(Essential Quality winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland last November / Coady Photography)

Editor’s Note:

There has been a reshuffle. There has been a little remix. There has been some changes and alterations.

But the top?

Well, it’s still the top.

Essential Quality, who has yet to make his 2021 debut for trainer Brad Cox, and Life Is Good, who is undefeated in his two starts in 2021, are still several lengths in front as our latest updated rankings for this year’s Kentucky Derby.

Between the top two 3YO colts, they are a perfect 5-for-5.

Between the top two contenders for this year’s “Run for the Roses,” they are a perfect tandem in both talent and toughness.

And, between the top two, we are sill convinced — at least for now — that they are the ones to catch, first, if you expect to beat them on the first Saturday in May — which just so happens to be the first day of May this year.

Stay tuned.

Lots of races to come.

Lots of time, yet, to go.

So many things to happen today, tomorrow and till we make it to KY Derby week.

Until then, here’s our updated Kentucky Derby Rankings:

RankingsHorseSireTrainerJockeyLast RaceNext RaceCareerComments
1Essential QualityTapitBrad CoxLuis Saez1st G1 BC Juvenile @ KEEFeb. 21 -- G3 Southwest Stakes3/3-0-0Will This One Stay at Oaklawn Park With Weather Delays Mounting?
2Life Is GoodInto MischiefBob BaffertMike Smith1st in G3 Sham StakesMarch 6 -- G2 San Felipe Stakes2/2-0-0Continues to Progress & Impress / More to Come
3MandalounInto MischiefBrad CoxFlorent Geroux1st in G2 Risen Star StakesMarch 20 -- G2 Louisiana Derby4/3-0-1Addition of Blinkers Certainly Helped in Risen Star / Big Boy Test Coming
4Concert TourStreet SenseBob BaffertJoel Rosario1st in G2 San Vicente StakesMarch 13 -- G2 Rebel Stakes2/2-0-0Rallied From Off & Got By at Wire / Tough Test % Passed / Next?
5KeepmeinmindLoabanRoberto DiodoroDavid Cohen1st in G2 KY Jockey Club @ CDFeb. 21 -- G3 Southwest Stakes4/1-2-1Skipped the Risen Star to Stay Home & Now Snowed In / Time To Run
6Medina SpiritProtonicoBob BaffertAbel Cedillo1st in G3 Robert B. Lewis StakesTBD3/2-1-0Only Loss To Date Is Against Life Is Good / Win in Lewis Was Solid & Gritty
7Caddo RiverHard SpunBrad CoxFlorent Geroux1st in Smarty Jones StakesMarch 13 -- G2 Rebel Stakes4/2-2-0Impressive in Smarty Jones / Can He Continue to Improve?
8Hot Rod CharlieOxbowDoug O'NeillJoel Rosario3rd in G3 Robert B. Lewis StakesMarch 20 -- G2 Louisiana Derby6/1-1-2Run Off the Bench in the Lewis Was Impressive / Can He Move Forward?
9Greatest HonourTapitShug McGaugheyTrevor McCarthy1st in G3 Holy Bull StakesFeb. 27 -- G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes5/2-1-2Super Win In the G3 Holy Bull After Jumping Up from MSW Win / More?
10ProxyTapitMichael StidhamMitchell Murrill2nd in the G2 Risen Star StakesMarch 20 -- G2 Louisiana Derby5/2-3-0Came From Off Pace to Make Another Salty Run in Risen Star / Is There More?
11Midnight BourbonTiznowSteve AsmussenJoe Talamo3rd in the G2 Risen Star StakesTBD6/2-1-3Wasn't Able to Make Lead in Risen Star, But Still Was Strong / Consistent Sort
12PrateInto MischiefBrad CoxFlorent Geroux1st in FG MSWTBD1/1-0-0Has Not Run Since Impressive MSW in Dec / Work on 2-14 Was Huge / Next?
13Freedom FighterViolenceBob BaffertDrayden Van Dyke2nd in G2 San Vicente StakesTBD2/1-1-0Super Stubborn in San Vicente / Has Speed / How Far Can He Carry It?
14Prime FactorQuality RoadTodd PletcherIrad Ortiz, Jr.3rd in G3 Holy Bull StakesTBD2/1-0-1Not a Factor In Last When Routing 1st Time / Don't Give Up, Yet
15Risk TakingMedaglia d'OroChad BrownEric Cancel1st in G3 Withers StakesTBD4/2-0-0Runaway Winner of Withers, From Off Pace / After Slow Start, 2 Wins in Row
16Drain the ClockMaclean's MusicSaffie Joseph, Jr.Edgard Zayas1st in G3 Swale StakesFeb. 27 -- G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes5/4-0-0In All Races He Has Finished? He Has Won / Has Speed & Talent / Watch Out
17The Great OneNyquistDoug O'NeillAbel Cedillo1st in SA MSWMarch 6 -- G2 San Felipe Stakes5/1-1-0Broke MSW by 14 on Jan. 23 / Ran 2nd in Los Alamitos Futurity / Talent There
18RombauerTwirling CandyMichael McCarthyKyle Frey1st in El Camino Real DerbyTBD5/2-1-0True Closer Came From Last to Win El Camino / Ran 5th in BC Juv / Talent
19Jackie's WarriorMaclean's MusicSteve AsmussenJoel Rosario4th in G1 BC Juvenile @ KEEFeb. 21 -- G3 Southwest Stakes5/4-0-0Long Time Between Drinks / Now Snowbound? / Time Is Running
20Fire At WillDeclaration of WarMike MakerRicardo Santana, Jr.1st in BC Juvenile TurfFeb. 27 -- G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes4/3-0-0Six Published Works Since Last Win in BC Juv Turf / Turf to Dirt? / Maker Can