Prepare — the street to the 2027 Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve is about to take a number of main turns.
Three Kentucky Derby qualifiers are on the agenda this Saturday: the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita Park, the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, and the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park.
These three races might characteristic a number of of the promising 2-year-old Thoroughbreds on this week’s Rookie Rankings. At the start thrilling maiden winners U. S. S. Valor (#1) and Gaudreau (#4) had been entered within the Champagne.
The Champagne marks the second showdown between U. S. S. Valor and Gaudreau. They each debuted Aug. 8 in a maiden particular weight dash at Saratoga Race Course, wherein Gaudreau completed first and U. S. S. Valor rallied for third place, crushed solely three-quarters of a size. U. S. S. Valor subsequently dominated one other maiden particular weight dash at Saratoga by 13 1/4 lengths.
You possibly can anticipate to see some main shakeups within the Rookie Rankings subsequent Monday. Within the meantime, they haven’t modified a lot from final week.
If the Rookie Rankings had been based mostly on potential to be voted 2026 champion 2-year-old male, we might decrease unbeaten Grade 1 Spendthrift Hopeful Stakes winner The Good Life (#5) following the information that he’ll be out of coaching for 30 days and can miss the Oct. 31 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Introduced by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.
However a small setback at the moment of 12 months isn’t essentially problematic for a Kentucky Derby contender. Keep in mind American Pharoah, for whom the American Pharoah Stakes is called? He missed the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with a foot challenge, however that didn’t cease him from sweeping the 2015 Triple Crown. For the reason that Rookie Rankings are based mostly on potential to win the Kentucky Derby, we’re leaving The Good Life at #5 in the intervening time.
We’ve got, nevertheless, dropped flashy maiden winner Inshallah. Ranked #8 final week, Inshallah hasn’t recorded a timed exercise since Sept. 5, so his standing is up within the air.
To fill the hole, Yacht Grasp (#10) has joined the listing. Conditioned by six-time Kentucky Derby-winning coach Bob Baffert, Yacht Grasp debuted on Sunday in a maiden particular weight sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs at Churchill Downs. After sticking near a stable tempo, he rallied gamely up the within to prevail by a head.
Right here’s how the whole Rookie Rankings stack up:
1. U. S. S. Valor: Completed strongly in his maiden win and will relish stretching out to 1 mile within the Champagne.
Proprietor: Group Valor Worldwide
Coach: Shug McGaughey
Final Race: 1st, Maiden Particular Weight, Sept. 5
2. Hughes: Labored five-eighths of a mile in 1:00.80 on Sunday and will flip up within the American Pharoah Stakes.
Proprietor: Entrance Row Membership, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Albaugh Household Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Golconda Steady, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Coach: Bob Baffert
Final Race: 1st, Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, Sept. 6
3. Coach Pope: Two weeks after recording his first victory by 12 1/2 lengths, Coach Pope labored half a mile in :48.20, suggesting he’s a candidate for the Breeders’ Futurity.
Proprietor: Gainesway Steady, Shamrock Stables, and Michael J. Mackin
Coach: Kenny McPeek
Final Race: 1st, Maiden Particular Weight, Sept. 12
4. Gaudreau: Beat U. S. S. Valor and Coach Pope in his Aug. 8 debut, however hasn’t raced since and should display he’s improved as a lot as U. S. S. Valor to take care of his edge within the Champagne.
Proprietor: Tanglewood Thoroughbreds, Thirty Yr Racing, Bradley Thoroughbreds, Rodeo Creek Racing, Laura Leigh Steady, and Swift Thoroughbreds
Coach: Chad Brown
Final Race: 1st, Maiden Particular Weight, Aug. 8
5. The Good Life: Out of coaching in the intervening time, however stays a proficient prospect with a promising future.
Proprietor: WinStar Farm, First Go Racing, and CHC
Coach: Brad Cox
Final Race: 1st, Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes, Sept. 6
6. Endrush: Clocked the ultimate quarter-mile of his maiden win in a superb :23.94 per the Equibase GPS outcome chart.
Proprietor: Inexperienced Lantern Stables
Coach: Eddie Kenneally
Final Race: 1st, Maiden Particular Weight, Sept. 10
7. Q B Rocket: Sharp five-furlong exercises in current weeks counsel he could possibly be prepared for a return to motion within the Breeders’ Futurity.
Proprietor: Spendthrift Farm and Frank Fletcher Racing Operations
Coach: Brad Cox
Final Race: 1st, Maiden Particular Weight, Aug. 15
8. Salahudin: Simply two weeks after profitable the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes, Salahudin labored a blazing half-mile in :46.20. May the Breeders’ Futurity be subsequent?
Proprietor: Zedan Racing Stables
Coach: Bob Baffert
Final Race: 1st, Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes, Sept. 12
9. Imperial Honor: You need to respect how Imperial Honor gained his debut at 5 1/2 furlongs though he’s bred to shine operating one mile or farther.
Proprietor: Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman
Coach: Bob Baffert
Final Race: 1st, Maiden Particular Weight, Sept. 7
10. Yacht Grasp: Raced professionally in his debut and confirmed dedication to push his head throughout the end line first.
Proprietor: Entrance Row Membership, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Albaugh Household Stables, Robert E. Masteron, Golconda Steady, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan.
Coach: Bob Baffert
Final Race: 1st, Maiden Particular Weight, Sept. 27
