The final few weeks of 2025 are a busy time on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. Seven qualifiers are taking place in two countries between Nov. 29 and Dec. 20.

Throughout December, we’ll track the developments with our Rookie Rankings. This is a weekly Top 10 list of 2-year-old Thoroughbreds ranked by their potential to win the $5 million Kentucky Derby next spring on May 2. It’s based less on accomplishments to date and more on intuitive, subjective impressions of talent, pedigree, and long-term upside.

The first Rookie Rankings of December is influenced by the results of two recent Kentucky Derby qualifiers in the U.S. and Japan. Stateside, Further Ado impressed in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs, rallying with determination to beat an accomplished field.

Halfway around the world in Japan, Satono Voyage made an excellent impression in the Cattleya Stakes, the first leg of the four-race Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Here’s how our debut Rookie Rankings stack up:

Ted Noffey defeats Mr. A. P. (Eclipse Sportswire)

1. Ted Noffey: Unbeaten three-time Grade 1 winner has conquered all comers for two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher.

Owner: Spendthrift Farm

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Last Race: 1^st, FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by TAA, Oct. 31 at Del Mar.

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2. Further Ado: Earned his first career win by 20 lengths, then battled to victory over more experienced rivals in the Kentucky Jockey Club.

Owner: Spendthrift Farm

Trainer: Brad Cox

Last Race: 1^st, Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs.

Katsumi Saito

3. Satono Voyage: Japanese star is 3-for-3 on dirt and led all the way to beat a promising field in the Cattleya Stakes.

Owner: Hajime Satomi

Trainer: Hiroyasu Tanaka

Last Race: 1^st, Cattleya Stakes, Nov. 29 at Tokyo Racecourse.

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4. Englishman: Broke his maiden by 7 ¼ lengths over next-out winner White Tiger, earning strong speed figures. He’s currently taking a break from serious training.

Owner: C R K Stable

Trainer: Cherie DeVaux

Last Race: 1^st, maiden special weight, Sept. 19 at Churchill Downs.

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5. Blackout Time: Runaway maiden winner ran well against Ted Noffey in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, finishing second by 2 ¾ lengths.

Owners: Brookdale Racing, Lance Gasaway, and Magdalena Racing

Trainer: Kenny McPeek

Last Race: 2^nd, Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, Oct. 4 at Keeneland Race Course.

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6. Mr. A. P.: Up-and-coming son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah was beaten only one length by Ted Noffey in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Owners: Holly Wilson and David Wilson

Trainer: Vladimir Cerin

Last Race: 2^nd, FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by TAA, Oct. 31 at Del Mar.

Adam Coglianese/NYRA

7. Napoleon Solo: Set a blazing pace on his way to dominating the Champagne Stakes by 6 ½ lengths. Must prove he can carry his speed around two turns.

Owner: Gold Square

Trainer: Chad Summers

Last Race: 1^st, Champagne Stakes, Oct. 4 at Belmont at the Big A.

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8. Cannoneer: Smashed a seven-furlong Churchill Downs maiden special weight by 7 ¼ lengths in the fast time of 1:21.63. His pedigree suggests he’ll stretch out in distance.

Owners: St. Elias Stable and Stonestreet Stables

Trainer: Brad Cox

Last Race: 1^st, maiden special weight, Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs.

Eclipse Sportswire

9. Boyd: Beat a quality field of sprinters in the Ed Brown Stakes, bringing his record to 2-for-2 for six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert.

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Last Race: 1^st, Ed Brown Stakes, Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs.

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10. Paladin: Clocked fast finishing fractions to win a one-mile maiden special weight at Aqueduct via disqualification.

Owners: Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook Smith, and Summer Wind Equine

Trainer: Chad Brown

Last Race: 1^st, maiden special weight, Oct. 17 at Belmont at the Big A.