“The Pressbox’s” New KY Derby Rankings: Epicenter, Mo Donegal, Zandon Are Top 3

(Zandon winning the G1 Blue Grass / Coady Photography)

If you believe the hype, then you believe that we may have a new and improved “Justify” ready to pounce on the scene and make the infamous “Apollo Curse” a distant memory and a new Triple Crown winner a new reality.

If you believe all the speed numbers and the mumble-jumble coming out of California these days, I guess we should just mail the trophy on out to Bob Baffert’s long-time friend and now best buddy, Tim Yakteen, and simply give Taiba — winner of Saturday’s G1 Santa Anita Derby — the victory in this year’s Kentucky Derby.

If you believe all the band wagon trumpet players, Taiba — who is undefeated in just 2 career starts this year after not having raced as a 2YO last season — could become the most inexperienced horse in the history of the Kentucky Derby to take down the roses.

Guess what?

I don’t believe the hype.

I don’t believe the numbers.

I don’t believe the horse can or will win the Kentucky Derby.

Just don’t believe.

In fact, I don’t believe the horse will finish in the Top 5.

But, I guess, we will all get to find out the end of that story on the first Saturday in May.

Instead, I believe the top Derby contenders are horses that are far more experienced; and have shown far more ability than Taiba.

Instead, I believe the “Apollo Curse” — where no horse had won the Kentucky Derby since the late Apollo did way back in 1882 — should still be in effect, since Justify probably should have never been eligible to even run in the Kentucky Derby, much less win it in 2018. As you know by now, Justify never raced as a 2YO.

Instead, I am happy to bet my money and rest my chances on the likes of Epicenter, Mo Donegal and / or Zandon.

Epicenter — winner of the G2 Louisiana Derby in his last outing — simply gets better and better. Each race. Each day. The fact that rider Joel Rosario was able to throttle him back off the pace and come with a later bid in the last race at the Fair Grounds makes him even more attractive as these 3YO colts prepare to go 11/4 miles for the first time.

Mo Donegal — winner of Saturday’s G2 Wood Memorial — was our first #1 pick when we began the selections and rankings this year. But the son of Uncle Mo missed the Fountain of Youth due to a slight fever and a terrible post and we were left waiting. Until Saturday. Until Rosario — the best rider in the world these days — put him into overdrive and he caught Early Voting on the wire. A true closer.

Zandon — winner of Saturday’s G1 Blue Grass — may have put in the most impressive performance by a 3YO this year. Left at the back of the pack and swimming over an off-track, Zandon looked like a raft boat without an oar. Until new rider, Flavien Prat, demonstrated why he may be the world’s second best rider these days. The duo weave in and out of traffic and overpowered Smile Happy to win. Overpowered.

Any of these 3 nominees seem to me to be the best options at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.

In these 3, I do believe.

A lot more than the hottest thing on the West Coast. A lot more than a horse who just broke his maiden two starts ago. A lot more than a horse who beat just 5 others on Saturday.

A lot more.

Here’s our top rankings for this week: