Source checked 2026-11-09. The 2026–27 Road to the Kentucky Derby has 36 U.S. prep races leading to the 153rd Kentucky Derby on at Churchill Downs. Points go to the top five finishers of each race. The next prep on the schedule is the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes on November 28, 2026 at Churchill Downs. The official schedule is subject to change.

Road to the Kentucky Derby 2027 prep race schedule

2026–27 Road to the Kentucky Derby: U.S. prep races and points to the top five finishers. Schedule subject to change.
DateRaceTrackPoints (1st–5th)Status
Iroquois StakesChurchill Downs10-5-3-2-1Date passed
American Pharoah StakesSanta Anita Park10-5-3-2-1Date passed
Champagne StakesBelmont Park10-5-3-2-1Date passed
Breeders’ FuturityKeeneland10-5-3-2-1Date passed
Street Sense StakesChurchill Downs10-5-3-2-1Date passed
Breeders’ Cup JuvenileKeeneland30-15-9-6-3Date passed
Kentucky Jockey Club StakesChurchill Downs10-5-3-2-1Scheduled
Remsen StakesBelmont Park10-5-3-2-1Scheduled
Los Alamitos FuturityLos Alamitos10-5-3-2-1Scheduled
Gun Runner StakesFair Grounds10-5-3-2-1Scheduled
Springboard MileRemington Park10-5-3-2-1Scheduled
Smarty Jones StakesOaklawn Park10-5-3-2-1Scheduled
Lecomte StakesFair Grounds20-10-6-4-2Scheduled
Leonatus StakesTurfway Park10-5-3-2-1Scheduled
Withers StakesBelmont Park20-10-6-4-2Scheduled
Holy Bull StakesGulfstream Park20-10-6-4-2Scheduled
Robert B. Lewis StakesSanta Anita Park20-10-6-4-2Scheduled
Sam F. Davis StakesTampa Bay Downs20-10-6-4-2Scheduled
Southwest StakesOaklawn Park20-10-6-4-2Scheduled
Risen Star StakesFair Grounds50-25-15-10-5Scheduled
Gotham StakesBelmont Park50-25-15-10-5Scheduled
John Battaglia MemorialTurfway Park20-10-6-4-2Scheduled
Sunland Park DerbySunland Park20-10-6-4-2Scheduled
Fountain of Youth StakesGulfstream Park50-25-15-10-5Scheduled
Tampa Bay DerbyTampa Bay Downs50-25-15-10-5Scheduled
San Felipe StakesSanta Anita Park50-25-15-10-5Scheduled
Rebel StakesOaklawn Park50-25-15-10-5Scheduled
Virginia DerbyColonial Downs50-25-15-10-5Scheduled
Jeff Ruby SteaksTurfway Park100-50-25-15-10Scheduled
Louisiana DerbyFair Grounds100-50-25-15-10Scheduled
Florida DerbyGulfstream Park100-50-25-15-10Scheduled
Blue Grass StakesKeeneland100-50-25-15-10Scheduled
Santa Anita DerbySanta Anita Park100-50-25-15-10Scheduled
Wood MemorialBelmont Park100-50-25-15-10Scheduled
Arkansas DerbyOaklawn Park100-50-25-15-10Scheduled
Lexington StakesKeeneland20-10-6-4-2Scheduled

Dates, tracks and points are transcribed from the official Kentucky Derby prep race schedule. Sponsor billing is shortened in race names. The official page also lists a Kentucky Oaks series and international (Japan, Europe/Middle East) Derby series, which are not shown here. Distances, purses, fields and results are not part of that schedule and are not stated on this page.

How Kentucky Derby points work

Each prep awards points to its top five finishers, and the scale rises as the Derby gets closer: 10-5-3-2-1 for the early preps, 20-10-6-4-2 from mid-January, 50-25-15-10-5 for the major preps in February and March, and 100-50-25-15-10 for the final round. The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is the exception among two-year-old races at 30-15-9-6-3. The Derby field is limited to 20 starters, and the points leaderboard decides who gets in.

The 100-point final preps

Using this schedule

A schedule tells you when and where, not who. Fields are drawn a few days before each race, and the price on the day decides whether any opinion is worth a bet. When a supported card is posted, run the exact race through the GAMELIN Race Finder for a field ranking and a BET or PASS price test. For the arithmetic, see the odds payout chart and the free calculators; for dates across all tracks, see the stakes calendar. New to this? Start with how to bet on horse racing or the handicapping books worth reading.

Sources and scope

Official references and GAMELIN's published evidence. Check current track and operator information before acting.