2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby Handicapping Challenge

Standings

Rules

Get ready, everyone! I would like to invite you all to join the 10th Unlocking Winners "Road to the Kentucky Derby" informal handicapping challenge!

Starting on Jan. 23 and continuing until Feb. 1 at 1:00 p.m. ET, players may choose a stable of six 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 available here; only races held from Feb. 1 onward will be counted in the contest.) Points will be awarded to the top five finishers in each race, in accordance with the number of points each horse officially earns on the American Road to the Kentucky Derby, Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, and European/Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby.

For example, if a player chooses Citizen Bull for their stable and he goes on to win the Santa Anita Derby (G1), that player will earn 100 points, but if Citizen Bull were to instead win a race like the San Felipe (G2), they would only earn 50 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, fourth, or fifth; 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, allowing them to earn double points. For example, if a player were to designate Citizen Bull as their prime horse on the week of the Santa Anita Derby and Citizen Bull won the race, that player would earn 200 points, double the standard 100 points. Designating a prime horse each week is not a requirement. To designate your prime horse each week, simply leave a comment on this page with the name of your prime horse and the race in which they are running.

Players will get a chance to add two additional horses to their stables from March 16 through March 21. The contest will culminate with the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 3, which will offer points on a 200-100-50-30-20 basis to the top five 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

All contest entries, stable additions, and prime horses must be posted on this contest page; any contest entries, stable additions, and prime horses posted on other pages or blog posts will not be accepted. In addition, players will only be allowed to join the contest during the initial joining period from Jan. 23 through Feb. 1 at 1:00 p.m. ET; any entries submitted after this time will not be accepted. However, stables submitted on time may be modified at any time before Feb. 1 at 1:00 p.m. ET.

To simplify the scoring process, please do not post anything except contest entries, stable additions, and prime horses in the comments on this page.

Good luck to all!

Contest Entries