Although the next Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers are nearly three weeks away, our Rookie Rankings continue to shift as lightly raced 2-year-olds rise and fall in lower-profile races.

The latest name to join the rankings is Bletchley in the No. 6 slot. He’s a beautifully bred son of 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner out of 2021 Beaumont Stakes winner Twenty Carat, a daughter of perennial leading sire Into Mischief.

Very likely in part because of his standout pedigree, Bletchley sold for $1.55 million as a yearling. Under the care trainer Chad Brown, Bletchley turned in a lengthy series of workouts in advance of his debut in a one-mile maiden special weight raceat Belmont Park Nov.6, and the bay colt delivered on race day with a resounding victory.

Indeed, Bletchley crushed his five opponents, swooping from fifth place to seize command in the homestretch and dominate by 7 3/4 lengths. He reached the finish line in the promising time of 1:35.12.

Brown has yet to win the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, but he’s saddled a trio of top-three finishers, including Sierra Leone, the runner-up by a nose in the 2024 Derby. Sierra Leone debuted with a stretch-running victory in a one-mile maiden special weight race on Nov. 4 at Aqueduct, so Bletchley is starting his career in a similar manner. We believe he has lots of talent and upside, hence his debut in the Rookie Rankings.

To make way for Bletchley, we’ve dropped American Soul, who ranked #8 last week. The Japan-based runner won his Oct. 12 debut, but disappointed in the Mochinoki Sho allowance racing 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) at Kyoto on Sunday, tiring to finish fifth by 2 3/4 lengths. He’ll need a rebound if he’s going to factor on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

One horse who nearly returned to the Rookie Rankings is Hullabaloo Ray Ray, who ranked No. 10 in the Oct. 12 edition. He was knocked out of the Oct. 19 list by American Soul and hasn’t made the Top 10 since, but Hullabaloo Ray Ray impressed in a $110,000 allowance-optional claimer racing one mile at Aqueduct on Sunday, tracking the pace in second place before taking over to win by 9 1/2 lengths in 1:35.45. If our Rookie Rankings contained 11 or 12 names, we’d find a spot for Hullabaloo Ray Ray.

Here’s how this week’s Rookie Rankings shape up:

1. U. S. S. Valor: The Daily Racing Form reports U. S. S. Valor is targeting a return to action on Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park, with the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes and the Swale Stakes under consideration.

Owner: Team Valor International

Trainer: Shug McGaughey

Last Race: 1st, Grade 1 Champagne Stakes, Oct. 3

2. Hughes: Closed as the 8-1 second individual choice behind U. S. S. Valor (6-1) in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1.

Owner: Front Row Club, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Albaugh Family Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Last Race: 1st, Grade 1 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Oct. 30

3. Endrush: Could become the second Kentucky Derby starter trained by Eddie Kenneally, following Santiva, who finished sixth in 2011.

Owner: Green Lantern Stables

Trainer: Eddie Kenneally

Last Race: 1st, Maiden Special Weight, Sept. 10

4. American History: He’ll aim for the Holy Bull Stakes per the Daily Racing Form.

Owner: WinStar Farm, First Go Racing, and CHC

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Last Race: 2nd, Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Oct. 30

Salahudin wins Street Sense (Candice Chavez/Eclipse Sportswire)

5. Salahudin: On “At the Races with Steve Byk,” trainer Bob Baffert revealed Salahudin is under consideration for the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs.

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Last Race: 3rd, Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Oct. 30

6. Bletchley: Brown has saddled two runners-up in the Kentucky Derby. Can Bletchley become his first winner?

Owner: Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, and Brook Smith

Trainer: Chad Brown

Last Race: 1st, Maiden Special Weight, Nov. 6

7. Fools Rush In: Worked half a mile in :48.40 on Saturday at Churchill Downs, his first timed exercise since his big maiden win.

Owner: Jackpot Farm and Spendthrift Farm

Trainer: Brad Cox

Last Race: 1st, Maiden Special Weight, Oct. 25

Powerline win Oct. 31 maiden race at Keeneland (Coady Media)

8. Powerline: He’s been held in high regard for some time, if the $1.8 million price tag he commanded as a yearling is any indication.

Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds, John C. Oxley, Summer Wind Equine, and Bee Zee

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Last Race: 1st, Maiden Special Weight, Oct. 31

9. Mystik Bayou: Returned to serious training with a half-mile workout in :48.60 on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Owner: Four G Racing, Lance Gasaway, and Daniel Hamby III

Trainer: Kenny McPeek

Last Race: 3rd, Grade 3 Street Sense Stakes, Oct. 25

10. Jas: As a son of Justify out of a mare by Giant’s Causeway, Jas is bred to relish the Kentucky Derby’s 1 1/4-mile distance.

Owner: Red Lane Thoroughbreds

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Last Race: 1st, Grade 3 Street Sense Stakes, Oct. 25