As promised, the Rookie Rankings have undergone significant revisions following the running of three Grade 1 races for juveniles last Saturday. However, our top three candidates for the 2027 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve remain unchanged.

Topping this week’s Rookie Rankings is U. S. S. Valor, who delivered a 6 1/2-length romp in the Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park. U. S. S. Valor had to wait in traffic around the turn, but once he got clear, he took off and clocked his final furlong in a sharp :12.36 to win with authority.

Hughes dominates American Pharoah Stakes (Eclipse Sportswire)

Hughes (#2) delivered an eye-catching victory in the American Pharoah Stakes presented by DK Horse at Santa Anita Park. The unbeaten Del Mar Futurity winner rated patiently in third place before powering away from his rivals to dominate by six lengths.

Coach Pope remains #3 despite suffering a defeat in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. Running back only three weeks after smashing a maiden race by 12 1/2 lengths, Coach Pope got caught up in a speed duel, pressing testing quarter-mile fractions of :23.52, :46.54, and 1:10.52. He understandably grew leg-weary in the homestretch, but still fought on to finish second.

Gaudreau drops from #4 to #8 after tiring to finish second in the one-mile Champagne. It was a solid performance overall, but elements of Gaudreau’s pedigree suggest there’s a chance he’ll prove best competing in shorter races than the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby.

Replacing Gaudreau in the #4 spot is Mystik Bayou, a half-brother (same dam [mother], different sire [father]) to 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan. He finished third (behind U. S. S. Valor) in his Sept. 5 debut, then stretched out over 1 1/16 miles to win a maiden special weight race Saturday at Belmont. Mystik Bayou raced in second place at Belmont before finishing strongly to triumph by 4 1/4 lengths in the promising time of 1:42.03.

Q B Rocket, ranked #7 last week, climbs to #6 following a respectable third-place finish in the Breeders’ Futurity. He set the pace and fought gallantly down the stretch to finish only a neck behind Coach Pope, a solid performance given he’d only run once previously in a sprint.

American History (#7) is new to the Rookie Rankings. He capitalized on the speed duel in the Breeders’ Futurity to rally from last place and win by one length, but he’s progressing in the right direction and may continue improving.

Here’s how the latest Rookie Rankings stack up:

1. U. S. S. Valor: Reached the Champagne finish line in the quick time of 1:34.84 for one mile. Once again, he showed strong finishing speed.

Owner: Team Valor International

Trainer: Shug McGaughey

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

2. Hughes: Made a great visual impression in the American Pharoah and prevailed in the fast time of 1:43.22 for 1 1/16 miles.

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 American Pharoah Stakes, Oct. 3

3. Coach Pope: Ran a gallant race on short rest in the Breeders’ Futurity and remains a promising prospect.

Owner: Gainesway Stable, Shamrock Stables, and Michael J. Mackin

Trainer: Kenny McPeek

Last Race: 2nd, Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity, Oct. 3

4. Mystik Bayou: Stayed close to an honest pace in his maiden win but still managed to clock his final quarter-mile in :24.89 per the Equibase GPS result chart.

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

Trainer: Kenny McPeek

Last Race: 1st, Maiden Special Weight, Oct. 3

Endrush wins Sept. 10 debut (Coady Media)

5. Endrush: His dam, Ender’s Sister, has also produced two-time Grade 1-winning sprinter A. P. Indian and Indiana Derby winner Tiz Shea D.

Owner: Green Lantern Stables

Trainer: Eddie Kenneally

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

6. Q B Rocket: Carved out a contested pace in the Breeders’ Futurity and tired late but was only beaten by 1 1/4 lengths.

Owner: Spendthrift Farm and Frank Fletcher Racing Operations

Trainer: Brad Cox

Last Race: 3rd, Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity, Oct. 3

7. American History: Took advantage of a fast pace in the Breeders’ Futurity, but deserves credit for securing first place while stepping up sharply in class and distance.

Owner: WinStar Farm, First Go Racing, and CHC

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Last Race: 1st, Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity, Oct. 3

8. Gaudreau: Stayed on for second place in the Champagne but proved no match for victor U. S. S. Valor, a rival he’d previously beaten in his debut sprinting.

Owner: Tanglewood Thoroughbreds, Thirty Year Racing, Bradley Thoroughbreds, Rodeo Creek Racing, Laura Leigh Stable, and Swift Thoroughbreds

Trainer: Chad Brown

Last Race: 2nd, Grade 1 Champagne Stakes, Oct. 3

9. Salahudin: One of the runners he beat in the Iroquois, Real Goodbar, came back to finish a solid third in the Grade 2 Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes.

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Last Race: 1st, Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes, Sept. 12

10. The Good Life: The form of his Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes win took a hit when runner-up Mystrix returned to finish a distant fifth behind Mystik Bayou on Saturday.

Owner: WinStar Farm, First Go Racing, and CHC

Trainer: Brad Cox

Last Race: 1st, Grade 1 Spendthrift Farm Hopeful Stakes, Sept. 6