(Fulleffort wins the G3 Jeff Ruby and climbs in this week’s rankings / Photo by Holly M. Smith)

We will post “The Pressbox’s Derby Rankings” in full mode and all comments later today, on our link at the top of the Home Page. Check it out.

But in the meantime?

For those of you on the hunt?

For the inpatient and sneak preview types?

Well…

Here’s a sneak preview following this past weekend’s G2 Louisiana Derby and G3 Jeff Ruby Steaks.

Just click on the link:

KY Derby Rankings for 2026

We were right going into the G3 Jeff Ruby, with our early prediction that Fulleffort was ready for a full effort and a big one, too. The grey son of Liam’s Map was full of himself and full of run on Saturday and pulled away impressively to boost his momentum and confidence going into this year’s Kentucky Derby for trainer Brad Cox.

We all know that the horse loves the AW and has run well, at times, over the turf, too.

But will he be able to adjust to the dirt in time for this year’s Derby.

Well, Cox’s Final Gambit did a pretty good job of it as year ago and we think that this horse may be even better.

Down in the Bayou Country, we had a little bit of a struggle and a hell of a horse race, as Emerging Market needed every single inch of ground to finally get his nose and head in front of 21-1 shot Pavlovian. But Chad Brown’s Emerging Market was finally able to get the job done and get to the podium to accept his winner’s trophy.

That will boost the son of Candy Ride into the big dance, come the First Saturday in May, but the real horse of interest on Saturday may have been the 3rd place finisher — Golden Tempo. We have been touting this one all spring, include his win in the Lecomte Stakes and previous 3rd in the G2 Risen Star.

Like before and his previous races, this well-bred son of Curlin came with a late run. Unfortunately, either due to the newly applied blinkers or a highly questionable ride by Jose Ortiz, it was a weaving run. Inside. Outside. Outside. Inside. Finally, after moving back to the rail, once again, he closed to within a length of the winner — despite having run much farther than nearly every other horse in the race.

So, due to those Stakes, we had some jostling of the roster this week.

After this coming Saturday’s races — including the G1 Florida Derby and the G1 Arkansas Derby — we are sure to have some more movement.

But, for now, we stay committed to our #1 pick — Nearly, who will run this Saturday, as well, in the Florida Derby.

I will write this, as I did a year ago when I was so “high” on Sovereignty.

I’m looking for a big effort from Nearly, and, perhaps, his 4th straight win.

But if he doesn’t finish first? I may not be shocked or disappointed, either. Depending on his run.

The big race — the Kentucky Derby — is coming. And, that’s the big goal. That’s the big deal. That’s the big race.