The Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve is a series of races that awards points to the Top 5 finishers in each race. The Top 20 points earners will land a spot in the starting gate for the 150th running of the Derby on Saturday, May 4. Tiebreakers are decided by earnings in non-restricted stakes races, followed by lifetime earnings.

As part of the 20 horses that are eligible, one invitation to race is extended to each of the top points earners for the European Road to the Kentucky Derby and the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.

If one or more of the Top 20 qualifiers is not entered into the race, the next ranked horse(s) on the list becomes eligible. Here is the current Top 25 standings for the points leaders (thru March 30) for the U.S. Road to the Kentucky Derby:

1) Fierceness — Trainer: Pletcher / Points: 136

2) Catching Freedom — Cox / 125

3) Endlessly — McCarthy / 100

4) Timberlake — Cox / 81

5) Track Phantom — Asmussen / 70

6) West Saratoga — Demeritte / 67

7) Just Steel — Lukas / 65

8) Honor Marie — Beckman / 65

9) Dornoch — Gargan / 60

10) Domestic Product — Brown / 60

11) Sierra Leone — Brown / 55

12) Catalytic — Joseph, Jr. / 50

13) Deterministic — Clement / 50

14) Mystik Dan — McPeek / 46

15) No More Time — D'Angelo / 45

16) Grand Mo the First — Barboza, Jr. / 40

17) Common Defense — McPeek / 37

18) Hades — Orseno / 30

19) El Grande O — Rice / 30

20) Seize the Grey — Lukas / 27

21) Stronghold — D'Amato / 25

22) Le Dom Bro — Cordero / 25

23) Tuscan Gold — Brown / 25

24) Just a Touch — Cox / 25

25) Uncle Heavy — Reid, Jr. / 20

What is life without humor? Unbridled Spirits has been blessed to have “Humor” at our sanctuary for the past six years. Sadly, our Humor is no longer with us, as we had to say goodbye to this sweet sanctuary soul early last month.

Foaled on March 22, 2007, Humor and Heart made his arrival at Malibu Valley Farms in Calabasas, Calif. He was out of a Kentucky-bred mare, WARPED, by DISTORTED HUMOR, a multiple graded stakes winner, earning over $750,000, who sired Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner FUNNY CIDE.

After a brief racing career, Warped was retired to broodmare duties. She was bred to SOUTHERN IMAGE, who won 6 of 8 career starts, with earnings topping $1.8 million, and 11 months later, out popped Humor.

As a racer, Humor hit the board in 8 of his 15 starts. His lone trip to the winner's circle came at Arapahoe Park (Colo.) on Aug. 14, 2010. After being off the following year, Humor's 2012 campaign lasted only three races, due to a career-ending tendon injury sustained at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, in what would be his final race.

Humor spent time at farms in Arizona and Northern California, as his tendon mended, before being shipped to Winchester Place Thoroughbreds in Paris, Ky., where he enjoyed the life of a companion horse. Humor was responsibly retired to Unbridled Spirits by our good friends and supporters, Deron and Cindy Filip, arriving to our sanctuary on May 19, 2018.

Humor quickly bonded with another one of our residents, Loyalist, and the two became inseparable bosom buddies. Humor did require some special care, as he was prone to choke, and he did enjoy cribbing on any wooden fencing in his vicinity. Typically, Loyalist would allow Humor an hour or so on a fence post, then nudge him off with an, “OK, buddy, you’ve had enough, let’s go,” encouraging Humor to graze with him in the field.

In mid-September of last year, our staff discovered Humor with severe injuries to his left hip and ribs, and a laceration with significant swelling and soft tissue damage to his spine. The likely cause was being caught between two sparring horses and not being able to get out of their way. His sullen eyes told us he was in significant pain. We weren’t sure if he would make it, but we had to at least try. After X-rays, an ultrasound, wound care and stall rest, Humor’s wounds healed, but there remained hind-end weakness and a balance issue.

Follow-up examinations showed that his spinal cord had indeed suffered permanent damage, and although we were able to manage his discomfort with medication, we understood that this would be a degenerative situation. As February came to a close, we noticed a change in herd behavior, as Loyalist, who had never left Humor’s side, was pulling away, and Humor began isolating himself.

The weakness in his rear end was quickly becoming more significant, along with other neurological symptoms. On March 2, our dear Humor tried to gallop with his herd mates, but he stumbled and fell. His spirit was willing, but his body was failing him. The decision to have Humor humanely euthanized and give him the dignified ending he deserved still didn't come easily, but it was the right thing to do.

Since his arrival at Unbridled, Humor had shown true heart. He may not have been a big money earner on the track, but he made up for it exponentially by providing our staff and volunteers with therapeutic nuzzles and knickers. His high-pitched whinnies that always ended in a whisper will be missed by all who loved him.

A special thank you to the Cornell College football players, whose quick action to intervene provided Humor with much-needed comfort, as his life on earth came to an end. To Bette and Dave Rod, who have sponsored many of our sanctuary souls over the years, which included a steadfast love and commitment to Humor: You can rest assured that he is enjoying an endless supply of peppermints.

And finally, thank you to Dr. Sierra Philip and her staff at Abrahams Equine Clinic for Humor’s care, as he came down the "home stretch" for the final time.

We're still accepting donations, If you would like to contribute to Humor’s final resting expenses of $925. Funds may be donated through the following:

PayPal: @UnbridledSpirits

Venmo: @unbridled-spirits-20

Credit Cards (Square): 319-471-3545