Kentucky Derby Top 50: Awaiting the big horses’ returns

This weekend’s slate of races featured a handful of maiden and allowance winners who look poised to run on the 2018 Kentucky Derby trail. The performances, however, weren’t enough to crack our Kentucky Derby Top 50 made up of more established horses.

That same mindset’s reflected in the top five spots. Leaders Good Magic, Bolt d’Oro, Solomini, Enticed and Catholic Boy are still awaiting their 3-year-old debuts. The likely 2-year-old champ Bolt d’Oro and Solomini, second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, haven’t even yet worked.

It’s safe to say HRN readers are patiently awaiting more.

Meanwhile, the New Year’s prep winners — No. 6 Mask (Mucho Macho Man Stakes), No. 9 McKinzie (Sham Stakes) and No. 10 Instilled Regard (Lecomte Stakes) — each tout high rankings.

One horse entered the top 20 spots, essentially an early projection of who could fill out the gate on the first Saturday in May, as The Tabulator advanced to No. 16 following news that he had returned to training toward a prep.

Last Monday’s Smarty Jones Stakes topper Mourinho, rose to No. 21, with his standing not nearly as high as his counterparts to visit the winner’s circle recently.

The Kentucky Derby 2018 Top 50 rankings are assembled based ratings set by HRN readers. To up or downvote a horse, simply hit register at the top of our website to begin. The list is updated hourly.