The previous couple of weeks of 2025 are a busy time on the highway to the Kentucky Derby, hosted by Woodford Conservancy. Seven qualifying rounds will probably be held in two international locations from November twenty ninth to December twentieth.
We’ll be monitoring developments all through December with our Rookie Rankings. This can be a weekly high 10 listing of 2-year-old thoroughbreds ranked by their chance of successful the $5 million Kentucky Derby on Might 2 subsequent spring. This listing is predicated extra on intuitive, subjective impressions of expertise, pedigree, and long-term upside than on previous efficiency.
The primary Rookie Rankings for December will probably be influenced by the outcomes of two latest Kentucky Derby qualifiers in america and Japan. Extra hassle in America They impressed within the Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes at Churchill Downs, rallying with willpower to beat confirmed horses.
Satono Voyage Half Across the World in Japan He made an ideal impression within the Cattleya Stakes, the primary spherical of the four-race Japan Highway race main as much as the Kentucky Derby.
Listed here are our debut rookie rankings:
1. Ted Nophy: The undefeated three-time G1 winner dominated all comers for coach Todd Pletcher, a two-time Kentucky Derby winner.
Proprietor: Spendthrift Farm
coach: tod plecher
Closing race: 1centFanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Introduced by TAA, Oct. 31 Del Mar.
2. Plus further: He received his first profession victory by 20 lengths after which battled it out in opposition to a few of his extra skilled Kentucky Jockey Membership rivals.
Proprietor: Spendthrift Farm
coach: brad cox
Closing race: 1centThe Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes will probably be held at Churchill Downs on November twenty ninth.
3. Satono Voyage: The Japanese star received three races out of three on dust and led the way in which within the Cattleya Stakes, beating a promising horse.
Proprietor: Hajime Satomi
coach: Hiroyasu Tanaka
Closing race: 1centThe Cattleya Stakes will probably be held at Tokyo Racecourse on November twenty ninth.
4. British: He beat the maiden horse by 7 1/4 lengths in opposition to the following winner, White Tiger, and earned sturdy velocity figures. He’s at the moment taking a break from severe coaching.
Proprietor: CRK secure
coach: Shelley Deveaux
Closing race: 1centthe primary particular weight, on September 19 at Churchill Downs.
5.Energy outage time: The primary-time winner ran properly in opposition to Ted Nophy within the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, ending second by two and three-quarters of a size.
Proprietor: Brookdale Racing, Lance Gasaway, Magdalena Racing
coach: kenny mcpeak
Closing race: 2n.d.Claiborne Breeders Futurity, Oct. 4 at Keeneland Racetrack.
6. Mr. Apu: The up-and-coming offspring of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah misplaced by only one size to Ted Nophy within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Proprietor: Holly Wilson and David Wilson
coach: Vladimir Chelin
Closing race: 2n.d.FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Introduced by TAA, Oct. 31 Del Mar.
7. Napoleon Solo: He set a ferocious tempo and received the Champagne Stakes by six and a half lengths. He has to show he can preserve his velocity for about two turns.
Proprietor: gold sq.
coach: chad summers
Closing race: 1centChampagne Stakes, Oct. 4 Huge A’s Belmont.
8. Gunner: He received the maiden particular weight seven furlongs at Churchill Downs by 7 1/4 lengths in a quick time of 1 minute 21.63 seconds. Taking a look at his pedigree, he’ll be capable of improve his distance.
Proprietor: St Elias Stables and Stonestreet Stables
coach: brad cox
Closing race: 1centthe primary particular weight, Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs.
9.Void: He defeated high quality sprinters within the Ed Brown Stakes, bettering six-time Kentucky Derby-winning coach Bob Baffert’s file to 2-2.
Proprietor: Zedan Horse Racing Secure
coach: bob baffert
Closing race: 1centEd Brown Stakes, held at Churchill Downs on November twenty ninth.
10. Paladin: Posting quick ending minutes, he received the 1-mile maiden particular weight at Water Duct after being disqualified.
Proprietor: Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brandt, Brooke Smith, Summer time Wind Equine
coach: chad brown
Closing race: 1centVirgin Particular Weight, October 17, Belmont, Huge A.
