2022 Kentucky Derby Rankings 2/17/2022: Classic Causeway Makes Major Statement

Welcome to the 2022 Kentucky Derby Rankings! Each week leading up to the race, we will provide our Top 20 Kentucky Derby Prospects, as well as updates with the latest news on each horse.

You can also visit our Kentucky Derby page for loads of information, including the latest news, rankings, prep race schedules, the Kentucky Derby point standings, and much more!

2022 Kentucky Derby

Let’s take a look at our latest list leading up to this weekend’s Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds:

1. Messier

Pros: Multiple graded stakes winner; 103 Beyer in recent victory

Cons: Lost to Slow Down Andy

Outlook: He put up the first “wow” performance of the year when he come home victories in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) by 15-lengths. However, he’s trained by Baffert, so who knows if he’ll even be in the Kentucky Derby when all is said on done. Regardless, he set the standard with that victory, and they all have to prove they’re up to his level as of right now.

2022 Kentucky Derby Contenders: Messier

2. Smile Happy

Pros: Perfect record; graded stakes victory over the Churchill Downs surface; horses he beat keep coming back and winning

Cons: Speed figures still a bit low

Outlook: His Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) victory was pretty impressive, while many of the runners behind him have come back to win. He showed a burst of speed late in both starts so far. We’ll see him in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds for his 2022 debut.

2022 Kentucky Derby Contenders: Smile Happy

3. Emmanuel

Pros: Solid debut effort at Gulfstream Park; followed up with an easy Tampa Bay allowance victory

Cons: Speed figure aren’t flashy; still no stakes experience

Outlook: This horse has looked ultra-impressive in both of his starts, and has the look of being Todd Pletcher’s best horse. Stakes company will definitely be next.

2022 Kentucky Derby Contenders: Emmanuel

4. Classic Causeway

Pros: Second in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), which is becoming a key race; impressive win in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3)

Cons: Speed figures still a tad low

Outlook: He put his early speed on display in a major way at Tampa Bay Downs in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3), going fast early and still having plenty of kick late. He is a primetime contender moving forward after that performance.

5. White Abarrio

Pros: Only loss came to our second ranked horse; showed improvement in 2022 debut Holy Bull Stakes (G3) victory

Cons: All wins have come at Gulfstream Park.

Outlook: This colt stamped himself as a player with a pretty easy and dominant win in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park. His early running style is what you need to win the Kentucky Derby (G1).

2022 Kentucky Derby Contenders: White Abarrio

6. Epicenter

Pros: Three solid races in a row; has the early speed needed to be in position

Cons: Recent loss to a 28/1 shot in the Lecomte Stakes (G3)

Outlook: There is still a lot to like about this Steve Asmussen runner, despite the recent runner-up effort in the Lecomte Stakes (G3). He did the dirty work in that one, and should improve as the distances get longer. We’ll see him this weekend in the Risen Star Stakes (G2).

2022 Kentucky Derby Contenders: Epicenter

7. Slow Down Andy

Pros: Improved greatly in his last start; distance pedigree; defeated our #1 ranked horse.

Cons: Other than 1 race, he’s looked extremely average

Outlook: If his Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) win wasn’t a fluke and he can build off of that effort, then he will be a factor. We’ll see him in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) this weekend at Fair Grounds.

8. Newgrange

Pros: Three straight wins; speed figures are close to what the top group has earned

Cons: Didn’t take a step forward in the Southwest Stakes (G3)

Outlook: There is nothing wrong with being three for three, but he didn’t look flashy in the Southwest Stakes (G3), even though it was a gritty win. He did not seem to like that track at all, which played a factor.

2022 Kentucky Derby Contenders: Newgrange

9. Forbidden Kingdom

Pros: Very impressive win in the San Vicente Stakes (G2); tremendous trainer

Cons: Unproven around two turns

Outlook: There is no doubt this horse took a major step forward in his San Vicente Stakes (G2) victory. Now, he must show he can do that around two turns in his next challenge, which will likely be the San Felipe Stakes (G2).

2022 Kentucky Derby Contenders: Forbidden Kingdom

10. Simplification

Pros: Earned solid speed figure in recent win; has a distance pedigree; showed versatility in recent start

Cons: Has been inconsistent; struggled out of the gate in last start

Outlook: He may have been the best horse in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3), but we’ll never know, after a bad break from the gate found him in last. He still ran well to recover and finish second in that race, though.

2022 Kentucky Derby Contenders: Simplification

11. Mo Donegal

Pros: Excellent pedigree; victory going long

Cons: Unimpressive speed figures; Remsen winner hasn’t done much in a long time on the Derby Trail; third in 2022 debut 

Outlook: Even though he was third in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3), that race was a little short for him, but should set him up well for his next start. He has a bit more talent than the other recent Remsen Stakes (G2) winners, so you need to take him seriously moving forward.

12. Charge It

Pros: Extremely impressive maiden victory at Gulfstream Park

Cons: Lack of experience; timing isn’t ideal

Outlook: There is no doubt he became a major threat in this crop after an impressive maiden special weight victory at Gulfstream Park. However, he now must move right to a major prep race, which is not going to be an easy task.

2022 Kentucky Derby Contenders: Charge It

13. Call Me Midnight

Pros: Solid victory in the Lecomte Stakes (G3); Solid trainer

Cons: Several losses on the resume; running style

Outlook: He threw his name into the hat with an impressive victory in the Lecomte Stakes (G3); however, his running style of coming from behind will always leave him with a lot to do.

2022 Kentucky Derby Contenders: Call Me Midnight

14. Early Voting

Pros: Undefeated 2 for 2; win at 1 1/8 miles

Cons: Speed figures are low; no wins outside of Aqueduct

Outlook: His Withers Stakes (G3) victory was solid enough; however, he will have to step his game up when facing better competition.

2022 Kentucky Derby Contenders: Early Voting

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15. Zandon

Pros: Solid in both of his starts so far; should improve

Cons: Low speed figures

Outlook: His runner-up effort in the Remsen Stakes (G2) was impressive considering it was his first time going two turns. If he can improve, he might be one that can rise up the rankings. Let’s see what he does this weekend in the Risen Star Stakes (G2).

16. Pappacap

Pros: Consistent runner; Grade 2 winner

Cons: Four clear losses when running against solid competition

Outlook: He seems like the type that will hit the board in a lot of races, but might not be good enough to win one of the big ones. Until proven otherwise, that is how we’re going to label him. We’ll see him this weekend in the Risen Star Stakes (G2).

17. In Due Time

Pros: Impressive victory last time; should be good going two-turns

Cons: No stakes experience; figures a smidge below the top ones

Outlook: Let’s see if this impressive allowance winner can crank it up a notch and successfully take on stakes company next time out. He looks ready to give it a try.

2022 Kentucky Derby Contenders: In Due Time

18. Chasing Time

Pros: Impressive win going two turns; solid pedigree

Cons: Speed figures are still low

Outlook: He made a name for himself with an impressive win against allowance runners at Oaklawn Park. Now, he will likely go to the Rebel Stakes (G2), where he will have to prove he can do it against tougher competition.

2022 Kentucky Derby Contenders: Chasing Time

19. Doppelganger

Pros: Solid debut effort at Los Alamitos

Cons: Off the board finish against stakes horses

Outlook: This horse looked pretty professional on debut, sitting a little off the pace, and then pouncing late for an easy debut victory. However, he didn’t look nearly as good in the San Vicente Stakes (G2), but that race could have been a little short for him. He’s still a player until we see him around two turns.

2022 Kentucky Derby Contenders: Doppelganger

20. Corniche

Pros: Undefeated; Bob Baffert; Champion Juvenile

Cons: Speed figures are low; competition he’s faced has looked bad; still no workouts since the BC.

Outlook: He’ll be the champion 2-year-old with ease while being the clear Kentucky Derby favorite heading into 2022. However, the level of competition that he has faced isn’t great, plus he still hasn’t worked since before the Breeders’ Cup. We’ve moved him all the way down to this spot because of the lack or works.