Horse Racing: Road To The Kentucky Derby Prep Races, Dates & Odds
- First Triple Crown race of the season takes place at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 7th
- Prep races for the Kentucky Derby started in September, and will continue up until the Lexington at Keeneland in April
One of the big betting days of the year is fast approaching, and all gamblers will be hoping to get Kentucky Derby payouts on May 7th. Ante-post markets are already open, but we will learn more about some of the leading contenders from the prep races between now and the opening Triple Crown race of the season.
Kentucky Derby 2022 Schedule
- When: Saturday, May 7th, 6:24 PM ET
- Where: Churchill Downs, Kentucky
- How To Watch: NBC
Kentucky Derby 2022 Odds
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Corniche | +1400 |
| Jack Christopher | +1400 |
| Echo Zulu | +2000 |
| Tiz The Bomb | +2000 |
| Mo Donegal | +2000 |
| Slow Down Andy | +2000 |
| Newgrange | +2000 |
| Messier | +2500 |
| Rattle N Roll | +2500 |
| Pinehurst | +2500 |
| Pappacap | +2500 |
| Smile Happy | +2500 |
Kentucky Derby Prep Races
The field for the Kentucky Derby 2022 will be determined over the coming months, as vital Derby points are up for grabs in prep races. In total, there are 42 prep races in total with points available, with some more important than others. Each race offers a differing number of qualifying points, with the most important among those being the Santa Anita Derby, Jeff Ruby Stakes, Wood Memorial Stakes, and Blue Grass Stakes.
Eight races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby offer 100 qualifying points. Prep races aren’t just staged in the United States, as international qualifying points are available in races such as the UAE Derby, the Vertem Futurity Trophy, and the Cattleya. Below you can see all the prep races, and dates that they will be taking place.
| Race | Date | Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points | Winning Horse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iroquois | September 18th, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 | Major General |
| Juddmonte Royal Lodge | September 25th, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 | Royal Patronage |
| Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford | September 25th, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 | Luxembourg |
| American Pharoah | October 1st, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 | Corniche |
| Champagne | October 2nd, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 | Jack Christopher |
| Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere | October 3rd, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 | Angel Bleu |
| Breeders’ Futurity | October 9th, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 | Rattle N Roll |
| Vertem Futurity Trophy | October 23rd, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 | Luxembourg |
| Breeders’ Cup Juvenile | November 5th, 2021 | 20-8-4-2 | Corniche |
| Kentucky Jockey Club | November 27th, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 | Smile Happy |
| Cattleya | November 27th, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 | Consigliere |
| Ramsen | December 4th, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 | Mo Donegal |
| Los Alamitos Futurity | December 11th, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 | Slow Down Andy |
| Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun | December 15th, 2021 | 20-8-4-2 | Dry Stout |
| Springboard Mile | December 17th, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 | Make It Big |
| Gun Runner | December 26th, 2021 | 10-4-2-1 | Epicenter |
| Smarty Jones | January 1st, 2022 | 10-4-2-1 | Dash Attack |
| Jerome | January 1st, 2022 | 10-4-2-1 | Courvoisier |
| Sham | January 1st, 2022 | 10-4-2-1 | Newgrange |
| Lecomte | January 22nd, 2022 | 10-4-2-1 | Call Me Midnight |
| Southwest | January 29th, 2022 | 10-4-2-1 | Newgrange |
| Holy Bull | February 5th, 2022 | 10-4-2-1 | White Abarrio |
| Sam F. Davis | February 5th, 2022 | 10-4-2-1 | Classic Causeway |
| Withers | February 5th, 2022 | 10-4-2-1 | Early Voting |
| Robert B. Lewis | February 6th, 2022 | 10-4-2-1 | Messier |
| El Camino Real Derby | February 19th, 2022 | 10-4-2-1 | Blackadder |
| Risen Star | February 19th, 2022 | 50-20-10-5 | Epicenter |
| Hyacinth | February 20th, 2022 | 30-12-6-3 | Combustion |
| Rebel | February 26th, 2022 | 50-20-10-5 | Un Ojo |
| John Battaglia Memorial | March 5th, 2022 | 10-4-2-1 | Tiz The Bomb |
| Fountain of Youth | March 5th, 2022 | 50-20-10-5 | Simplification |
| Gotham | March 5th, 2022 | 50-20-10-5 | Morello |
| San Felipe | March 5th, 2022 | 50-20-10-5 | Forbidden Kingdom |
| Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes | March 9th, 2022 | 20-8-4-2 | Blue Trail |
| Patton | March 11th, 2022 | 20-8-4-2 | Juncture |
| Tampa Bay Derby | March 12th, 2022 | 50-20-10-5 | Classic Causeway |
| UAE Derby | March 26th, 2022 | 100-40-20-10 | Crown Pride |
| Louisiana Derby | March 26th, 2022 | 100-40-20-10 | Epicenter |
| Fukuryu | March 26th, 2022 | 40-16-8-4 | Delicada |
| Sunland Derby | March 27th, 2022 | 50-20-10-5 | Slow Down Andy |
| Florida Derby | April 2nd, 2022 | 100-40-20-10 | White Abarrio |
| Arkansas Derby | April 2nd, 2022 | 100-40-20-10 | Cyberknife |
| Jeff Ruby | April 2nd, 2022 | 100-40-20-10 | Tiz The Bomb |
| Cardinal Condition Stakes | April 7th, 2022 | 30-12-6-3 | Atheby |
| Wood Memorial | April 9th, 2022 | 100-40-20-10 | Mo Donegal |
| Blue Grass | April 9th, 2022 | 100-40-20-10 | Zandon |
| Santa Anita Derby | April 9th, 2022 | 100-40-20-10 | Taiba |
| Lexington | April 16th, 2022 | 20-8-4-2 |
Prep Race Stats & Trends
It’s likely that Kentucky Derby picks won’t be made until at least after the period of big-scoring points between March 26th and April 9th, as we are likely to see many of the leading contenders in those graded races. However, history can offer guidance on the most important prep races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
The Florida Derby on April 2nd may be one worth examining, as 20 of the previous winners of this race have gone on to win one of the Triple Crown races. Including Maximum Security, who was later disqualified, the race has produced 15 Kentucky Derby winners. The most recent winner of the Florida Derby that has gone on to win the opening Triple Crown race of the season was Always Dreaming in 2017 for trainer Todd Pletcher.
The Santa Anita Derby has also been a successful route in recent seasons, with three previous Derby winners having come through the race at Santa Anita in the past four years. Two of the most prestigious races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby are the Wood Memorial and Blue Grass, but neither have produced a winner of the opening Triple Crown race in the past ten years.
Past Kentucky Derby Winners & Prep Races
Trends are important to identify before making a bet on the Kentucky Derby 2022. It may be important to examine the prep races taken by the most recent winners of the race, as it could offer extra insight into the route that the potential winner could take.
| Year | Winning Horse | Final Prep Run |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Medina Spirit | 2nd Santa Anita Derby |
| 2020 | Authentic | 2nd Santa Anita Derby (1st Haskell Stakes) |
| 2019 | Country House | 3rd Arkansas Derby |
| 2018 | Justify | 1st Santa Anita Derby |
| 2017 | Always Dreaming | 1st Florida Derby |
Early Kentucky Derby Pick and Prediction
We are yet to see many of the leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby in 2022. Jack Christopher looks an excellent price in the ante-post market, but we are yet to see him return from injury. However, a chance could be taken. Meanwhile, I have been sweet on the chances of Forbidden Kingdom since his loss to Messier. At a massive price, he could be the way to go in the big race this year from an ante-post perspective.
Free Pick:
- Jack Christopher
- Forbidden Kingdom (+15000)
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