derby - their ranking, name, and number of points earned to date:
1. Essential Quality 140
2. Hot Rod Charlie 110
3. Super Stock 109
4. Like the King 104
5. Known Agenda 102
6. Rock Your World 100
7. Bourbonic 100
8. Medina Spirit 74
9. Concert Tour 70
10. Midnight Bourbon 66
11. Weyburn 60
12. Mandaloun 52
13. Caddo River 50
14. Highly Motivated 50
15. Helium 50
16. Panadol 40
17. Soup and Sandwich 40
18. Dynamic One 40
19. Crowded Trade 40
20. Sainthood 40
21. Proxy 36
22. Rombauer 34
23. Hidden Stash 32
24. Dream Shake 30
25. O Besos 25
26. Get Her Number 20
27. Hozier 20
28. King Fury 20
29. Hockey Dad 20
30. Keepmeinmind 18
Soup and Sandwich is one of 5 contenders with 40 points
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