The Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes is an important test for 2-year-olds for several reasons. Held at 1 1/8 miles, it gives juveniles a taste of competing around two turns, which will be a staple in major 3-year-old stakes, and it will also give a handful of them a head-start on Kentucky Derby qualifying points with 10-4-2-1 going to the top four finishers.

The Breeders’ Cup World Championships may be in the rearview mirror, but on Friday some of the top members of the older male division will get one more chance to strut their stuff before they turn a year older.