Epic Ride is on the bubble to make it into the 2024 Kentucky Derby on May 4 at Churchill Downs .

Spots for the Run for the Roses are earned by gaining points through a series of Kentucky Derby prep races that began last September.

The post-position draw for the Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, April 27. Post time for the Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 4.

Epic Ride is hopeful to make the Kentucky Derby off a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 6 at Keeneland . He currently ranks 21st on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 35, needing one defection to make the 20-horse field.

Epic Ride

Owner: Welch Racing, first Derby.

Trainer: John Ennis, first Derby.

Jockey: Adam Beschizza, 0 for 1 in Derby. Finished seventh with Enforceable in 2020.

Notes: Epic Ride never has raced outside of Kentucky, his first four races coming at Turfway Park before the Blue Grass at Keeneland. That was his first race on dirt. … Epic Ride won the Leonatus Stakes at Turfway on Feb. 2 before a second-place finish behind Encino in the John Battaglia on March 2. … Ennis is a native of Ireland and took out his trainer’s license in 2012. He previously was an exercise rider, including for Hall of Famer Wise Dan.

What they’re saying: “I would love if we could get into the Derby because I think he’s entitled to have a shot,” Ennis said. “Let’s see what happens. He’s a lovely horse, and he’s going to be a nice horse later in the year.”