The horse racing season is in full swing! There are numerous major races on the horizon that promise to bring all the excitement and anticipation. For American racing enthusiasts, the journey to the Triple Crown will commence in just a few short months with the iconic Kentucky Derby. However, the road to the Kentucky Derby itself is complex, as numerous races lead up to the race.

The criteria outlined here dictate the qualifications for participants in the first leg of the Triple Crown of horse racing, often dubbed “the most exciting two minutes in sports.” One of the featured events is the Road to Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes, which is split up into regional races in Europe and Japan. We kick off with the European leg, taking place at the prestigious Kempton Park. This event is one of seven in the European Road to the Kentucky Derby series. What are the regulations?

In these events, six horses compete, allowing five of them to accumulate points, and the process is quite simple. The rules state that the horses will receive points in descending order: 20, 10, 6, 4, and 2, respectively. The race features six horses competing for these valuable points.

Introducing the horses set to race at Kempton Park

First we have Hott Shott who has a somewhat contentious track record at Kempton Park. Additionally, his last race took place on October 16, 2024. The three-year-old has participated in two races during his budding career, securing victory in one of them at the same racecourse. The horse trained by Richard Hughes currently holds 6-1 odds, and only time will reveal the colt’s true potential on the track.

Following closely is Molveno (7-1), who has made three appearances at Kempton Park. The three-year-old boasts an impressive record with two victories on the racetrack. Marco Botti is the one who’s trained the horse to victory and his jockey is Marco Ghiani. Will Molveno make it a hattrick of victories at Kempton Park?

Next on the list is Olympus Point, currently holding odds of 3-1. The horse trained by Charlie Appleby has yet to compete at Kempton Park in its career. However, the gelding’s impressive performances at other racetracks like Haydock, Thirsk, and Newmarket show his potential. He only has one win to his name so far, achieved at Newmarket. However, Appleby is one of the top 3 trainers at Kempton so Olympus Point is in good hands.

Next up is Opera Ballo, currently favored with odds of 8-5 also trained by Charlie Appleby. However, in contrast to Olympus Point, this three-year-old colt has only seen action once, which took place on January 29, 2025, at Kempton Park during the Unibet Supports Safer Gambling Maiden Stakes (GBB Race) (Div I).

Quai De Bethune, with odds of 10-1, is next in line. This colt, trained by Andrew Balding, is no stranger to Kempton Park, having competed there on January 29, 2025, during the Unibet Supports Safer Gambling Maiden Stakes (GBB Race) (Div II).

The last entry on the list is Saddadd (6-1), who has participated in just one race throughout his career at Southwell, specifically during the Boost Your Acca At BetMGM EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Div I). The performance of these racehorses against one another remains to be seen, and it will ultimately shape the standings in the European segment of the Road to Kentucky Derby. Besides this aspect of the initial leg of the triple crown, who is at the forefront of the American scene?

The Road to the Kentucky Derby never disappoints

The Kentucky Derby is poised to be one of the most thrilling events of the ongoing horse racing season. The races leading up to the first leg of the Triple Crown highlight the fierce competition within the industry. Recently, Bob Baffert’s Citizen Bull was at the forefront of the American contenders on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, amassing 60 points.

On February 23, 2025, during the G2 Rebel Stakes, Coal Battle, trained by Lonnie Briley, crossed the finish line in first place, bringing the horse’s total points to 70. Currently, he is at the forefront, with Citizen Bull trailing in second and Getaway Car holding third position. Both of Baffert’s horses could face some competition. However, Coal Battle’s latest victory raises questions about his performance.

What is his level of competence? This triumph marks the fourth consecutive victory for the three-year-old colt. The winning streak commenced last year at the Jean Lafitte Stakes (Black Type), followed by victories at the Remington Springboard Mile Stakes and Smarty Jones Stakes. What did his trainer say about his recent victory? “Seems like every race, he improves. I think it (Rebel) is the best race he’s run,” stated Birley. The victory in the Coal Battle earned an impressive 50 points, significantly boosting his position on the Road to Kentucky Derby leaderboard.