St. X graduate Phil Bauer (’03) currently has a horse on the Kentucky Derby trail. His horse, Johnathen’s Way, is targeting the highly competitive Risen Star Stakes in New Orleans in about a month. If his horse performs the way he has, then Bauer will surely have his first Derby horse.
The Kentucky Derby, often referred to as “The Run for the Roses,” is one of the most iconic events in American sports. The race is held annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The most exciting two minutes in sports is the oldest continuously running sporting event in the United States. In 2024 eighteen thousand foals (baby thoroughbreds) were born. The big race is only eligible for the top twenty three year olds in the world. This means the odds of having a horse in the Derby this year is 0.001%.
The Kentucky Derby has used a point system for the past nine years to determine who gets into the race. To earn a spot in the starting gate, they must travel along the Road to the Kentucky Derby, which is a series of designated races at tracks across the country. Points are awarded to the top five finishers in each race. Points for the winning horse can vary from one-hundred to one point, it all depends on the race.
2003 St. Xavier High School graduate, Phil Bauer, currently has a horse on the derby trail. His three year old colt named Johnathan’s Way currently has 15 points toward the 151st Kentucky Derby. This Vekoma colt won the Grade III Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs back in September and placed second in the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes which was also at Churchill Downs in late November as well.
“Pretty exciting to be a part of the Derby picture, but the excitement definitely carries some added pressure,” Bauer said. “He took us on a good ride last year at two and I feel like he started to really mature mentally towards the end of his 2yo campaign. It’s fun to see his name on the future derby wager.”
Phil also stated Johnathan’s Way will be entered into the Risen Star Stakes in mid February down in New Orleans. If the colt is able to finish first or second he will have the chance to put his name in the history books and look to win a cut of the $5 million dollars.
