Kentucky Derby Power Rankings: Little Change Ahead of Big Weekend

Jan 27, 2026 Alastair Bull/TwinSpires.com

Six Speed shown winning the Guineas Trial in the silks of his former owners (Photo by Dubai Racing Club)

It’s been a quiet week for the Power Rankings. With just one race containing Derby points – and none in North America – there is very little change to the list.

However, that’s going to change in a serious way after next week. There are three points-scoring races on both the Derby and Oaks Road, and they include some serious contenders, for the Derby in particular.

Between the three prep races this week – the Holy Bull (G3), the Withers S., and the Southwest (G3) – the entries include four of the 20 horses currently on the Power Rankings list, along with six that have previously been on the list. There are also several others that either have already earned points on the Derby road or that are sufficiently highly regarded that they have been individual options on the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

There aren’t as many Power Rankings honorees running in the Oaks preps, but we do potentially get to see if Mythical can succeed as a three-year-old outside Florida-bred company.

The state of play on the path towards the First Saturday in May can be seen in this week’s Kentucky Derby Roundup. In addition, you can read about the most significant three-year-old maiden winners of the week in the Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch.

As a bit of extra spice, this week’s Power Rankings will include how the relevant horses fare on the first TwinSpires Fair Odds list of 2026. There are lists for both the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks.

The Fair Odds list is made up of the top 24 horses in the Derby points table and the top 18 in the Oaks table. Those numbers match the maximum field size plus four also-eligibles that both renewals can have when they are declared in the week prior to the races.

Because of the criteria, you’ll notice that several horses on the Power Rankings list don’t have Fair Odds to their name. That’s because they either haven’t run in a points-scoring race yet or haven’t earned enough in the points-scoring races they have contested to be on the list.

Feel free to disagree with the Power Rankings (or, for that matter, the Fair Odds) – and to back your own judgment when Pool 4 of the Future Wager arrives February 13-15.

KENTUCKY DERBY POWER RANKINGS

1.         Ted Noffey (1 last week, no change).

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 3-1

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Ted Noffey

2.         Brant (2, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 8-1

Resumed training this week with a three-furlong breeze. Where he begins his sophomore campaign is yet to be determined.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Brant

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

3.         Napoleon Solo (3, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 10-1

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Napoleon Solo

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

4.         Blackout Time (4, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 20-1

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Blackout Time

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

5.         Litmus Test (5, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 6-1

Set to race for the first time in 2026 in the Southwest at Oaklawn Park. His close Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) fourth and subsequent Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) victory showed he deserves a high ranking; he will face some good horses in the Southwest, and a solid performance will keep him high in the minds of many for the Derby.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Litmus Test

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

6.         Further Ado (6, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 5-1

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Further Ado

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

7.         Incredibolt (7, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 15-1

Incredibolt brought back memories of Sovereignty when he produced a last-to-first effort to win the Street Sense (G3) in late October, just as Sovereignty did. Now, he’s back on the Derby trail, set to resume in the Holy Bull. He’s facing one of the better fields of Derby contenders since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, so this will show a lot about his Classic prospects.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Incredibolt

Incredibolot wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

8.         Boyd (8, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: N/A.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Boyd

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

9.         Paladin (9, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 9-2

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Paladin

Paladin wins the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

10.   Desert Gate (10, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 15-1

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Desert Gate

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

11.   Strategic Risk (11, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 20-1

Went to a new level when winning the Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park Jan. 3. He has enjoyed the step up past a mile at his most recent two starts, and gets a chance to show he’s a genuine contender against a stronger field in the Southwest back at Oaklawn Park this weekend.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Strategic Risk

Strategic Risk wins the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Media / Credit to Andrew Stauffacher)

12.   Golden Tempo (12, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 10-1

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Golden Tempo

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

13.   Intrepido (13,  no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 20-1

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Intrepido

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

14.   Satono Voyage (14, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: N/A

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Satono Voyage

Satono Voyage kicked off the Japan Road with a popular victory in the Cattleya S. (Photo by Tomoya Moriuchi/Horsephotos.com)

15.   Renegade (15, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: N/A

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Renegade

16.   So Happy (16, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: N/A

TwinSpires Horse Profile: So Happy

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

17.   Nearly (17, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: N/A

Very impressive in his two victories to date, Nearly is set for a much bigger test next weekend in the Holy Bull. With horses like Incredibolt, Cannoneer, and Buetane to face, the Holy Bull will provide a good gauge as to whether Nearly is a genuine Derby contender.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Nearly

18.   Commandment (18, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: N/A

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Commandment

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

19.   Six Speed (new entry)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: N/A

It’s hard to know what he beat in the UAE 2,000 Guineas (G3), but Six Speed did it in style. His trainer Bhupat Seemar had questioned his ability to stay a mile, let alone further, but he was strong at the line, and his pedigree has plenty of stamina – he’s by Not This Time, sire of Derby runner-up Epicenter, and his first two damsires are Medaglia d’Oro and A. P. Indy. We will learn more in the UAE Derby (G2).

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Six Speed

Six Speed shown winning the Guineas Trial in the silks of his former owners (Photo by Dubai Racing Club)

20.   Canaletto (new entry)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: N/A

The half-brother to last year’s Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Sandman put on a spectacular display on his debut in a maiden mile at Gulfstream Park, sprinting clear in the stretch to win by eight lengths. His splits at the end of the race were encouragingly quick, and he has inherited plenty of the family ability. He is another potential contender to give trainer Chad Brown his first Derby success.

TwinSpires Horse Profile: Canaletto

Largest gain: Six Speed (new entry at 19).

Largest fall: Express Kid, Jackson Hole (removed from list).

New to Derby Power Rankings: Six Speed (19), Canaletto (20).

Removed from Derby Power Rankings: Express Kid (19th last week), Jackson Hole (20th last week).

KENTUCKY OAKS POWER RANKINGS

1.         Super Corredora (1 last week, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 4-1

TwinSpires Horse Profiles: Super Corredora

2.         Explora (2, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 7-2

TwinSpires Horse Profiles: Explora

3.         Zany (3, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 5-1

TwinSpires Horse Profiles: Zany

4.         Bella Ballerina (4, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 5-1

TwinSpires Horse Profiles: Bella Ballerina

5.         Percy’s Bar (5, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 12-1

TwinSpires Horse Profiles: Percy's Bar

6.         Dazzling Dame (6, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 20-1

TwinSpires Horse Profiles: Dazzling Dame

7.         Tommy Jo (7, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 15-1

TwinSpires Horse Profiles: Tommy Jo

8.         Meaning (8, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: N/A

TwinSpires Horse Profiles: Meaning

9.   Taken by the Wind (9, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 20-1

TwinSpires Horse Profiles: Taken by the Wind

10.   Bottle of Rouge (10, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: N/A

TwinSpires Horse Profiles: Bottle of Rouge

11.   Consequent (11, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 8-1

TwinSpires Horse Profiles: Consquent

12.   Atropa (12, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: 15-1

TwinSpires Horse Profiles: Atropa

13.   Just Singing (13, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: N/A

TwinSpires Horse Profiles: Just Singing

14.   Mythical (14, no change)

TwinSpires Fair Odds: N/A

TwinSpires Horse Profiles: Mythical

One of the most interesting sophomore fillies in the country. Her performances to date have been highlighted mostly by blinding speed; she stepped out to 1 1/16 miles to a reasonable degree in the My Dear Girl S. against fellow Florida-breds in late November. Trainer Jorge Delgado has brought her back to seven furlongs for the Forward Gal S. at Gulfstream this weekend; you would think the shorter distance would suit her, but she does get a chance to earn Oaks qualifying points.

No changes to Oaks Power Rankings this week.