Churchill Downs Press Release/Edited
LOUISVILLE, Ky.— The Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series is set to kickoff Saturday in New Orleans with a full field of 14 3-year-olds that were entered in the $400,000 Risen Star (Grade II) at Fair Grounds.
Promising horses have emerged each week in point-bearing prep races since this year’s Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve commenced Sept. 17 at Churchill Downs. The 3-year-old picture should come into a sharper focus over seven of the next eight weekends as the race distances get longer and point values get larger.
Saturday’s Risen Star – which has 100 points up for grabs: 50 for first, 20 for second, 15 for third, 10 for fourth and 5 for fifth – launches the 16-race Championship Series as aspiring Derby contenders continue their quest to secure a berth in the starting gate for the 149th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on Saturday, May 6 at Churchill Downs.
In 20 Prep Season races that have been run so far, 18 different horses have won. The only dual winners were champion 2-year-old Forte and Instant Coffee, who won both the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) and Lecomte (GIII). Forte is expected to return in the March 4 Fountain of Youth while Instant Coffee is likely to run in the TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (GII) on March 25.
Since the point series was adopted in 2012-13, it has taken an average of 21 points to make the field of 20 for the Kentucky Derby. However, this is the first year points have been awarded to the fifth-place finisher and an additional 577 points are up for grabs on the Road to the Kentucky Derby series.
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