(Nearly winning the G3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park  / Photo Courtesy of Gulfstream Park)

A complete look at this week’s Kentucky Derby Rankings can be found by clicking here:

KY Derby Rankings for 2026

 

We are now on Week #3 of “The Pressobox’s Kentucky Derby Rankings” and like last week, there are some major shakeups after a couple of minor trips around the various ovals leading up to the grand “Run for the Roses.”

The Withers Stakes at Aqueduct looked, at least to me, was a complete bust, with a little known, less-than-than respected, New York-bred, by the name of My Name is Jimmy, upset the field and the apple cart of possible Derby contenders currently residing North of the Mason Dixon line. Can’t imagine, at this point in time, any of these pretenders improving enough to make the points mountain climb into consideration by the first Saturday in May. So, at the time being, none of these horses climb into the Top 20, on our billboard chart.

The Southwest Stakes was won by longshot Silent Tactic, who was the lesser know of a duo saddled by trainer Mark Casse. His other steed in the race, Strategic Risk, ran so poorly — a non-inspiring or threatening 10th — that we drop him from our ranks altogether. But Silent Tactic’s tactics of rallying from way off the pace was so surprising and, and, at the same time, impressive that he jumps from the non-ranked ranks all the way to #4 this week.

Of course, this son of Tacitus — whose pedigree will not overpower you — will have a lot of work to do to maintain this lofty status, which could be accurately termed “highly premature” at this time. We shall see.

The third prep this last weekend was, in my view, the most impressive of the bunch. This was the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, which was dolled up like I have never seen it before. And, we have spent some time there — both racing and viewing.

The winner was Renegade, an impressive-looking and more impressive-racing son of Into Mischief who is trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by the bombastic owner Mike Repole. When it came time to run, this colt did the running. And, his ability ran right past the other horses in the field and ran right up the charts in this week’s rankings, too. After being installed at #7 a week ago, Renegade now sits at #3.

It will be interesting to see where some of these horses show up next and if they are able to continue to improve on the big road to stardom and Louisville.

For the second straight week, though, the top two perches still belong to Nearly — winner of the G3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park last time out — and Further Ado, a 3YO son of Gun Runner and a horse who has not yet made his 2026 debut for trainer Brad Cox.

With the departure of Ted Noffey from this year’s crop of Derby Dreamers, it certainly appears — at this time — that the top candidates are still TBD. But it is getting serious time and it’s getting binoculars time. Time to zoom in on some. Time to focus on others. Time to watch. And, yes, time to cull and look away from the pretenders.

Only a few are chosen. Twenty to be exact.

The cull may continue this weekend, coming up, when the Fair Grounds plays host to its’ Louisiana Derby Preview Day and the G2 Risen Star Stakes. By my count, five of our Top 20 will be racing in the Risen Star on Saturday.

That group includes the likes of Paladin (#5), Lecomte Stakes winner Golden Tempo (#6), Universe (#7), $5 Million Dollar wonder-child Courting (#16) and Carson Street (#20).

The rest of the field includes Chip Honcho (4th in the Lecomte Stakes), Colt Forty Seven (2nd in a recent allowance race at the Fair Grounds), and Quality Mischief (another son of Into Mischief and most recently 5th in the G3 Lecomte).

Some more juggling is sure to go on over the next two months, but the game is afoot.

And, no better time than right now to start getting excited.

Stay tuned.