Epicenter in the number one spot
Presuming they are fit and ready to go, seven horses are certain of taking their places in the starting gate for Kentucky Derby 2022.
They are the horses at the top of the qualifying standings after the dust settled on Saturday’s first major preps worth 100-40-20-10 points to the top four finishers.
Epicenter returned to the No. 1 spot with his victory in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds. He already had qualified with his score last month on the same track in the Risen Star (G2).
Crown Pride, who won the UAE Derby (G2), moved into second place and assured himself of an invitation. The only question is whether his connections in Japan will take it.
Classic Causeway, Un Ojo, Simplification, Forbidden Kingdom and Morello, all of whom will have their final preps in the next two weeks, have at least 50 points each and also are assured of their places in the gate for the May 7 classic.
There are still six 100-point slots available to winners of the remaining major preps plus a 50-pointer going to Sunday’s Sunland Park Derby (G3) victor. All those horses will get invitations to Churchill Downs.
Since as many as 14 horses could have at least 50 points each in two weeks, that would leave six spots to be filled in the 20-stall gate. Six runners-up getting 40 points apiece in the major preps could move into a tie with two horses already holding that many points, so non-restricted stakes earnings could come into play as a tiebreaker. This does not factor in horses who already have earned points, could come in third or fourth in a major prep and push their totals past 40.
None of this takes into account the possibility that connections from Japan and Europe could accept invitations on behalf of their horses taking separate roads to the Derby. However, most of the top horses on those ladders have not been named to compete in the Triple Crown. Late nominations, which cost $6,000, close Monday.
Following are the horses that Churchill Downs lists as active on the main road to the Kentucky Derby:
| Rank | Horses | Points | Trainers | *Earnings |
| 1 | Epicenter | 164 | Steve Asmussen | $940,000 |
| 2 | Crown Pride | 100 | Koichi Shintani | $671,544 |
| 3 | Classic Causeway | 66 | Brian Lynch | $456,100 |
| 4 | Un Ojo | 54 | Ricky Courville | $655,000 |
| 5 | Simplification | 54 | Tami Bobo | $378,150 |
| 6 | Forbidden Kingdom | 50 | Richard Mandella | $392,000 |
| 7 | Morello | 50 | Steve Asmussen | $220,000 |
| x | Summer Is Tomorrow | 40 | Bhupat Seemar | $200,000 |
| 8 | Zozos | 40 | Brad Cox | $200,000 |
| 9 | Smile Happy | 30 | Kenny McPeek | $314,410 |
| 10 | Pioneer of Medina | 25 | Todd Pletcher | $116,000 |
| 11 | Grantham | 21 | Mike Maker | $85,000 |
| 12 | Rattle N Roll | 20 | Kenny McPeek | $344,000 |
| 13 | Ethereal Road | 20 | D. Wayne Lukas | $200,000 |
| 14 | Island Falcon | 20 | Saeed bin Suroor | $100,000 |
| 15 | In Due Time | 20 | Kelly Breen | $76,800 |
| 16 | Dean's List | 20 | Todd Pletcher | $60,000 |
| 17 | Barber Road | 18 | John Ortiz | $339,700 |
| 18 | Pappacap | 14 | Mark Casse | $562,000 |
| 19 | Zandon | 14 | Chad Brown | $90,000 |
| 20 | Shipsational | 14 | Ed Barker | $40,000 |
| 21 | White Abarrio | 12 | Saffie Joseph Jr. | $186,850 |
| 22 | Mo Donegal | 12 | Todd Pletcher | $161,500 |
| 23 | Tiz the Bomb | 10 | Kenny McPeek | $661,210 |
| 24 | Slow Down Andy | 10 | Doug O'Neill | $184,000 |
| 25 | Major General | 10 | Todd Pletcher | $177,525 |
