The Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes had its points reduced under a new rule due to a small field, with only five 3-year-olds starting the race. The rule states that if a championship-series race is run with a five-horse field, only 75% of the points will be awarded, and only 50% for a four-horse field or less. This affects races worth 50 or 100 points to the winner.
Trainer Bob Baffert’s trio of Barnes, Rodríguez, and Mellencamp, along with Journalism and Smooth Cruisein, are set to compete in the San Felipe Stakes. The race will be worth 37 1/2 points to the winner, with varying points for second, third, fourth, and last place. Horses with at least 46 points have historically been able to enter the Kentucky Derby, with 50-point races being crucial for qualification.
The new rule also applies to Kentucky Oaks qualifiers, with the Rachel Alexandra race being the first to be affected. Good Cheer received only 25 points for winning the race with a small field, instead of the 50 points it was originally worth. This rule change impacts the qualification process for both the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.
