Kentucky Derby: Essential Quality has vaulted into the early lead in the race for points for the 2021 Kentucky Derby, already at 30 points after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland on the first Friday in November. Jackie’s Warrior had come into that race as the favorite, but Essential Quality set a fast pace, and while Jackie’s Warrior was able to rally into a brief lead, but Hot Rod Charlie and Essential Quality blew by, with Essential Quality beating Hot Rod Charlie (who had come in at +9400 odds) down the stretch.
Let’s look at the standings for the Kentucky Derby as we approach 2021, PLUS the updated Odds to Win, courtesy of online racebook JAZZSports.ag:
Kentucky Derby Point Leaders Update
| U.S.-based horses | Points |
| Essential Quality | 30 |
| Jackie’s Warrior | 12 |
| Get Her Number, Sittin On Go | 10 |
| Hot Rod Charlie, Keepmeinmind | 8 |
| Midnight Bourbon | 6 |
| Rombauer, Reinvestment Risk, Super Stock | 4 |
| Spielberg | 2 |
| Therideofalifetime, Upstriker, Waspirant, Civil War | 1 |
Horses Futures*
| Odds to Win – 2021 Kentucky Derby | Odds |
| Essential Quality | +1250 |
| Keepmeinmind / Hot Rod Charlie | +3000 |
| Jackies Warrior / Reinvestment Risk | +4000 |
| Golden Pal | +4500 |
| Freedom Fighter / Prisoner / Whiskey Double / Vanishing Point… | +5000 |
*Odds are subject to change. See the complete list at JAZZSports.ag.
The next prep race for the Kentucky Derby is the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (Grade II) on November 28. The first four finishers earn Kentucky Derby points in 10-4-2-1 format. The race dates back to 1920 and runs 1 1/16 miles, or 8 ½ furlongs. It takes place on a left-handed dirt track. In 2019, the winner here was Silver Prospector, with Ricardo Santana Jr on board.
There will be five more prep races in 2020 in addition to the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. The Cattleya Stakes is also on November 28, at the Tokyo Racecourse. On December 5, the Remsen Stakes will run at Aqueduct. Both of these prep races offer 10-4-2-1 points to the first four finishers. The Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun Stakes, in Kawasaki, is set for December 16, and will offer 20-8-4-2 in points to the top four.
The Los Alamitos Futurity, set for December 19 at Los Alamitos Race Course; and the Springboard Mile, set for December 20 at Remington Park; also offer 10-4-2-1 point configurations.
Give an EDGE to your horse-betting with the aid of JAZZ Horse Racing’s expert racing advice.
Keep coming back for more special content on the upcoming Pegasus Invitational and 2021 Triple Crown circuit.
