Gronkowski can earn Kentucky Derby berth in Burradon Stakes

In an unconventional way, Gronkowski has been seeking a spot in the Kentucky Derby since the start of the year.

Instead of running in the traditional prep races throughout the United States, Gronkowski could earn a berth in the Kentucky Derby in faraway Newcastle, England, on Friday.

Gronkowski is part of a field of 10 in the $140,000 Burradon Stakes at a mile on a Tapeta surface.

The Burradon Stakes is the seventh and final race of a race series in England, France, and Ireland designed to lure a European-based runner to Churchill Downs on May 5. The Triple Crown-nominated horse with the most points in the series, called the European Road to the Derby, will gain a berth in the Kentucky Derby.

Gronkowski, trained by Jeremy Noseda, is one of three horses with 20 qualifying points. The others are Mendelssohn, who runs in Saturday’s United Arab Emirates Derby in Dubai, and Saxon Warrior, who is not nominated to the Triple Crown. Both are trained by Aidan O’Brien.

:: Just reduced! Save on The Road to the Kentucky Derby Player's Package

The winner of the Burradon Stakes will receive 30 points, with points awarded down to fourth place.

Gronkowski, who races for Phoenix Thoroughbreds, was the 2-1 favorite as of Wednesday morning with British bookmakers for the Burradon Stakes, which will be run on a straightaway.

Gronkowski is unbeaten in two starts this year, both on all-weather surfaces. He led throughout an allowance race for 3-year-olds at a mile Feb. 9 at Newcastle and closed from sixth in the Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes at a mile on March 7 at Kempton Park outside of London. The Kempton race was part of the European Road to the Derby.

Noseda considered starting Gronkowski in an American race such as the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 7, but has opted to keep him in England for a final attempt at qualifying for the Kentucky Derby.

The filly Nyaleti and the stakes-placed Purser are other contenders for the Burradon, but neither has been nominated to the Triple Crown.

Nyaleti, who won the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot last July, has not raced since finishing ninth in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket last October.

Purser, a Kentucky-bred by Mizzen Mast, will have his first start of the year in the Burradon. He was third in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket last October. Trained by John Gosden, Purser won an allowance race at Lingfield Park last October, his only start on an all-weather surface.