Ohio Derby Added to Road to Kentucky Derby Extension
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Photo: JJ Zamaiko Photography
Owendale after winning the 2019 Ohio Derby at Thistledown
The $500,000 Ohio Derby Presented by TwinSpires.com (G3) has been added to the Road to the Kentucky Derby extension, the qualifying series by which 3-year-old Thoroughbreds earn entry to the field for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Churchill Downs announced May 30.
With the 146th running of the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby rescheduled for Sept. 5 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, additional points races have been added by Churchill in the months between the original May 2 run date and the race's new spot on the calendar.
The Ohio Derby will be contested at 1 1/8 miles June 27 at JACK Thistledown Racino in North Randall, Ohio. Points to the top four finishers will be worth 20-8-4-2 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
The graded race is by far the richest of any remaining qualifier under the 20-8-4-2 or 50-20-10-5 points structure, as assigned by Churchill Downs officials. Two ungraded races, the Shared Belief Stakes and Ellis Park Derby, award more points than the Ohio Derby.
Owendale won the 2019 Ohio Derby off a third in the Preakness Stakes (G1) after bypassing the Kentucky Derby. Notable winners of the race, which was inaugurated in 1876, include Black Gold, Broad Brush, Skip Away, Milwaukee Brew, Brass Hat, and Caleb's Posse .
The Ellis Park Derby (50-20-10-5) at Ellis Park and stakes races at Saratoga Race Course will be added to the series once the tracks' respective stakes schedules are finalized.
| Current Remaining Road to the Kentucky Derby Races | |||||
| Date |
Purse
|
Race (Grade) | Distance | Track | Points |
| June 6 |
$400,000
|
Santa Anita Derby (G1) | 1 1/8 Miles | Santa Anita Park | 100-40-20-10 |
| June 20 |
$1 million
|
Belmont Stakes (G1) | 1 1/8 Miles | Belmont Park | 150-60-30-15 |
| June 27 |
$500,000
|
Ohio Derby (G3) | 1 1/8 Miles | Thistledown | 20-8-4-2 |
| July 4 |
$150,000
|
Los Alamitos Derby (G3) | 1 1/8 Miles | Los Alamitos | 20-8-4-2 |
| July 8 |
$300,000
|
Indiana Derby (G3) | 1 1/8 Miles | Indiana Grand | 20-8-4-2 |
| July 11 |
$600,000
|
Blue Grass Stakes (G2) | 1 1/8 Miles | Keeneland | 100-40-20-10 |
| July 18 |
$1 million
|
Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) | 1 1/8 Miles | Monmouth Park | 100-40-20-10 |
| Aug. 1 |
$100,000
|
Shared Belief Stakes | 1 1/16 Miles | Del Mar | 50-20-10-5 |
| Aug. 15 |
$150,000
|
Pegasus Stakes | 1 1/16 Miles | Monmouth Park | 20-8-2-1 |