(Life Is Good / Photo Courtesy of Santa Anita)

Editor’s Note:

Big weekend coming up.

Life Is Good — so impressive in his debut win at Del Mar — will take the next step in the G3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita.

The Jerome Stakes — one of the oldest and most historic races in America racing history — will be held at Aqueduct on Friday.

Other top youngsters will turn 3 and have upped their morning workout schedules.

We will have more next week, but here’s our updated standings.

For now.

Stay tuned.

RankingsHorseSireTrainerJockeyLast RaceNext RaceCareerComments
1Essential QualityTapitBrad CoxLuis Saez1st G1 BC Juvenile @ KEETBD (Worked 1/2 at FG on 12-27)3/3-0-0Undefeated Son of Tapit / What’s Not to Like
2Life Is GoodInto MischiefBob BaffertMike Smith1st in MSW @ Del MarJan. 2: G3 Sham Stakes1/1-0-0Can He Duplicae Debut Masterpiece?
3Prime FactorQuality RoadTodd PletcherIrad Ortiz, Jr.1st in MSW @ GPTBD (Worked 1/2 at PBD on 12-27)1/1-0-0Broke MSW by Nearly 9 / Cost $900K / Wow
4Red FlagTamarkuzJohn ShirreffsVictor Espinoza4th in G2 Los Alamitos FuturityTBD4/2-0-0Soundly Beaten at LA / Hmmm?
5KeepmeinmindLoabanRoberto DiodoroDavid Cohen1st in G2 KY Jockey Club @ CDTBD (Last Official Work in Nov)4/1-2-1Has Shown Up at Oaklawn Park / Work to Begin Soon
6Caddo RiverHard SpunBrad CoxFlorent Geroux1st in MSW @ CDTBD (Worked 1/2 at OP on 12-27)3/1-2-0Will Be Pointed to Derby Preps in Hot Springs
7Hot Rod CharlieOxbowDoug O’NeillTyler Gaffalione2nd in G1 BC Juvenile @ KEEJan. 30 — G3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes5/1-1-1Sold in Feb. 2019 for $17K / 2nd in BC @ 94-1 odds
8MandalounInto MischiefBrad CoxFlorent Geroux1st in ALW @ CDTBD (Worked 5F at FG on 12-27)2/2-0-0Closer Should Love Extra Ground Coming
9Dr. SchivelViolenceMark GlattFlavien Pratt1st in G1 Del Mar Futurity @ DMTBD (No Recent Works)4/2-1-1Has Won 2 In Row / Beat Spielberg in last
10PetruchioInto MischiefRichard MandellaMike Smith3rd in G2 Los Alamitos FuturityTBD5/1-1-3Rallied to Be 3rd in LA Futurity, But Beaten 31/2 / Mixed
11Whiskey DoubleInto MischiefSteve AsmussenRicardo Santana, Jr.1st in MSW @ CDTBD (Worked 5F at FG on 12-28)1/1-0-0To Prep for KY Derby at FG / Soon
12Get Her NumberDialed InPeter MillerFlavien Pratt1st in G1 American PharoahTBD (No Recent Works)3/2-0-0Speedster Won G1 AP at 11/16-miles in Sept. / Next?
13Highly MotivatedInto MischiefChad BrownJavier Castellano1st in Nyquist StakesTBD (Last Work on 11-1)3/2-1-0Won Nyquist on BC Undercard / Impressive / $240K Weanling
14PrisonerViolenceTodd PletcherIrad Ortiz, Jr.1st in MSW @ Belmont ParkTBD (No Recent Works)1/1-0-0Broke MSW on Debut / Came on 6-3/ What’s Up?
15Jackie’s WarriorMaclean’s MusicSteve AsmussenJoel Rosario4th in G1 BC Juvenile @ KEEFeb. 15: G3 Southwest Stakes5/4-0-0To Prep for KY Derby at OP, Too / Soon?
16Brooklyn StrongWicked StrongDanny VelazquezJoel Rosario1st in G2 Remsen Staeks @ AQUFeb. 6: G3 Withers Stakes4/3-0-1Remind Me, Again…How Many NY-breds Have Won KY Derby?
17VittorioGhostzapperSimon CallaghanMike Smith1st in MSW @ Del MarTBD (No Recent Works)2/1-0-0Easily Whipped Petruchio In Debut Win / Impressive
18OlympiadSpeightstownBill MottJunior Alvarado1st in MSW @ SaratogaTBD (Worked 3F at Payson Park on 12-29)2/1-0-1Impressive Winner in Last / Eat Caddo River Easily in That One
19Team MerchantsNyquistDoug O’NeillKendrick Carmouche1st in MSW @ SaratogaTBD (No Recent Works)2/1-0-0Broke MSW Last Out at SAR in Sept. / Whipped Ten for Ten
20Smiley SobotkaBrody’s CauseDale RomansJulien Leparoux2nd in G2 KY Jockey Club @ CDTBD (Worked 1/2 at GP on 12-27)3/1-2-0Speedster Is Game / Easily Beat Roomate Sittin On Go in Last
20APrateInto MischiefBrad CoxFlorent Geroux1st in FG MSWTBD1/1-0-0Superstart in Making?
AE ListHorseSireTrainerJockeyLast RaceNext RaceComments
1Midnight BourbonTiznowSteve AsmussenRicardo Santana, Jr.3rd in G1 Champagne @ BelmontTBD (Breezed 5F at FG on 12-28)4/1-1-2Beaten Over 14 in G1 Champagne / Beaten 21/2 in G3 Iroquois
2Arabian PrinceMshawishDallas StewartTyler Gaffalione3rd in G2 KY Jockey Club @ CDJan. 16: G3 Lecomte Stakes3/1-0-1Beaten 21/2 Lengths in G2 KJC / Came Late / Likes Distance
3Reinvestment RiskUpstartChad BrownIrad Ortiz, Jr.10th in G1 BC Juvenile @ KEETBD (Last Work on 11-1 @ Belmont)4/1-2-0Made No Move in BC Juv / Before That? Super Consistent
4Greatest HonourTapitShug McGaugheyTrevor McCarthy2nd in MSW @ AqueductTBD (Worked 1/2 at Payson on 12-19)3/0-1-2Lost by a Head to Known Agenda In Last / Beat 3rd by 21
5Restored OrderTapizarTodd PletcherIrad Ortiz, Jr.1st in MSW @ SaratogaDec. 19: Sugar Bowl Stakes3/1-0-1Not Raced Since Breaking MSW at SAR on 9-5 / Works? / Hmm
6Ten for TenFrostedShug McGaugheyJunior Ortiz2nd in G2 Remsen Stakes @ AQUTBD (Worked 1/2 at Payson on 12-31)4/1-3-02nd in G2 Remsen & G3 Nashua / Sold for $410K / Speedy
7GirtherBrody’s CausePeter MillerRicardo Gonzalez2nd in G2 Best Pal @ Del MarTBD (No Recent Works)3/1-1-02nd by Neck in Best Pal / Speed-type / Sold for $20K
8Sittin on GoBrody’s CauseDale RomansCorey Lanerie6th in G2 KY Jockey Club @ CDTBD (Worked 1/2 at GP on 12-27)4/2-0-0Back-to-Back Poor Outings / Did Win G3 Iroquois @ CD / Mixed
9Known AgendaCurlinTodd PletcherJohn Velazquez3rd in G2 Remsen Stakes @ AQUTBD (Worked 1/2 at PBD on 12-27)3/1-1-1Beat Greatest Honour in MSW Win / Lost by 2 to Highly Motivated
10Freedom FighterViolenceBob BaffertDrayden Van Dyke1st in MSW @ Del MarTBD Worked 1/2 at SA on 12-26)1/1-0-0Purchased for $120K at 2019 KEE Sept / Gearing Back Up / Distance?