Home > News > Derby News > Kentucky Derby Power Rankings: Questions to be answered for Derby contenders [Jan. 6]

Kentucky Derby Power Rankings: Questions to be answered for Derby contenders [Jan. 6]

Jan 06, 2026 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

My World wins the Nashua at Belmont at the Big A. (Photo by Coady Media)

Week 14: It’s been an intriguing week on the Derby and Oaks trails. The weather stopped us from viewing the second-ranked Oaks filly Explora at Santa Anita, while one of the most consistent horses on the Derby trail chose this week to throw in a shocker.

So, if anything, the picture is a little murkier this week. However, we do see some notable changes among Derby contenders. There are four different horses on this week’s list compared to last, though followers of this column will be familiar with two of them.

Three of the new entries had connections to Gulfstream Park: two won races there in the past week, while a third followed a Gulfstream Park victory last year with a win in the Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn this weekend. The fourth new entry scraped in after winning the Jerome S. at Aqueduct. You can read more about the Derby road in the Kentucky Derby Roundup on TwinSpires Edge.

No maiden winners made the list this week, but there were some nice performances from horses that will likely feature in future Derby preps.

One filly has forced her way onto the Oaks Power Rankings in a relatively high position after dominating her race this weekend.

The upcoming week is the last to feature no points-scoring races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby until the series finishes in mid-April. It was also scheduled to be without a Road to the Kentucky Oaks prep, but the rescheduling of the Santa Ynez S. to Jan. 10 has likely changed that, provided California weather allows it.

Feel free to disagree with the Power Rankings. Your next chance to bet on the Derby will be in the Pool 3 Future Wager Jan. 16-18, while the sole Oaks future wager will be available in mid-March.

KENTUCKY DERBY POWER RANKINGS

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

2. Brant (2, no change)

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

3. Napoleon Solo (3, no change)

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

4. Blackout Time (4, no change)

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

5. Litmus Test (5, no change)

Litmus Test wins the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2)

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

6. Further Ado (6, no change)

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

7. Incredibolt (7, no change)

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

8. Boyd (8, no change)

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

9. Paladin (9, no change)

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

10. Desert Gate (10, no change)

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

11. Englishman (11, no change)

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

12. Strategic Risk (re-entry)

Had the advantage of being just outside a very slow pace in the Smarty Jones (a half-mile in 49.72), but he showed a turn of foot that none of the others did and could have won by more than the final 4-1/2 length margin. It confirmed the quality of his In Reality S. win over Florida-breds – an effort also franked by Roger That Dana, who followed his third-place In Reality finish (10-1/4 lengths behind Strategic Risk) with a 6-3/4 length second to Commandment in the Mucho Macho Man S.

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

13. Intrepido (13, no change)

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

14. Satono Voyage (14, no change)

15. Renegade (15, no change)

16. Universe (12, -4)

Started as the favorite in the Smarty Jones but was poor on the day, finishing 11-1/4 lengths behind Strategic Risk. The lack of pace didn’t help him after getting well back in the field, but he should have rounded the race off better, in the manner that runner-up Silent Tactic did. He gets to stay on the Power Rankings list because his previous efforts show this was an out-of-character run, but it wasn’t encouraging, and his lack of previous victories also counts against him.

Universe wins at Saratoga. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

17. Nearly (re-entry)

Briefly on this list after an impressive maiden win, this son of Not This Time was in a class of his own in a Gulfstream Park allowance, picking off favorite Confessional and two other rivals with ease over seven furlongs despite being bumped at the start. The victory was made a little less meaningful with the scratches of four horses, including pre-post favorite Mob, but there was still plenty to like. He’ll likely be aimed at a Derby Road contest in Florida for his next start.

18. Express Kid (16, -2)

Express Kid upsets the Remington Springboard Mile

Express Kid outran his 34-1 odds in the Springboard Mile (Photo by Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park)

19. Commandment (new entry)

The Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream Park wasn’t a points-scoring event on the Road to the Kentucky Derby schedule, but it had a decent field, and its winner, Commandment, put on an outstanding display. Fourth on debut in a strong Keeneland maiden before a maiden victory at Churchill Downs, Commandment showed a fantastic turn of foot after being held up around the final turn. Looks like a solid contender for future Derby preps.

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

20. My World (new entry)

Beat a small field to earn Kentucky Derby points in the Jerome S. Ran a slower time than impressive Busanda S.-winning filly Dazzling Dame and finished his last quarter in a relatively unimpressive 26.73 seconds, but he beat Balboa by more than the Power Rankings number 15 Renegade did in the Remsen, and it was his third consecutive win. On the right path, but needs to improve further to be a serious Derby contender.

My World wins the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct.

My World wins the Jerome S. at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo / Credit Joe Labozzetta)

Largest gain: Strategic Risk (re-entry at 12)

Largest fall: Universe (down 4)

New to Derby Power Rankings: Commandment (19), My World (20).

Returning to Derby Power Rankings: Strategic Risk (12), Nearly (17).

Removed from Derby Power Rankings: Blacksmith (17th last week), Soldier N Diplomat (18th last week), Golden Tempo (19th last week), Chip Honcho (20th last week).

KENTUCKY OAKS POWER RANKINGS

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

TwinSpires Horse Profiles: Super Corredora

2. Explora (2, no change)

Was set to return to racing in the Santa Ynez on Saturday, but California’s rain put paid to that race. Hopefully, we get to see her again in the near future.

TwinSpires Horse Profiles: Explora

6. Dazzling Dame (new entry)

The field for the Busanda at Aqueduct wasn’t the deepest on Saturday, but it produced a standout performance from Dazzling Dame. Below her best when the Oaks trail began in the Pocahontas (G3) in September, Dazzling Dame got her mojo back when winning the White Clay Creek S. at Delaware Park in October over subsequent Demoiselle (G2) runner-up Jumping the Gun, and the Busanda showed she’s not just a Mid-Atlantic player.

TwinSpires Horse Profiles: Dazzling Dame