Based on the 13th Annual Racing Dudes Triple Crown Fantasy League Draft
Every season, the Road to the Kentucky Derby begins long before the prep races stack up points. Pedigree whispers, morning workouts, and early performances all play a role—but so does sharp opinion from seasoned handicappers.
That’s exactly what the 13th Annual Racing Dudes Triple Crown Fantasy League Draft delivers.
Twelve teams, five horses each. Sixty total selections. One collective snapshot of the 3-year-olds most likely to shape the 2026 Triple Crown picture.
This annual draft isn’t just a fantasy exercise—it’s an early roadmap. Some of these horses are already established names on the trail, others are upside plays drafted for what they could become by March or April. Historically, this draft has captured a large share of eventual Derby starters, making it a must-follow list for fans, bettors, and fantasy players alike.
Below is the full Top 60 list, ranked in draft order. Special attention should be paid to the first-round picks (Top 12), who represent the horses drafters viewed as the strongest combination of talent, reliability, and long-term upside.
Top 60 Drafted Three-Year-Olds
- Ted Noffey (First-round pick)
- Paladin (First-round pick)
- Incredibolt (First-round pick)
- Ewing (First-round pick)
- Cannoneer (First-round pick)
- Renegade (First-round pick)
- Iron Honor (First-round pick)
- Further Ado (First-round pick)
- Litmus Test (First-round pick)
- Blackout Time (First-round pick)
- Rancho Santa Fe (First-round pick)
- Provenance (First-round pick)
- Napoleon Solo
- Class President
- Englishman
- Boyd
- Universe
- Intrepido
- Brant
- Local Knowledge
- Satono Voyage
- Liberty National
- Desert Gate
- Rebel Instinct
- My World
- Courting
- Boss Dylan
- Balboa
- Commandment
- Chip Honcho
- Sockdolager
- Buetane
- D’code
- Mr. A.P.
- Confessional
- Cherokee Nation
- Epic Summer
- Blacksmith
- Oscar’s Hope
- Enforced Agenda
- Bravaro
- Waymark
- Express Kid
- White Tiger
- Schoolyard Superman
- Jackson Hole
- Stop the Car
- Mob
- Golden Tornado
- Boca Beach Club
- Remember Mamba
- Sleepingonfreedom
- Strategic Risk
- Big Dom
- Golden Tempo
- Mesquite
- Unnamed Todd Pletcher colt (full brother to Nest)
- Newton
- Silent Tactic
- Fifty Four Yarder
Was the 2026 Kentucky Derby Winner Drafted?
That’s the question every year—and part of what makes this exercise so compelling.
More often than not, the Kentucky Derby winner does appear somewhere within the Racing Dudes Fantasy Draft pool, even if not always among the first-round selections. The draft consistently captures a wide enough slice of the 3-year-old population that eventual Derby starters—and serious contenders—are rarely complete surprises.
That said, history also reminds us that Derby magic doesn’t always follow the script. Late-developing horses, lightly raced runners, and even once-overlooked longshots have found ways to crash the party in Louisville. It’s entirely possible that the 2026 Derby winner is buried deeper on this list… or wasn’t drafted at all.
And that’s what makes the Road to the Derby so unpredictable—and so much fun to follow.
As prep races unfold and the picture sharpens, we’ll find out whether this year’s roses belong to a first-round anchor, a mid-draft sleeper, or a name no one was talking about on draft night.
A Living, Evolving Picture
It’s important to remember this list reflects only the current Top 60 horses drafted on fantasy draft night. The Triple Crown trail is fluid, and the Racing Dudes Fantasy League is designed to evolve right along with it. Horses can be dropped, new horses can be claimed, and rosters will change throughout the Triple Crown season as new contenders emerge and others fall by the wayside.
The Road to the Derby is never static—and neither is this draft.
Follow along all season at RacingDudes.com as we track the prep races, roster moves, rising stars, and surprises that will ultimately decide who wears the roses in Louisville.
