Kentucky Derby and Oaks Power Rankings: Four Derby preps produce shake-up

Feb 10, 2026 Alastair Bull/TwinSpires.com

Renegade wins the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. (Photo by SV Photo)

Week 19: Any weekend that produces four Derby preps and three Oaks preps will inevitably produce Power Rankings shake-ups, and so it has proved this weekend.

It was an exciting week for Kentucky Oaks contenders, as the three top horses on the Power Rankings all raced. The results have seen a bit of a shake-up; all three remain highly placed, but some others have forced their way up as well.

Among the males, all four prep winners made the Power Rankings top 20 list. The form of one of those winners also gave a boost to the form and ranking of a horse that didn’t race over the weekend. You can read more about the events of the weekend in the Kentucky Derby Roundup.

Interestingly, despite the four preps, the highest Brisnet rating of the week among three-year-olds came in a Tampa Bay maiden, where Emerging Market (99) narrowly beat Powershift (98), the pair more than 13 lengths clear of their opponents. You can read more about Emerging Market and other sophomore maiden winners in the TwinSpires Edge Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch.

Next weekend’s slate of preps is also quite stacked. For Derby prospects, there’s the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds, the Saudi Derby (G3) at Riyadh, and the Sunland Derby at Sunland Park. The Oaks prospects get to advance their claims in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds and the Sunland Park Oaks.

It’s also time for Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager this weekend, so this column is also listing morning-line odds for those that have individual options listed.

Feel free to disagree with the Power Rankings – and to back your own judgment in Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

KENTUCKY DERBY POWER RANKINGS

1.         Nearly (1, no change)

Future Wager Pool 4 Morning Line Odds: 10-1

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Nearly

2.         Paladin (8, +6)

Future Wager Pool 4 Morning Line Odds: 8-1

Paladin has been one of the most talked-about Derby contenders, especially after his victory in the Remsen (G2) in December. That race is not often a good Derby guide, but it could be this time around – not only has Paladin looked impressive, but the form got a boost when runner-up Renegade won the Sam F. Davis S. Now the morning-line favorite with the withdrawal of Ted Noffey, he could get a chance to show if he deserves his ranking in the Risen Star this weekend.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Paladin

Boyd works in preparation for the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park. (Photo by horsephotos.com)

3.         Brant (2, -1)

Future Wager Pool 4 Morning Line Odds: 20-1

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Brant

Brant training at Santa Anita, October 2025 (Photo by Horsephotos)

4.         Renegade (14, +10)

Future Wager Pool 4 Morning Line Odds: 20-1

Todd Pletcher has made it clear he thinks Renegade is a good prospect, and he put it all together in the Sam F. Davis, scoring decisively. It was arguably the best of the four Derby prep victories at the weekend, and he looks as though he’s continuing to develop nicely.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Renegade

Renegade wins the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. (Photo by SV Photo)

5.         Napoleon Solo (3, -2)

Future Wager Pool 4 Morning Line Odds: 25-1

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Napoleon Solo

Napoleon Solo wins the Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

6.         Litmus Test (4, -2)

Future Wager Pool 4 Morning Line Odds: 40-1

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Litmus Test

Litmus Test gave trainer Bob Baffert his 15th Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) victory (Photo by Benoit Photo)

7.         Further Ado (5, -2)

Future Wager Pool 4 Morning Line Odds: 25-1

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Further Ado

Further Ado wins the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

8.         Silent Tactic (new entry)

Future Wager Pool 4 Morning Line Odds: 30-1

Given that he was the only horse to make ground from the back when second in the Smarty Jones S., it was perhaps surprising that punters let Silent Tactic start at 12-1 in the Southwest back at Oaklawn Park on Friday. He showed improvement on that effort with another rallying effort, this time scoring a decisive victory. He should get better as distances increase.

TwinSpires Horse Racing Profile: Silent Tactic

Silent Tactic wins the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

9.         Blackout Time (6, -3)

Future Wager Pool 4 Morning Line Odds: 40-1

Is now firmly on the worktab at Fair Grounds, getting ready to have a go at a Derby campaign. Looks likely to run next in the Rebel (G2) on March 1 at Oaklawn Park.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Blackout Time

Blackout time wins at Ellis Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

10.   Golden Tempo (11, +1)

Future Wager Pool 4 Morning Line Odds: 20-1

An impressive rallying victor of the Lecomte (G3) last month, he is set to return to the Derby trail in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds this weekend.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Golden Tempo

Golden Tempo wins at Fair Grounds. (Photo by Hodges Photo)

11.   Talk to Me Jimmy (new entry)

Future Wager Pool 4 Morning Line Odds: 80-1

Perhaps the most difficult horse to rate after the weekend. New York preps often don’t provide the best Derby prospects at this time of the year, and the field that Talk to Me Jimmy demolished in the Withers S. wasn’t the strongest. But you can’t scoff at an 11-length victory, the Brisnet Speed numbers were good, and he finished further ahead of Grittiness than Paladin did in the Remsen. An intriguing prospect.

TwinSpires Horse Racing Profile: Talk to Me Jimmy

Talk to Me Jimmy wins the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

12.   Plutarch (re-entry)

Future Wager Pool 4 Morning Line Odds: 20-1

Two turf starts, including a maiden victory, appear to have brought Plutarch on a great deal, and he showed a lot of professionalism to win the Robert B. Lewis (G3) on Saturday against a decent field. His pedigree suggests he’ll improve further, and he’ll be a worthy opponent in future Derby preps.

TwinSpires Horse Racing Profile: Plutarch

Plutarch wins the Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita. (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

13.   Intrepido (12, -1)

Future Wager Pool 4 Morning Line Odds: 30-1

Fought valiantly for second in the Robert B. Lewis, giving way to the more seasoned Plutarch only very late. He should come on for the race.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Intrepido

Intrepido wins the American Pharoah at Santa Anita. (Photo by Benoit Photo)

14.   Satono Voyage (13, -1)

Future Wager Pool 4 Morning Line Odds: 4-1 (All Other 3-Year-Olds Option)

Interestingly, Satono Voyage wasn’t nominated for the Triple Crown, which may be a reason why he’s not an individual option in Pool 4 of the Future Wager. But victory in the Saudi Derby this weekend, in which he is set to take on fellow Japanese raider Best Green and American stakes winners My World and Obliteration, could see him head to the UAE Derby (G2), where victory might persuade his owners to make a late entry.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Satono Voyage

15.   So Happy (15, no change)

Future Wager Pool 4 Morning Line Odds: 40-1

TwinSpires Horse Profile: So Happy

So Happy wins the San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita. (Photo by Benoit Photo)

16.   Commandment (16, no change)

Future Wager Pool 4 Morning Line Odds: 25-1

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Commandment

Commandment wins the Mucho Macho Man Stakes. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

17.   Bravaro (17, no change)

Future Wager Pool 4 Morning Line Odds: 80-1.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Bravaro

Bravaro wins at Bemont at the Big A. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

18.   Boyd (7, -11)

Future Wager Pool 4 Morning Line Odds: 40-1.

Boyd heads down the rankings this week through what he hasn’t done. He’s been in work for a while, but it’s not clear if he’s on the Derby path or being thought of as a sprinter. He may rise up the list if there are solid signs of him heading to the Derby trail, but until that happens, he’s moving down.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Boyd

Boyd works in preparation for the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park. (Photo by horsephotos.com)

19.   Desert Gate (9, -10)

Future Wager Pool 4 Morning Line Odds: 4-1 (All Other 3-Year-Olds Option)

Below his best when returning to racing in the Robert B. Lewis, though his cause wasn’t helped by a slow start and getting caught on the rail. He returned his lowest career Brisnet Speed Rating by some distance, and he will probably improve for the run, but I still would have liked to have seen him stick on better than he did. It will be interesting to see where he heads next.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Desert Gate

Desert Gate winning the Best Pal (G3) at Del Mar (Photo by Benoit Photo)

20.   Strategic Risk (10, -10)

Future Wager Pool 4 Morning Line Odds: 4-1 (All Other 3-Year-Olds Option)

It was not at all encouraging to see Strategic Risk fade the way he did in the Southwest on Friday. It’s not the first time he has thrown in a clunker – he did so twice at Saratoga as a juvenile. This history, plus the fact that two horses that finished well behind Strategic Risk in the Smarty Jones – Silent Tactic and Rancho Santa Fe – ran similar races to finish ahead of him this time, suggests he could bounce back at his next run.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Strategic Risk

Strategic Risk wins the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Media/Kara West)

Largest gain: Renegade (+10).

Largest fall: Boyd (down 11).

New to Derby Power Rankings: Silent Tactic (8), Talk to Me Jimmy (11).

Returning to Derby Power Rankings: Plutarch (12).

Removed from Derby Power Rankings: Six Speed (18th last week), Canaletto (19th last week), Incredibolt (=20th last week), Solitude Dude (=20th last week).

KENTUCKY OAKS POWER RANKINGS

1.         Zany (3, +2)

The Brisnet numbers weren’t quite as good for Zany when winning the Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs as they were for the Demoiselle (G2) at her previous start. But she had plenty in hand at the line, looks versatile, and probably has room for improvement. She looks like a fantastic prospect.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Zany

2.         Meaning (6, +4)

Racing for the first time since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), Meaning showed further improvement when winning the one-mile Las Virgenes S. on Sunday. She probably benefited from the pace duel between Explora and Super Corredora, but she still did well to get past Explora and should enjoy an increase in distance for the Oaks.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Meaning

3.         Explora (2, no change)

After failing to catch Super Corredora in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after the latter got to the lead, Juan Hernandez was in no mood to let the same thing happen in the Las Virgenes, hunting Explora up to the front. It achieved the desired result – this time they beat off Super Corredora – but it possibly cost her the race, as she didn’t have enough to hold off Meaning. The way she stuck on despite the pace was still a positive from an Oaks perspective, however.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Explora

4.         Bella Ballerina (4, no change)

Has put in some nice breezes at Fair Grounds since returning to work in early January. The Golden Rod (G2) winner is set to kick off her three-year-old campaign this weekend in the Rachel Alexandra.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Bella Ballerina

5.         Super Corredora (1, no change)

The champion juvenile filly wasn’t disgraced in finishing fourth in the Las Virgenes. It was her first race since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), and it’s possible her condition gave out after her speed duel with Explora, who was possibly fitter after having a prep run leading into this race. Her biggest question from an Oaks perspective is whether she has more to her than the ability to excel off a relatively unchallenged lead.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Super Corredora

6.         Dazzling Dame (5, -1)

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Dazzling Dame

7.         Taken by the Wind (7, no change)

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Taken by the Wind

8.         On Time Girl (8, no change)

TwinSpires Horse Profile: On Time Girl

9.         Life of Joy (re-entry)

Unlike Zany’s opponents in her two previous races, Life of Joy at least made Todd Pletcher’s filly work for her victory in the Suncoast. In the end, she was squarely second-best, but that’s not bad against a filly such as Zany. Looks to be a potential contender to get some of the money in the Kentucky Oaks.

TwinSpires Horse Racing Profile: Life of Joy

10.   Bottle of Rouge (9, -1)

The Del Mar Debutante (G1) winner has been given an interesting starting point for her three-year-old campaign: the Sunland Park Oaks in New Mexico on Sunday. She has been working at Santa Anita for some time and will likely start as the favorite in a race that also includes Pashmina, who earned Oaks-qualifying points in the Untapable S. and Silverbulletday S. at Fair Grounds, and former Power Rankings inductee Cashed, runner-up in both the Starlet (G2) and the California Cup Oaks, the latter on turf.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Bottle of Rouge

11.   Atropa (10, -1)

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Atropa

12.   Search Party (new entry)

Continued a great run for trainer Mark Casse at Oaklawn Park when winning the Martha Washington S. on Friday. She showed admirable determination in the final stages of a four-way contest with Newtown Pike, Knickleandime, and Maximum Offer. The Brisnet numbers weren’t brilliant, but Search Party still has the makings of a nice contender.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Search Party

13.   Bank Shot (new entry)

While all the attention in the Las Virgenes was understandably on Meaning, Explora, and Super Corredora, the remaining contestant quietly put up a nice effort of her own to finish third. It should perhaps not have been a surprise; she’d run respectably against Super Corredora, Bottle of Rouge, and Consequent at her starts prior to her Jan. 2 maiden win. Looks like a type that will improve with further distance.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Bank Shot

14.   Two Bits (new entry)

Wasn’t competing in a points-scoring Oaks prep at the weekend, but still showed plenty of grit to down Interstatelovesong in the 7-furlong Ruthless S. at Aqueduct. Previously second to Dazzling Dame in the Busanda S., Two Bits looks to still be on the way up. Whether she’s better suited to sprints than to an Oaks trip remains to be seen.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Two Bits

Largest gain: Meaning (up 4).

Largest fall: Super Corredora (down 4).

New to Oaks Power Rankings: Search Party (12), Bank Shot (13), Two Bits (14).

Returning to Oaks Power Rankings: Life of Joy (9).

Removed from Oaks Power Rankings: Just Singing (11th last week), Powered by Family (12th last week), Hit Parade (13th last week), Luv Your Neighbor (14th last week).

Previous Kentucky Derby & Kentucky Oaks Power Rankings

Week 18 — Feb. 3, 2026
Week 17 — Jan. 27, 2026
Week 16 — Jan. 20, 2026
Week 15 — Jan. 13, 2026
Week 14 — Jan. 6, 2026
Week 13 — Dec. 30, 2025
Week 12 — Dec 23, 2025
Week 11 — Dec. 16, 2025
Week 10 — Dec. 9, 2025
Week 9 — Dec. 2, 2025
Week 8 — Nov. 24, 2025
Week 7 — Nov. 18, 2025
Week 6 — Nov. 10, 2025
Week 5 — Nov. 3, 2025
Week 4 — Oct. 27, 2025
Week 3 — Oct. 21, 2025
Week 2 — Oct. 14, 2025
Week 1 — Oct. 7, 2025