2016 Road to the Kentucky Derby Handicapping Challenge

Current Standings

1 Keelerman - 1,670
2 trackjack - 1,587
3 MDG - 1,580
4 Thomas McDonald - 1,537
5 The Bid - 1,486
6 smitty37 - 1,447
7 Aluminaut - 1,325
8 Riskaverse - 1,317
9 Secretariat - 1,315

10 Eric Rickard (reigning champion) - 1,270
11 JJ the TV watcher - 1,232
12 Racingfan - 1,223
13 shelmarka - 1,204
14 War Eagle - 1,183
15 Chumsmo - 1,177
16 Pebbles - 1,108
17 Akita Girl - 1,105
18 Pedigree Ann - 1,075
19 Curlin08 - 1,020
20 armyguy - 1,010
21 Porter - 1,009
22 fitzpony - 994
23 Wxavierh - 954
24 Kathy Weightman - 945
25 Betty S - 940
26 Lola - 935
27 Craig Johnson - 930
28 Quinnbt - 910
29 Outside Post - 908
30 Ranagulzion - 905
31 Tomskid - 836
32 Standby Painter - 811
33 gary26 - 803
34 arliss - 801
35 Rachel best 3 yr old filly ever - 760
36 latenite - 693
37 fashion slipper - 684
38 american muscle - 655
39 English Pete - 629
40 PaulRome - 592
41 predict - 551
42 Sigi Men - 530
43 mz - 483
44 JJs Rocket - 482
45 Magnoliagirl - 395
46 tiznowliam - 352
47 Barry Craig - 219
48 The Freak - 211
49 GoldenGiven - 114
50 Leigh - 53
51 Kelso5timeHOTY - 4

Special thanks to Betty S for helping to keep track of all the scores!

Rules

Get ready, everyone! I would like to invite you all to join me in the second annual "Road to the Kentucky Derby" Handicapping Challenge!

Starting on November 4th and continuing until November 20th, players may choose a stable of four horses (plus one jockey and one trainer) that will earn points based on their performances in a series of official Kentucky Derby prep races (the list of races is included below.) Points will be awarded to the top four finishers in each, although the number of points awarded will vary from race to race. For example, if I choose Nyquist for my stable and he goes on to win the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), I will earn 100 points, but if he were to instead win a race like the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. III), I would only earn 10 points. Trainer and jockey points will be awarded only if the trainer or jockey in question wins a race and not if they finish second, third, or fourth; 10 points will be awarded for each prep race that a trainer or jockey wins, regardless of the actual points available in the race, while 50 points will be awarded if your jockey or trainer wins the Kentucky Derby.

Also, each week, players will be able to designate one of their horses as a "prime" horse, and will earn double the number of points for that horse's performance that week. For example, if a player were to designate Nyquist as their prime horse on the week of the Santa Anita Derby and Nyquist won the race, that player would earn 200 points, double the standard 100 points. Designating a prime horse each week will not be a requirement, but it will add a bit of additional intrigue to the contest, and give players a chance to gain extra points if they think one of their horses is ready to run a big race. To designate your prime horse each week, simply leave a comment at the bottom of this page with the name of your prime horse and the race in which they are running.

Players will get a chance to add eight additional horses to their stables starting January 1st and ending January 8th, and another three horses starting on March 27th and ending April 1st. The contest will culminate with the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) at Churchill Downs on May 7th, which will offer points on a 200-80-40-20 basis to the top four finishers. Whoever accumulates the most points by the end of the contest wins bragging rights as the Unlocking Winners Kentucky Derby Handicapper of the Year! :)

The complete list of contest races, along with the points available in each race, can be found here: https://www.kentuckyderby.com/horses/prep-races

Good luck to all!

Contest Entries

Akita Girl
Gun Runner
Sail Ahoy
Swipe
Whitmore
I Will Score
Let's Meet In Rio
Synchrony
Promote
Blue Creek
Ami's Gizmo
Airoforce
Brody's Cause
Nyquist
Mor Spirit
My Man Sam
Trainer: Doug O'Neill
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Aluminaut
Annual Report
Exaggerator
Mohaymen
Mor Spirit
Airoforce
Brody's Cause
Drefong
Flexibility
Mo Tom
Nyquist
Smokey Image
Songbird
Cupid
Danzing Candy
Shagaf
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Victor Espinosa

arliss
Conquest Big E
Brody's Cause
Mohaymen
Gun Runner
Awesome Speed
Airoforce
Drefong
Memories of Winter
I Will Score
Gift Box
Mor Spirit
Smokey Image
My Man Sam
Destin
Cupid
Jockey: Rosario
Trainer: Pletcher

american muscle
Mohaymen
Uncle Walter
Brody's Cause
Conquest Big E
Exaggerator
Flexibility
Mo Tom
Gift Box
Destin
Zulu
Mor Spirit
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Javier Castellano

armyguy
Nyquist
Exaggerator
Mohaymen
Airoforce
Brody's Cause
Mor Spirit
Swipe
Toews on Ice
Ishaq
Rally Cry
Neolithic
Stradivari
Trainer: Doug O'Neill
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Barry Craig
Swipe
Brody's Cause
Sunny Ridge
Delta Prince
Airoforce
Black Ops
Blue Creek
Conquest Windycity
Dolphus
Drefong
Flexibility
Hint of Roses
Cupid
Cherry Wine
Mohaymen
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: Joe Bravo

Betty S
Airoforce
Mohaymen
Mor Spirit
Whitmore
Nyquist
Smokey Image
Greenpointcrusader
Brody's Cause
Black Ops
Bird of Trey
Flexibility
Synchrony
Cupid
Cherry Wine
Danzing Candy
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Gary Stevens

Chumsmo
Gun Runner
Mohaymen
Get Jets
Swipe
Flexibility
Mor Spirit
Conquest Big E
Brody's Cause
Black Ops
Collected
Seymourdini
Unbridled Outlaw
Cupid
Nyquist
Danzing Candy
Jockey: Mike Smith
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux

Craig Johnson
Gun Runner
Gift Box
Moyhamen
I Will Score
Flexibility
Rafting
Rally Cry
Synchrony
Knights Key
Uncle Walter
Nyquist
Luna De Loco
Danzing Candy
Matt King Coal
Shagaf
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Curlin08
Mohaymen
Exaggerator
Mor Spirit
Gun Runner
Flexibility
Airoforce
Drefong
Greenpointcrusader
Brody's Cause
Knights Key
Economic Model
Mo Tom
Shagaf
Zulu
Suddenbreakingnews
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Martin Garcia

English Pete
Swipe
Mohaymen
Sunny Ridge
Toews on Ice
Found Money
Black Ops
Blue Creek
Airoforce
Dolphus
Smokey Image
Gun Runner
Conquest Big E
Mor Spirit
Cupid
Zulu
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Eric Rickard
Mor Spirit
Mohaymen
Exaggerator
Airoforce
Smokey Image
Nyquist
Brody's Cause
Flexibility
Synchrony
Greenpointcrusader
Bird of Trey
I Will Score
Cupid
Danzing Candy
Dazzling Gem
Trainer: Doug O'Neill
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.

fashion slipper
Exaggerator
Swipe
Gift Box
Matt King Cole
Airoforce
Bird of Trey
Black Ops
Greenpointcrusader
Mohaymen
Sail Ahoy
Seymourdini
Sunny Ridge
Gun Runner
Mor Spirit
Suddenbreakingnews
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Jockey: Mike Smith

fitzpony
Cocked and Loaded
Smokey Image
Swipe
Nyquist
Mor Spirit
Exaggerator
Mohayman
Toews on Ice
Found Money
Airoforce
Ralis
Flexibility
Whitmore
Destin
Gun Runner
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.

gary26
Nyquist
Swipe
Frank Conversation
Found Money
Whitmore
Denman's Call
Star Hill
Trainer: Doug O'Neill
Jockey: Mario Gutierrez

GoldenGiven
Silvertown
Greenpointcrusader
Hint of Roses
Bandwidth
Safe Passage
Danzing Candy
Trainer: Kiaran McGlaughlin
Jockey: Javier Castellano

JJs Rocket
Swipe
Brodys Cause
Exaggerator
Gun Runner
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Mike Smith

JJ the TV watcher
Exaggerator
Gun Runner
Esposito
Conquest Big E
Airoforce
Brody's Cause
Cocked and Loaded
Greenpointcrusader
Mohaymen
Nyquist
Rafting
Swipe
Cupid
Mor Spirit
Shagaf
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Irad Ortiz

Kathy Weightman
Moyhamen
Memories of Winter
Airoforce
I Will Score
Nyquist
Awesome Speed
Exaggerator
Awesome Banner
Brody’s Cause
Flexibility
Black Ops
Greenpointcrusader
Shagaf
Mor Spirit
Suddenbreakingnews
Trainer: Doug O'Neill
Jockey: Javier Castillano

Keelerman
Gun Runner
Exaggerator
Mohaymen
Whitmore
Mor Spirit
Flexibility
Let's Meet in Rio
I Will Score
Synchrony
Airoforce
Brody's Cause
Pinnacle Peak
Cupid
Matt King Coal
Nyquist
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Kelso5timeHOTY
Songbird
Ami's Gizmo
Awesome Slew
Greenpointcrusader
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Jockey: Luis Contreras

latenite
Mohaymen
Sail Ahoy
Gun Runner
Donegal Moon
Annual Report
Flexibility
Knights Key
Mor Spirit
Mo Tom
Rafting
Stradivari
Synchrony
Cupid
Malibu Sunset
Shagaf
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Leigh
Sail Ahoy
Sunny Ridge
Deserved
Perfect Saint
Promote
Attraction
Realm
French Getaway
Owner Gentleman
Safe Passage
Vorticity
Charmed Victory
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: Joel Rosario

Lola
Mor Spirit
Toews on Ice
Mohaymen
Airoforce
Brodys Cause
Black Ops
I Will Score
Flexibility
Sail Ahoy
Swipe
Let's Meet in Rio
Awesome Speed
Nyquist
Danzing Candy
Cupid
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Gary Stevens

Magnoliagirl
Greenpointcrusader
Hollywood Don
Matt King Coal
Mohaymen
Black Ops
Dolphus
Flexibility
In Equality
Mor Spirit
Suddenbreakingnews
Synchrony
Toews on Ice
Cupid
Destin
Tom's Ready
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
Jockey: Joel Rosario

MDG
Found Money
Gift Box
Gun Runner
Matt King Coal
Airoforce
Brody's Cause
Exaggerator
Flexibility
Mohaymen
Mor Spirit
Nyquist
Tale of S'avall
Cupid
Danzing Candy
Shagaf
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Gary Stevens

mz
Flexibility
Gift Box
Memories of Winter
Swipe
Ami's Gizmo
Black Ops
Conquest Big E
Exaggerator
In Equality
Mohayman
Surgical Strike
Zulu
Gun Runner
Kasseopia
Whitmore
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Outside Post
Nyquist
Mohaymen
Whitmore
I Will Score
Flexibility
Airoforce
Brody's Cause
Dolphus
Drefong
Greenpointcrusader
I'malreadythere
Mor Spirit
Cupid
Destin
Lani
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Javier Castellano

PaulRome
Exaggerator
Gun Runner
Conquest Big E
Mohaymen
Trainer: Doug O'Neal
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Pebbles
Mohaymen
Mor Spirit
Greenpointcrusader
Exaggerator
Brody's Cause
Shagaf
Drefong
Mor Spirit
Airoforce
Nyquist
Swipe
Synchrony
Cupid
Danzing Candy
Outwork
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Pedigree Ann
Gun Runner
Memories of Winter
Nyquist
Sunny Ridge
Awesome Speed
Airoforce
Black Ops
Brody's Cause
Destin
Greenpointcrusader
Pinnacle Peak
Swipe
Danzing Candy
Zulu
Mohaymen
Trainer: O'Neill
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Porter
Exaggerator
Mohaymen
Airoforce
Toews On Ice
Conquest Big E
Drefong
Flexibility
Greenpointcrusader
Mor Spirit
Mo Tom
Synchrony
Zulu
Cupid
Nyquist
Shagaf
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Javier Castellano

predict
Drefong
Z Royal
Nyquist
Secret Passage
Blue Creek
Let's meet in Rio
Awesome speed
Greenpointcrusader
Brody's cause
Airoforce
Cocked and Loaded
Moyhamen
Surgical Strike
Lani
Cupid
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Quinnbt
Annual Report
Exaggerator
Mohaymen
Mor Spirit
Airoforce
Blue Creek
Flexibility
Gun Runner
Mo Tom
Stradivari
Synchrony
Tiznoble
Cupid
Suddenbreakingnews
Swipe
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Joel Rosario

Rachel best 3 yr old filly ever
Exaggerator
Conquest Big E
Sail Ahoy
Mohaymen
Swipe
Brody's Cause
Mor Spirit
Knight's Key
Synchrony
Flexibility
Gift Box
Smokey Image
Cupid
Shagaf
Jensen
Trainer: Doug O'Neill
Jockey: Mario Gutierrez

Racingfan
Nyquist
Mohaymen
Brody's Cause
Exaggerator
Airoforce
Flexibility
Ralis
Found Money
Gun Runner
Mor Spirit
Sunny Ridge
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Ranagulzion
Nyquist
Songbird
Mor Spirit
Airoforce
Brody's Cause
Rafting
Mo Tom
Awesome Banner
Destin
Adventist
Creator
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: Johnny Velazquez

Riskaverse
Mohaymen
Gun Runner
Exaggerator
Sail Ahoy
Flexibility
Memories of Winter
Airoforce
Mor Spirit
Dolphus
Black Ops
Brody's Cause
Greenpointcrusader
Cupid
Nyquist
Danzing Candy
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Secretariat
Sail Ahoy
Whitmore
Exaggerator
Mohaymen
Flexibility
Morspirit
Gunrunner
Brody's Cause
Giftbox
Greenspointcrusader
Swipe
Drefong
Nyquist
Danzing Candy
Cupid
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Jockey: Joel Rosario

shelmarka
Exaggerator
Mohaymen
Gun Runner
Toews on Ice
Flexibility
Swipe
Synchrony
Cocked and Loaded
Brody's Cause
Airoforce
Mor Spirit
Nyquist
Cupid
Destin
Zulu
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Sigi Men
Mac Daddy Mac
Mohaymen
Nyquist
Brody's Cause
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Gary Stevens

smitty37
Gun Runner
Gift Box
Swipe
Brody's Cause
Airoforce
Shagaf
Mohaymen
Mor Spirit
Exaggerator
Conquest Big E
Toews on Ice
Flexibility
Nyquist
Cupid
Destin
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: John Velazquez

Standby Painter
Airoforce
Mohaymen
Toews on Ice
Smokey Image
Mor Spirit
Exaggerator
Black Ops
Conquest Big E
Flexibility
Brody's Cause
Hit It a Bomb
Shagaf
Gun Runner
Cupid
Danzing Candy
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Jockey: John Velazquez

The Bid
Airoforce
Mor Spirit
Exaggerator
Swipe
Mohaymen
Ralis
Found Money
Suddenbreakingnews
Dolphus
Black Ops
Brody's Cause
Gun Runner
Danzing Candy
Nyquist
Cupid
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Javier Castellano

The Freak
Toews On Ice
Azar
Gun Runner
Tristans Trilogy
Rare Candy
Found money
Gift Box
Conquest Daddyo
Portfolio Manager
J B's Big Red
Swipe
Riker
Arabian Leopard

Thomas McDonald
Mohaymen
Exaggerator
Gun Runner
Airoforce
Brody's Cause
Conquest Bid E
Gift Box
Greenpointcrusader
Mor Spirit
Nyquist
Secret Passage
Unbridled Outlaw
Whitmore
Shagaf
Cherry Wine
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: Corey Lanerie

tiznowliam
Gift Box
Matt King Coal
Get Jets
Tale of S'avall
Brody's Cause
Drefong
Let's Meet In Rio
Miner's Light
Mohaymen
Arabian Leopard
Seymourdini
Zulu
Mor Spirit
Donegal Moon
American Pioneer
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: Irad Ortiz

Tomskid
Mor Spirit
Bird of Trey
Mohaymen
Airoforce
Inside Straight
Greatest Game
Blameitonthelaw
Suddenbreakingnews
Swipe
Nyquist
Greenpoint Crusader
Cocked and Loaded
Destin
Danzing Candy
Gun Runner
Jockey: Victor Espinosa
Trainer: Mark Casse

trackjack
Exaggerator
Mohaymen
Gun Runner
Mor Spirit
Flexibility
Nyquist
Brody's Cause
Airoforce
Black Ops
Drefong
Swipe
Shagaf
Cupid
Danzing Candy
Matt King Coal
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
Jockey: Javier Castellano

War Eagle
Harlan Punch
Mohaymen
Gun Runner
Swipe
Smokey Image
Awesome Speed
Black Ops
Secret Passage
Gray Sky
Whitmore
I Will Score
Rafting
Nyquist
Exaggerator
Adventist
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Ricardo Santana

Wxavierh
Exaggerator
Mor Spirit
Nyquist
Swipe
Airoforce
Uncle Walter
Destin
Drefong
Luna de Loco
Gray Sky
Gettysburg
Mohaymen
Let's Meet in Rio
Danzing Candy
Shagaf
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Martin Garcia

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