Kentucky Derby 2022 Kentucky Derby Rankings 4/28/2022: Final Rankings of the Season April 28, 2022 Epicenter (Hodges Photography;/ Lou Hodges Jr.) Kentucky Derby 2022 Kentucky Derby Rankings 4/28/2022: Final Rankings of the Season April 28, 2022 By: Aaron Halterman twitterfacebooklinkedinemail Share: share on facebook share on twitter share on linkedin email this article Welcome to the final 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. I want to thank everyone for reading this all year long. It’s always bitter sweet when we hit this point in the season, with this being the last set of rankings of the year. We’ll have PICKS next week! Visit our Kentucky Derby page for the latest news, rankings, prep race schedules, the Kentucky Derby point standings, and much more! 1. Epicenter Pros: Five solid races in a row; improving with each race as distances get longer; 102 Beyer in the Louisana Derby (G2); showed he can rate and still be effective Cons: Upset in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) by a 28-1 shot. Outlook: This horse just keeps improving with each race, and is currently the leader in the clubhouse in my eyes with two weeks to go. There is no doubt a horse like Messier could take over the #1 spot on April 9, but as of right now, this would be my pick to win the Kentucky Derby (G1). His ability to rate off the speed, take dirt in his face, and still kick on to an easy Louisiana Derby (G2) victory was very impressive. Get To Know: 2022 Kentucky Derby Contender Epicenter 2. Zandon Pros: Improving with each start; speed figures are close to the top two; Flavien Prat/Chad Brown Cons: Running style; lightly races with only four starts. Outlook: Chad Brown always has his best horses ready to fire in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), which was no different with this horse, as he went from last to first after a perfect ride from Flavien Prat. His running is not ideal for the Kentucky Derby (G1); however, he goes to Kentucky with a shot. Get To Know: 2022 Kentucky Derby Contender Zandon 3. Messier Pros: Multiple graded stakes winner; 103 Beyer in Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) win; solid second in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) Cons: Lost to Slow Down Andy at age 2; lost to a horse with only one start under his belt in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) Outlook: He ran well in the Santa Anita Derby (G1); however, there is no doubt it was a tough loss to suffer against a horse that had just one race under his belt. He also was defeated pretty soundly by the winner, which is not great. He must improve in the Kentucky Derby (G1) to have a chance. Get To Know: 2022 Kentucky Derby Contender Messier 4. Taiba Pros: Back to back 100+ beyer speed figures; won a Grade 1 race in his second start; immense talent Cons: Must win the Kentucky Derby (G1) after 2 starts; no races as a 2-year-old; only one workout between his final prep and the Kentucky Derby. Outlook: He sure did make things complicated with his win in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). Despite having only one race under his belt, he was able to defeat an established horse in Messier, putting him away in late stretch. It will be tough to beat him if he can repeat that effort. However, he’ll have only one work between his final start and the Kentucky Derby (G1), which is not a good sign. Get To Know: 2022 Kentucky Derby Contender Taiba 5. White Abarrio Pros: Only loss came to Smile Happy at age 2; showed improvement in 2022 debut Holy Bull Stakes (G3) victory; looked just as impressive in the Florida Derby (G1). 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, followed by another impressive victory in the Florida Derby (G1). His early running style is what you need to win the Kentucky Derby (G1), and he showed he can finish well despite a wide trip. Get To Know: 2022 Kentucky Derby Contender White Abarrio 6. Simplification Pros: Won despite a poor trip in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2); has a distance pedigree; showed versatility in three two starts Cons: Has been inconsistent; struggles out of the gate will cost him in a large field; speed figures a bit low Outlook: It’s very difficult to win as a closer going 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park, but he did it in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) after enduring yet another rough trip. He had a better trip in the Florida Derby (G1) but was unable to defeat tougher horses, yet still has a shot to make an impact in the Kentucky Derby (G1) after showing toughness all year long. Get To Know: 2022 Kentucky Derby Contender Simplification 7. Mo Donegal Pros: Excellent pedigree; 2 victories going 1 1/8 miles; fires every time Cons: Running style not ideal; speed figures still a tad low Outlook: There is no doubt his Wood Memorial (G2) victory was impressive; however, his running style will put him behind the eight ball in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Still, he is very consistent, and should show up with a solid effort at Churchill Downs. Get To Know: 2022 Kentucky Derby Contender Mo Donegal 8. Smile Happy Pros: Graded stakes victory over the Churchill Downs surface; consistent runner Cons: Zero wins as a 3-year-old; questionable going longer; connections Outlook: He was solid in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), but was no match for the winner, which is the second time in a row he didn’t really threaten to win. This horse still possesses a lot of talent but might be a cut below the best. Get To Know: 2022 Kentucky Derby Contender Smile Happy 9. Cyberknife Pros: Solid recent speed figure in victory; has shown a high talent level; picked up first stakes win in the Arkansas Derby (G1) Cons: Still very green even in his stakes win; inconsistent; was assigned a fairly low 92 Beyer Speed Figure for his victory Outlook: It’s nice to see him coming together nicely with each race, which was put on display with a nice win in the Arkansas Derby (G1). He still has some improving to do to make an impact in Kentucky, but his early running style will put him in the game early. Get To Know: 2022 Kentucky Derby Contender Cyberknife 10. Charge It Pros: Second in his first stakes effort; showed heart despite a less than ideal trip; room to improve Cons: Was very green in the stretch of the Florida Derby (G1); asking him to do a lot in a little amount of time Outlook: His Florida Derby (G1) effort was impressive, especially for his first match up against stakes company, but he was pretty green in the stretch. There is a lot to straighten out with him heading to Kentucky, and that will only be his fourth career start. Get To Know: 2022 Kentucky Derby Contender Charge It 11. Zozos Pros: Improved again in his third start; running second to Epicenter is solid for his stakes debut Cons: Lightly raced could lead to a tough trip in the Kentucky Derby (G1) Outlook: Brad Cox looks to have a good developing horses here, who ran well to finish second in his stakes debut in the Louisiana Derby (G2). His early running style at least gives him a shot at making an impact in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Get To Know: 2022 Kentucky Derby Contender Zozos 12. Early Voting Pros: Solid early speed; win at 1 1/8 miles; a neck away from being 3 for 3 Cons: Speed figures are low; no wins outside of Aqueduct; lost despite a solid trip in the Wood Memorial (G2). Outlook: His Withers Stakes (G3) victory was solid enough; however, he just couldn’t quite hold on in the Wood Memorial (G2), running second to Mo Donegal. His early running style will give him a shot to hit the board, though. Get To Know: 2022 Kentucky Derby Contender Early Voting 13. Tiz the Bomb Pros: Has won two races in a row; earned a solid speed figure in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) Cons: Has not been good on the dirt; the Kentucky Derby (G1) is still run on the dirt Outlook: If the surface changes to turf or synthetic before the first Saturday in May for the Kentucky Derby (G1), this horse has a big chance. If it doesn’t, it probably won’t go well for him. Get To Know: 2022 Kentucky Derby Contender Tiz the Bomb 14. Crown Pride Pros: Japan is dominating on a world stage Cons: The UAE Derby winner has struggled in the Kentucky Derby (G1); his UAE Derby (G2) win looked slow visually Outlook: He earned his shot by winning the UAE Derby (G2), but that race has not produced much as far as the Kentucky Derby (G1) goes. However, we’ll see what happens as the Japanese horses have been dominating as of late. Get To Know: 2022 Kentucky Derby Contender Crown Pride 15. Tawny Port Pros: Brad Cox; recent victory on the dirt Cons: Dirt win still produced a low Beyer speed figure; was a clear second in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3). Outlook: There is no doubt we can think a little higher of him now after a nice win in the Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland. Still, the Beyer came back light abd the race was not visually impressive. He will have to move forward to have a chance. Get To Know: 2022 Kentucky Derby Contender Tawny Port 16. Classic Causeway Pros: Multiple wins this season; solid running style for the race Cons: Speed figures are low; poor effort in his final prep; hasn’t beaten much. Outlook: After saying they would “take a pass” on the Kentucky Derby (G1), the connections decided to give him a shot after all. He’ll make an impact in the race, with a ton of early speed, but it’s questionable that he will still be around when the real running begins. 17. Happy Jack Pros: Late closing kick could be effective for underneath spots Cons: He has never been close to winning a prep race. Outlook: This one is basically in by taking advantage of the short fields out in California. He might make a run down the lane, but shouldn’t be good enough to make an impact. Get To Know: 2022 Kentucky Derby Contender Happy Jack 18. Un Ojo Pros: Nice win in the Rebel Stakes (G2) Cons: Speed figures are low; he’s faced questionable competition; struggled in the Arkansas Derby (G1) Outlook: He’s in the Derby with a win in the Rebel Stakes (G2) and a second in the Withers Stakes (G3). Nothing went right in the Arkansas Derby (G1), though, as he cut his shoulder after hitting the rail. Hopefully he recovers in time to run better in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Get To Know: 2022 Kentucky Derby Contender Un Ojo 19. Barber Road Pros: Ultra-consistent in each start this year Cons: Speed figures are low; hasn’t faced much; has failed to win all season long Outlook: He looks to be your typical “hit the board” type that come running strongly at the end, but can’t finish the deal. Still, he has earned his way into the race, and might hit the board again with a good trip. Get To Know: 2022 Kentucky Derby Contender Barber Road 20. Summer Is Tomorrow Pros: None Cons: Several Outlook: The horse got into the race by finishing second in the UAE Derby (G2), which never seems to produce much for the Kentucky Derby (G1). Get To Know: 2022 Kentucky Derby Contender Summer Is Tomorrow
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