# 2023 Road to the Kentucky Derby

The 2023 Road to the Kentucky Derby is a series of races through which horses qualified for the 2023 Kentucky Derby, which was held on May 6. The field for the Derby was limited to 20 horses, with up to four 'also eligibles' in case of a late withdrawal from the field. There were three separate paths for horses to take to qualify for the Derby: the main Road consisting of races in North America (plus one in Dubai), the Japan Road consisting of four races in Japan, and the European road consisting of seven races in England, Ireland and France. The top five finishers in the specified races received points, with higher points awarded in the major prep races in March and April. Earnings in non-restricted stakes races acted as a tie breaker.
For 2023, the main Road to the Kentucky Derby resembled the 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby, consisting of 37 races, one more event than in 2021, with 21 races for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and 16 races for the Kentucky Derby Championship Season with the following changes:

## Standings

The following table shows the points earned in the eligible races for the main series.
| Rank | Horse | Points | Earnings | Trainer | Owner |
| 1—scratched | Forte | 190 | $2,359,730 | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable |
| 2—scratched | Practical Move | 160 | $822,000 | Tim Yakteen | Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr., Leslie A. Amestoy & Roger K. Bersley |
| 3 | Angel of Empire | 154 | $1,026,375 | Brad H. Cox | Albaugh Family Stables |
| 4 | Tapit Trice | 150 | $783,500 | Todd A. Pletcher | Whisper Hill Farm & Gainesway Stable |
| 5 | Two Phil's | 123 | $643,850 | Larry Rivelli | Patricia's Hope & Phillip Sagan |
| 6—scratched | Lord Miles | 105 | $427,100 | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Vegso Racing Stable |
| 7 | Derma Sotogake (JPN) | 100 | $1,112,319 | Hidetaka Otonashi | Hiroyuki Asanuma |
| 8 | Kingsbarns | 100 | $600,000 | Todd A. Pletcher | Spendthrift Farm |
| 9 | Raise Cain | 64 | $232,500 | Ben Colbrook | Andrew N. Warren & Rania Warren |
| 10 | Rocket Can | 60 | $284,025 | William I. Mott | Frank Fletcher Racing |
| 11 | Hit Show | 60 | $277,500 | Brad H. Cox | Gary & Mary West |
| 12 | Confidence Game | 57 | $610,480 | J. Keith Desormeaux | Don't Tell My Wife Stables |
| 13 | Verifying | 54 | $369,750 | Brad H. Cox | Jonathan Poulin, Westerberg, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor |
| 14 | Sun Thunder | 54 | $181,500 | Kenneth G. McPeek | R.T Racing Stable & Cypress Creek Equine |
| euthanized | Wild On Ice | 50 | $366,400 | Joel Marr | Frank Sumpter |
| 15 | Mage | 50 | $205,200 | Gustavo Delgado | OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing & CMNWLTH |
| bypassing | Blazing Sevens | 46 | $507,600 | Chad C. Brown | Rodeo Creek Racing |
| 16 | Disarm | 46 | $237,500 | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds |
| 17 | Reincarnate | 45 | $263,250 | Tim Yakteen | SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan |
| 18 | Jace's Road | 45 | $200,350 | Brad H. Cox | West Point Thoroughbreds & Albaugh Family Stables |
| 19—scratched | Skinner | 45 | $174,500 | John Shirreffs | C R K Stable |
| 20—scratched | Continuar (JPN) | 30 | $289,954 | Yoshito Yahagi | Lion Race Horse |
| 21 | Cyclone Mischief | 45 | $137,525 | Dale L. Romans | Albaugh Family Stables & Castleton Lyons |
| 22 | Mandarin Hero (JPN) | 40 | $339,041 | Terunobu Fujita | Hiroaki Arai |
| bypassing | Major Dude | 40 | $401,595 | Todd A. Pletcher | Spendthrift Farm |
| 23 | King Russell | 40 | $227,500 | Ron Moquett | Brereton C. Jones & Naber Racing |
| bypassing | Dura Erede (JPN) | 40 | $774,897 | Manabu Ikezoe | Three H Racing |
| bypassing | Arctic Arrogance | 36 | $180,000 | Linda L. Rice | Chester Broman Sr. & Mary Broman |
| bypassing | Red Route One | 33 | $417,125 | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds |
| bypassing | Instant Coffee | 32 | $395,065 | Brad H. Cox | Gold Square |
| bypassing | Funtastic Again | 30 | $150,116 | Wesley A. Ward | Three Chimneys Farm |
| bypassing | Dreamlike | 30 | $75,000 | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable |
| bypassing | Classic Car Wash | 26 | $100,000 | Mark E. Casse | Gary Barber |
| bypassing | General Banker | 24 | $84,000 | James W. Ferraro | Seacoast Thoroughbreds of New England |
| bypassing | Perriere (JPN) | 20 | $332,805 | Yoichi Kuroiwa | Yuji Hasegawa |
| bypassing | National Treasure | 20 | $297,000 | Tim Yakteen | SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan |
| bypassing | First Mission | 20 | $232,500 | Brad H. Cox | Godolphin |
| bypassing | Congruent | 20 | $221,585 | Antonio Sano | Tami Bobo & Lugamo Racing Stable |
| bypassing | Low Expectations | 20 | $130,680 | Antonio Garcia | Reddam Racing |
| injured | Litigate | 20 | $120,000 | Todd A. Pletcher | Centennial Farms |
| bypassing | Slip Mahoney | 20 | $82,500 | Brad H. Cox | Gold Square |
| bypassing | Geaux Rocket Ride | 20 | $80,000 | Richard E. Mandella | Pin Oak Stud |
| bypassing | Mr. Ripple | 20 | $46,500 | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Legacy Racing |
| bypassing | Shopper's Revenge | 20 | $40,000 | Steven M. Asmussen | Whisper Hill Farm & Three Chimneys Farm |
| bypassing | Wadsworth | 20 | $34,000 | Brad H. Cox | Godolphin |
| bypassing | Classic Legacy | 19 | $45,000 | William I. Mott | Bruce Lunsford |
| bypassing | Curly Jack | 17 | $348,120 | Thomas M. Amoss | Michael McLoughlin |
| bypassing | One in Vermillion | 15 | $178,143 | Esteban Martinez | Jonathan Kalman |
| bypassing | Henry Q | 15 | $119,400 | Todd Fincher | The Del Mar Group |
| bypassing | Fort Bragg | 15 | $59,900 | Tim Yakteen | SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan |
| bypassing | Shadow Dragon | 13 | $77,520 | William I. Mott | Peachtree Stable |
| bypassing | Denington | 12 | $61,860 | Kenneth G. McPeek | Fern Circle Stables & Magdalena Racing |
| not nominated | How Did He Do That | 11 | $100,100 | Steven M. Asmussen | J. Kirk & Judy Robison |
| bypassing | Victory Formation | 10 | $156,750 | Brad H. Cox | Spendthrift Farm & Frank Fletcher Racing Operations Inc. |
| bypassing | Dubyuhnell | 10 | $137,500 | Danny Gargan | West Paces Racing & Stonestreet Stables |
| bypassing | Go Soldier Go | 10 | $132,062 | Fawzi Abdulla | Victorious |
| injured | Hejazi | 10 | $118,500 | Tim Yakteen | Zedan Racing Stables |
| bypassing | Lugan Knight | 10 | $83,625 | Michael J. McCarthy | BG Stables |
| bypassing | Chase the Chaos | 10 | $81,500 | Ed Moger Jr. | Adam Ference & Bill Dory |
| bypassing | Classic Catch | 10 | $30,000 | Todd A. Pletcher | Whisper Hill Farm |
| bypassing | Tapit's Conquest | 10 | $26,000 | Brad H. Cox | Robert V. LaPenta, e Five Racing Thor. & Madaket Stables |
| not nominated | Airtime | 10 | $18,750 | Robertino Diodoro | Randy Howg |
| injured | Eyeing Clover | 10 | $18,000 | Brad H. Cox | Ten Strike Racing, Michael E. Kisber & Colin Reed |
| bypassing | Prairie Hawk | 10 | $17,500 | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Peachtree Stable & WinStar Farm |
| not nominated | Maker's Candy | 10 | $14,400 | Michael J. Maker | Paradise Farms, David Staudacher, Maxis Stable & Gata Racing Stable |
| bypassing | Scoobie Quando | 8 | $117,700 | Ben Colebrook | Andrew N. & Rania Warren |
| not nominated | Groveland | 8 | $40,000 | Eoin Harty | Godolphin |
| not nominated | Bromley | 8 | $18,300 | Paulo Lobo | OXO Equine |
| bypassing | Hayes Strike | 7 | $168,250 | Kenneth G. McPeek | Dixiana Farm |
| bypassing | Andiamo a Firenze | 7 | $72,000 | Kelly J. Breen | Mr. Amore Stable |
| injured | Frosted Departure | 6 | $222,112 | Kenneth G. McPeek | C&H Diamond Racing & Magdalena Racing |
| bypassing | West Coast Cowboy | 6 | $34,250 | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Gentry Farms |
| bypassing | Bourbon Bash | 5 | $33,750 | D. Wayne Lukas | BC Stables |
| bypassing | Clear the Air | 5 | $24,500 | Will Walden | Cypress Creek Equine |
| bypassing | Single Ruler | 5 | $8,000 | Keith Desormeaux | Rocker O Ranch |
| injured | Loggins | 4 | $106,500 | Brad H. Cox | Spendthrift Farm, Steve Landers Racing, Martin S. Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing Stables, Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing & Winners Win |
| injured | Honed | 4 | $65,700 | Kenneth G. McPeek | Three Chimneys Farm & Magdalena Racing |
| injured | Legacy Isle | 4 | $44,325 | Rohan Crichton | Daniel L. Walters, Dennis G. Smith, Anthony Smith & Rohan Crichton |
| injured | Moon Landing | 4 | $6,150 | Kevin Attard | Robert V. LaPenta, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds & Madaket Stables |
| injured | Gulfport | 3 | $267,070 | Steven M. Asmussen | William L. & Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, Whispering Oaks Farm & Coolmore Stud |
| injured | Tuskegee Airmen | 3 | $90,000 | John C. Servis | Cash Is King & LC Racing |
| not nominated | Echo Again | 3 | $48,625 | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds |
| bypassing | Determinedly | 3 | $20,500 | Mark E. Casse | John C. Oxley |
| not nominated | Harcyn | 3 | $12,000 | Steve Sherman | Jerry Moss |
| not nominated | Packs a Wahlop | 2 | $196,000 | Jeff Mullins | Red Baron's Barn & Rancho Temescal |
| not nominated | Zydeceaux | 2 | $111,000 | Ramon Minguet | Stud Carmen Cristina |
| not nominated | Passarando | 2 | $64,450 | Steven Specht | Larry D. & Marianne Williams |
| not nominated | Prove Right | 2 | $37,375 | James K. Chapman | James K. Chapman & Stuart Tsujimoto |
| bypassing | Western Ghent | 2 | $37,325 | D. Wayne Lukas | Bob & Ann Ghent, Laurie & D. Wayne Lukas |
| bypassing | Il Miracolo | 2 | $26,535 | Antonio Sano | Alexandres |
| not nominated | Gunflash | 2 | $24,000 | Karl Broberg | Jerry Namy |
| not nominated | Quick To Accuse | 2 | $15,000 | Horacio De Paz | Rupp Racing |
| injured | Tall Boy | 2 | $12,000 | Leandro Mora | Calumet Farm |
| bypassing | Demolition Duke | 2 | $11,250 | Brad H. Cox | Thrash & Payne |
| injured | Neural Network | 2 | $9,000 | Chad C. Brown | Klaravich Stables |
| bypassing | Miranda Rights | 2 | $4,290 | Mark E. Casse | D. J. Stable |
| not nominated | Andthewinneris | 1 | $248,363 | Wayne Catalano | Susan Moulton |
| not nominated | Campfire Creed | 1 | $77,000 | Danny Pish | Dennis E. Foster |
| not nominated | Midnight Trouble | 1 | $35,000 | Peter R. Walder | Paradise Farm Corp., David Staudacher & Peter R. Walder |
| not nominated | Man Child | 1 | $30,000 | Ryan Hanson | California Racing Partners, Ciaglia Racing, Michelle Hanson, Richard C. Pearson, Timothy J. Husted & Robert Drenk |
| bypassing | Champions Dream | 1 | $20,000 | Danny Gargan | Rosedown Racing Stables |
Legend:
 Qualified for the Derby
 Injured/Bypassing/Inactive/Not nominated

## Prep season
### Initial prep events

Note: 1st=10 points; 2nd=4 points; 3rd=3 points; 4th=2 points; 5th=1 point (except the Breeders' Cup Juvenile: 1st=30 points; 2nd=12 points; 3rd=9 points; 4th=6 points; 5th=3 points)
The dates for most races shown below are based on the placement in the racing calendar from 2021/2022. Similarly, the purses shown below are based on the amounts from the previous year and will be updated when finalized.
| Race | Distance | Purse | Track | Date | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
| Iroquois | 1+1⁄16 miles | $299,250 | Churchill Downs | Sep 17 2022 | Curly Jack | Honed | Jace's Road | Hayes Strike | Confidence Game |
| Champagne | 1 mile | $500,000 | Aqueduct | Oct 1 2022 | Blazing Sevens | Verifying | Gulfport | Andiamo a Firenze | Champions Dream |
| American Pharoah | 1+1⁄16 miles | $301,500 | Santa Anita | Oct 8 2022 | Cave Rock | National Treasure | Hejazi | Gandolfini | Man Child |
| Breeders' Futurity | 1+1⁄16 miles | $600,000 | Keeneland | Oct 8 2022 | Forte | Loggins | Red Route One | Instant Coffee | Newgate |
| Breeders' Cup Juvenile | 1+1⁄16 miles | $2,000,000 | Keeneland | Nov 4 2022 | Forte | Cave Rock | National Treasure | Blazing Sevens | Curly Jack |
| Kentucky Jockey Club | 1+1⁄16 miles | $399,625 | Churchill Downs | Nov 26 2022 | Instant Coffee | Curly Jack | Haynes Strike | Red Route One | Denington |
| Remsen | 1+1⁄8 miles | $250,000 | Aqueduct | Dec 3 2022 | Dubyuhnell | Arctic Arrogance | Tuskegee Airmen | Quick to Accuse | Midnight Trouble |
| Los Alamitos Futurity | 1+1⁄16 miles | $200,000 | Los Alamitos | Dec 17 2022 | Practical Move | Carmel Road | Fort Bragg | Tall Boy | Arabian Lion |
| Springboard Mile | 1 mile | $400,000 | Remington | Dec 17 2022 | Wildatlanticstorm | Giant Mischief | Echo Again | Gunflash | Campfire Creed |
| Gun Runner Stakes | 1+1⁄16 miles | $98,000 | Fair Grounds | Dec 26 2022 | Jace's Road | Raise Cain | Determinedly | Hayes Strike | Andthewinneris |
| Smarty Jones | 1 mile | $250,000 | Oaklawn | Jan 1 2023 | Victory Formation | Angel of Empire | Denington | Western Ghent | How Did He Do That |
| Jerome | 1 mile | $150,000 | Aqueduct | Jan 7 2023 | Lugan Knight | Arctic Arrogance | General Banker | Neural Network | Andiamo a Firenze |
| Sham | 1 mile | $100,000 | Santa Anita | Jan 8 2023 | Reincarnate | Newgate | National Treasure | Packs a Wahlop | — |
| El Camino Real Derby | 1+1⁄8 miles | $101,350 | Golden Gate | Feb 11 2023 | Chase the Chaos | Gilmore | Harcyn | Passarando | Nullarbor |

### Select prep events

Note: 1st=20 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points
| Race | Distance | Purse | Track | Date | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
| Lecomte | 1+1⁄16 miles | $194,000 | Fair Grounds | Jan 21 2023 | Instant Coffee | Two Phil's | Confidence Game | Denington | Bromley |
| Southwest | 1+1⁄16 miles | $750,000 | Oaklawn | Jan 28 2023 | Arabian Knight | Red Route One | Frosted Departure | Sun Thunder | Jace's Road |
| Holy Bull | 1+1⁄16 miles | $250,000 | Gulfstream | Feb 4 2023 | Rocket Can | Shadow Dragon | West Coast Cowboy | Legacy Isle | Il Miracolo |
| Robert B. Lewis | 1+1⁄16 miles | $196,000 | Santa Anita | Feb 4 2023 | Newgate | Hard To Figure | Worcester | Arabian Lion | — |
| Withers | 1+1⁄8 miles | $250,000 | Aqueduct | Feb 11 2023 | Hit Show | Arctic Arrogance | General Banker | Andiamo a Firenze | Prove Right |
| Sam F. Davis Stakes | 1+1⁄16 miles | $200,000 | Tampa Bay | Feb 11 2023 | Litigate | Groveland | Classic Car Wash | Classic Legacy | Zydeceaux |
| John Battaglia Memorial Stakes | 1+1⁄16 miles | $147,500 | Turfway | Mar 4 2023 | Congruent | Scoobie Quando | Bromley | Moon Landing | Miranda Rights |

## Championship series events
### First leg of series

Note: 1st=50 points; 2nd=20 points; 3rd=15 points; 4th=10 points; 5th=5 points
| Race | Distance | Purse | Grade | Track | Date | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
| Risen Star | 1+1⁄8 miles | $400,000 | 2 | Fair Grounds | Feb 18 2023 | Angel of Empire | Sun Thunder | Two Phil's | Tapit's Conquest | Single Ruler |
| Rebel | 1+1⁄16 miles | $1,000,000 | 2 | Oaklawn | Feb 25 2023 | Confidence Game | Red Route One | Reincarnate | Verifying | Bourbon Bash |
| Fountain of Youth | 1+1⁄16 miles | $400,000 | 2 | Gulfstream | Mar 4 2023 | Forte | Rocket Can | Cyclone Mischief | Mage | Shadow Dragon |
| Gotham | 1 mile | $300,000 | 3 | Aqueduct | Mar 4 2023 | Raise Cain | Slip Mahoney | General Banker | Eyeing Clover | Clear the Air |
| San Felipe | 1+1⁄16 miles | $402,000 | 2 | Santa Anita | Mar 4 2023 | Practical Move | Geaux Rocket Ride | Skinner | Hejazi | Fort Bragg |
| Tampa Bay Derby | 1+1⁄16 miles | $360,000 | 3 | Tampa Bay | Mar 11 2023 | Tapit Trice | Classic Car Wash | Classic Legacy | Prairie Hawk | Lord Miles |
| Sunland Derby | 1+1⁄8 miles | $600,000 | 3 | Sunland Park | Mar 26 2023 | Wild On Ice | Low Expectations | Henry Q | How Did He Do That | One In Vermillion |

### Second leg of series

These races are the major preps for the Kentucky Derby, and are thus weighted more heavily. Note: 1st=100 points; 2nd=40 points; 3rd=30 points; 4th=20 points; 5th=10 points
| Race | Distance | Purse | Grade | Track | Date | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
| UAE Derby | 1,900 metres (~1+3⁄16 miles) | $1,000,000 | 2 | Meydan | Mar 25 2023 | Derma Sotogake | Dura Erede | Continuar | Perriere | Go Soldier Go |
| Louisiana Derby | 1+3⁄16 miles | $1,000,000 | 2 | Fair Grounds | Mar 25 2023 | Kingsbarns | Disarm | Jace's Road | Shopper's Revenge | Sun Thunder |
| Jeff Ruby | 1+1⁄8 miles | $694,000 | 3 | Turfway | Mar 25 2023 | Two Phil's | Major Dude | Funtastic Again | Wadsworth | Maker's Candy |
| Florida Derby | 1+1⁄8 miles | $1,000,000 | 1 | Gulfstream | Apr 1 2023 | Forte | Mage | Cyclone Mischief | Mr. Ripple | Fort Bragg |
| Arkansas Derby | 1+1⁄8 miles | $1,250,000 | 1 | Oaklawn Park | Apr 1 2023 | Angel of Empire | King Russell | Reincarnate | Rocket Can | Airtime |
| Blue Grass Stakes | 1+1⁄8 miles | $998,125 | 1 | Keeneland | Apr 8 2023 | Tapit Trice | Verifying | Blazing Sevens | Sun Thunder | Raise Cain |
| Santa Anita Derby | 1+1⁄8 miles | $751,500 | 1 | Santa Anita | Apr 8 2023 | Practical Move | Mandarin Hero | Skinner | National Treasure | One In Vermillion |
| Wood Memorial | 1+1⁄8 miles | $750,000 | 2 | Aqueduct | Apr 8 2023 | Lord Miles | Hit Show | Dreamlike | Arctic Arrogance | Classic Catch |

### "Wild Card" events

Note: 1st=20 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points
| Race | Distance | Purse | Track | Date | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | Ref |
| Lexington | 1+1⁄8 miles | $200,000 | Keeneland | Apr 15 2023 | First Mission | Arabian Lion | Disarm | Denington | Demolition Duke | |

## Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby

The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby was intended to provide a place in the Derby starting gate to the top finisher in the series. If the connections of that horse declined the invitation, their place was offered to the second-place finisher and so on through the top five finishers.
| Race | Distance | Track | Date | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
| Cattleya Sho | 1,600 metres (~1 mile) | Tokyo Racecourse | Nov 26 | Continuar | Mirror of Mind | Jasri | Plavi | Froncorchamps |
| Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun | 1,600 metres (~1 mile) | Kawasaki Racecourse | Dec 14 | Derma Sotogake | Omatsuri Otoko | Perriere | Hero Call | Maruka Rapid |
| Hyacinth | 1,600 metres (~1 mile) | Tokyo Racecourse | Feb 19 | Perriere | Z Lien | Eclogite | Great Sand Sea | Goraiko |
| Fukuryu | 1,800 metres (~1+1⁄8 miles) | Nakayama Racecourse | Mar 25 | Mitono O | Mokku Mokku | Hero Call | Eifer Teio | Oro y Plata |
Note: Cattleya Sho: 1st=10 points; 2nd=4 points; 3rd=3 points; 4th=2 points; 5th=1 point Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun: 1st=20 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points Hyacinth: 1st=30 points; 2nd=12 points; 3rd=9 points; 4th=6 points; 5th=3 points Fukuyru : 1st=40 points; 2nd=16 points; 3rd=12 points; 4th=8 points; 5th=4 points
ƒ Filly

### Qualification Table

The top four horses (colored brown within the standings) are eligible to participate in the Kentucky Derby provided the horse is nominated.
| Rank | Horse | Points | Eligible Earnings | Trainer | Owner | Ref |
| 1 | Derma Sotogake (JPN) | 120 | $1,163,361 | Hidetaka Otonashi | Hiroyuki Asanuma | |
| 2 | Perriere (JPN) | 56 | $383,704 | Yoichi Kuroiwa | Yuji Hasegawa | |
| 3 | Continuar (JPN) | 40 | $338,095 | Yoshito Yahagi | Lion Race Horse Co. Ltd. | Qualified |
| not nominated | Mitono O (JPN) | 40 | $273,281 | Koji Maki | Royal Park | |
| not nominated | Hero Call (JPN) | 16 | $367,641 | Satoshi Kokubo | Yusuke Yamaguchi | |
| 4 | Mokku Mokku (JPN) | 16 | $165,530 | Ryo Terashima | Masayuki Yamaguchi | |
| not nominated | Z Lien (JPN) | 12 | $172,038 | Naohiro Yoshida | Forest Co. Ltd. | |
| 5 | Eclogite (JPN) | 9 | $146,056 | Takayuki Yusada | Sunday Racing Co. | |
| not nominated | Omatsuri Otoko (JPN) | 8 | $504,449 | Keizo Ito | Kohei Koreeda | |
| not nominated | Eifer Teio (JPN) | 8 | $124,570 | Ippo Sameshima | Minoru Nakashima | |
| not nominated | Great Sand Sea | 6 | $207,727 | Mitsumasa Nakauchida | Sanshisuimei | |
| not nominated | Oro Oro y Plata (JPN) | 4 | $112,788 | Hiroshi Miyamoto | Katsumi Yoshida | |
| not nominated | Mirror of Mind (JPN) | 4 | $112,662 | Koichi Shinkai | Shadai Race Horse | |
| 6 | Goraiko (JPN) | 3 | $307,588 | Koichi Shintani | Koji Oka | |
| not nominated | Jasri (JPN) | 3 | $109,039 | Toshiaki Tajima | Yoko Koshimura | |
| not nominated | Maruka Rapid (JPN) | 2 | $217,526 | Keizo Ito | Takeshi Kusakabe | |
| 7 | Plavi (JPN) | 2 | $90,138 | Haruki Sugiyama | Yuji Hasegawa | |
| not nominated | Francorchamps (JPN) | 1 | $48,551 | Noboru Takagi | La Mere | |
Notes:
* brown highlight – qualified
* grey highlight – did not qualify

## European Road to the Kentucky Derby

The European Road to the Kentucky Derby was designed on a similar basis to the Japan Road and was intended to provide a place in the Derby starting gate to the top finisher in the series. If the connections of that horse declined the invitation, their place was offered to the second-place finisher and so on. If none of the top four accept, this place in the starting gate reverted to the horses on the main road to the Derby.
The series consisted of seven races – four run on the turf in late 2022 when the horses are age two, plus three races run on a synthetic surface in early 2023.
| Race | Distance | Track | Date | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
| Royal Lodge Stakes | 1 mile | Newmarket | Sep 24 2022 | The Foxes | Dubai Mile | Flying Honours | Greenland | — |
| Beresford Stakes | 1 mile | The Curragh | Sep 24 2022 | Crypto Force | Adelaide River | Young Ireland | Roaring Gallagher | Lakota Seven |
| Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère | 1,400 metres (about 7 furlongs) | Longchamp | Oct 2 2022 | Belbek | Gamestop | Breizh Sky | Shartash | Vicious Harry |
| Vertem Futurity Trophy | 1 mile | Doncaster | Oct 22 2022 | Auguste Rodin | Epictetus | Holloway Boy | Dancing Magic | Salt Lake City |
| Patton Stakes | 1 mile | Dundalk | Mar 3 2023 | Cairo | News At Ten | Stormy Entry | Cash Out | Miss Caruso |
| Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes | 1 mile | Kempton Park | Mar 15 2023 | Brave Emperor | Alzahir | Tenjin | Killybegs Warrior | Coco Jack |
| Cardinal Stakes | 1 mile | Chelmsford City | Apr 1 2023 | Bold Act | Brave Emperor | Killybegs Warrior | Iconic Moment | Alzahir |
Note:
* the four races in 2022 for two-year-olds: 1st=10 points; 2nd=4 points; 3rd=3 points; 4th=2 points; 5th=1 point
* the first two races in 2023: 1st=20 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points
* The Cardinal Condition Stakes: 1st=30 points; 2nd=12 points; 3rd=9 points; 4th=6 points 5th=3 points

### Qualification Table

The top four horses (colored brown within the standings) were eligible to participate in the Kentucky Derby provided the horse was nominated.
| Rank | Horse | Points | Eligible Earnings | Trainer | Owner |
| 1 | Brave Emperor | 32 | $29,379 | Archie Watson | Middleham Park Racing |
| not nominated | Bold Act | 30 | $0 | Charlie Appleby | Godolphin |
| 2 | Cairo | 20 | $62,984 | Aidan O'Brien | Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerburg |
| not nominated | Killybegs Warrior | 13 | $1,791 | Charlie Johnston | Mr. M. Doyle |
| not nominated | Alzahir | 11 | $228,000 | John & Thady Gosden | Al Wasmiyah Stud, G. Bailey, N. Wrigley |
| not nominated | Belbek | 10 | $279,323 | Andre Fabre | Nurlan Bizakov |
| not nominated | Auguste Rodin | 10 | $222,687 | Aidan O'Brien | Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerburg |
| not nominated | The Foxes | 10 | $76,913 | Andrew Balding | King Power Racing |
| not nominated | Crypto Force | 10 | $69,768 | Michael O’Callaghan | Amo Racing |
| not nominated | News At Ten | 8 | $8,478 | Michael O’Callaghan | Michael O’Callaghan |
| not nominated | Iconic Moment | 6 | $31,154 | James Tate | Sultan Ali |
| not nominated | Tenjin | 6 | $5,914 | John Ryan | Mr. Jon A. Thompson |
| 3 | Stormy Entry | 6 | $4,239 | W.P. Browne | Charles E. Fipke |
| not nominated | Gamestop | 4 | $101,588 | Christophe Ferland | Wertheimer et Frère |
| not nominated | Epictetus | 4 | $64,909 | John & Thady Gosden | George Strawbridge |
| not nominated | Adelaide River | 4 | $39,267 | Aidan O'Brien | Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerburg |
| not nominated | Dubai Mile | 4 | $29,159 | Charlie Johnston | Ahmad Al Shaikh |
| not nominated | Cash Out | 4 | $2,120 | Joseph O'Brien | R. Scarborough |
| not nominated | Holloway Boy | 3 | $158,185 | Karl Burke | Nick White & Mrs. E. Burke |
| not nominated | Breizh Sky | 3 | $91,301 | Alessandro & Giusppe Botti | Alain Jathiere & Ecurie Elag |
| not nominated | Flying Honours | 3 | $39,968 | Charlie Appleby | Godolphin |
| not nominated | Young Ireland | 3 | $12,833 | Jim Bolger | Mrs. Jim S. Bolger |
| not nominated | Shartash | 2 | $160,989 | Johnny Murtagh | Aga Khan |
| not nominated | Dancing Magic | 2 | $26,226 | Roger Teal | Fishdance |
| 4 | Greenland | 2 | $9,011 | Aidan O'Brien | Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerburg |
Notes:
* brown highlight – qualified
* grey highlight – did not qualify