Triple Crown

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First Edition of Rookie Rankings for 2027 Kentucky Derby Prospects

The Road to the 2027 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve is underway, and every Monday through the end of December, Rookie Rankings will analyze potential contenders for the first Saturday in May and rank them in a Top 10 list.

Identifying a Kentucky Derby winner this far in advance isn’t easy. Next year’s Kentucky Derby starters are only 2 years old right now. Seven of the last 10 Derby winners were unraced at this point in their juvenile or “rookie” year, and two others were winless.

Miss Monica, Del Mar Debutante, Del Mar, horse racing, America's Best Racing, ABR

Rookie Rankings: Five 2-Year-Olds You Need to Know From the 2026 Del Mar Summer Meet

Which 2-year-old Thoroughbreds delivered the most impressive performances during the 2026 summer season at Del Mar?

Del Mar’s summer meet often yields serious contenders for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and next year’s Triple Crown races. If the numerous flashy 2-year-old winners we witnessed over the past two months are any indications, that trend will continue.

U. S. S. Valor, Saratoga Race Course, Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Kentucky Derby, Triple Crown, horse racing, America's Best Racing, ABR

Rookie Rankings: Five 2-Year-Old Prospects to Watch From 2026 Saratoga Meet

During two-plus months of exciting summer racing at Saratoga Race Course, we witnessed many talented 2-year-old Thoroughbreds deliver eye-catching victories suggesting they’re serious prospects for the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, 2027 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, and 2027 Kentucky Oaks.

Which of these rising stars impressed the most? In reverse order, here’s how we rank the top five 2-year-olds who raced during the 2026 summer at Saratoga:

Salahudin, Bob Baffert, 2026 Iroquois Stakes, Road to the 2027 Kentucky Derby

Baffert ‘Big Baby’ Salahudin Wins Iroquois in First Prep on Road to 2027 Kentucky Derby

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert believed that Salahudin, his favorite for the $300,000 Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes, would appreciate stretching out to a mile and every inch of the long Churchill Downs stretch. That statement turned out to be prophetic.

TV, television, radio, streaming, Woodbine, Mile, Iroquois, Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, Kentucky Downs, Gulfstream Park, Meadowlands, Louisiana Downs, Laurel Park, Byk, HRRN, FOX Sports, FanDuel TV, RTN, horse racing, ABR

Where to Watch/Listen: Horse Racing Coverage Sept. 9-13

The 2026 Labor Day holiday weekend featured top-class horse racing across the country, marking the conclusion of successful summer meets at Saratoga, Del Mar, and Colonial Downs. The upcoming week and weekend is highlighted by a sensational racecard Saturday, Sept.

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