Grade 2, $145,500 Remsen Stakes, 1 1/8 miles, Aqueduct, Dec. 5, 2020
(10 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Brooklyn Strong, by Wicked Strong
Trainer: Daniel Velazquez
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Owner: Mark Schwartz
Beyer Speed Figure: 93

Grade 2, $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Churchill Downs, Nov. 28, 2020
(10 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Keepmeinmind, by Laoban
Trainer: Robertino Diodoro
Jockey: David Cohen
Owner: Cypress Creek LLC and Arnold Bennewith
Beyer Speed Figure: 79

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The 23nd year of Churchill Downs offering parimutuel futures on the Kentucky Derby starts Thursday, when the first of five pools toward the 2021 Derby opens at noon Eastern.

Familiar parameters apply – 22 separately listed wagering interests, along with a mutuel field (No. 24) that has closed as the Pool 1 favorite every year since Churchill first unveiled the Kentucky Derby Future Wager in 1999. Also, a “filly-only” interest will be offered again as No. 23.

Grade 1, $250,000 Champagne Stakes, one mile, Belmont Park, Oct. 10, 2020
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)
Winner: Jackie’s Warrior, by Maclean’s Music
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Owner: Kirk and Judy Robison
Beyer Speed Figure: 100

Grade 1, $400,000 Breeders’ Futurity, 1 1/16 miles, Keeneland, Oct. 3, 2020
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)
Winner: Essential Quality, by Tapit
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luis Saez
Owner: Godolphin LLC
Beyer Speed Figure: 88

Grade 1, $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Santa Anita, Sept. 26, 2020
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)
Winner: Get Her Number, by Dialed In
Trainer: Peter Miller
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Owner: Gary Barber
Beyer Speed Figure: 84

Grade 3, $200,000 Iroquois Stakes, one mile, Churchill Downs, Sept. 5, 2020
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)
Winner: Sittin On Go, by Brody’s Cause
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: Corey Lanerie
Owner: Albaugh Family Stables LLC
Beyer Speed Figure: 84

Roses have thorns. About 20 minutes before Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, B. Wayne Hughes’s Spendthrift Farm co-owned two entrants – Authentic, by its reigning leading sire Into Mischief, and Thousand Words. Then, Thousand Words, whom Spendthrift partners on with Albaugh Family Stables, reared while being saddled and fell in the paddock, resulting in his late scratch.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Is the Kentucky Derby the Kentucky Derby if it is run four months after the first Saturday in May?

Handle and viewership numbers would say no.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Authentic was the third Derby winner for Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez and his first with Ron Anderson as his agent. Velazquez, who previously won with Animal Kingdom (2011) and Always Dreaming (2017), donated a portion of his earnings to fellow rider Vinnie Bednar, who suffered lower-limb paralysis in an Aug. 22 spill at Los Alamitos.

The Derby was the 200th career Grade 1 victory for Velazquez, making him just the third jockey to reach that milestone, following Jerry Bailey and Mike Smith.