Mafaaz earned himself a spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby after winning the inaugural running of the $115,000 Kentucky Derby Challenge Wednesday.

Churchill Downs sponsored the Derby Challenge on the Kempton synthetic Polytrack surface for the first time this year as part of an effort to boost European interest in the Kentucky Derby. The rest of the Derby field will be determined by graded stakes earnings.

Trained by John Gosden – like Donativum was at that time – Mafaaz had previously won a seven-furlong maiden over the same Kempton Polytrack as the Derby Challenge. He covered the 1 1/8 miles on the right-handed oval on Wednesday night in a pedestrian 1:55.17.