Kentucky Derby Power Rankings - I Want Revenge Jumps to the Top

The Kentucky Derby is less than three weeks away now that both the Bluegrass and the Arkansas Derby have finished running.

General Quarters, the winner of the Bluegrass Stakes, and Papa Clem, the winner of the Arkansas Derby are both worthy contenders for the roses on the First Saturday in May. But the top horse on the power rankings, I Want Revenge, will enter the starting gate at Churchill Downs as a solid favorite.

Let’s get to the BetUS Kentucky Derby Power Rankings

Kentucky Derby Power Rankings

1. I Want Revenge +400 - - 4 to 1 on a horse in a race three weeks out might seem like short odds, but if I Want Revenge keeps his form and is able to duplicate his incredible victory in the Wood Memorial, he might be the best horse to enter the Kentucky Derby starting gate in a very long time. The colt won by 8 ½ lengths in the Gotham before coming from 7 ½ behind, and then getting momentarily stopped in the lane, in the Wood Memorial. Such versatility is rare in horses these days. He’s the deserving favorite going into the Kentucky Derby.

2. Pioneer of the Nile +600 - - The Santa Anita Derby winner doesn’t have the best speed ratings out of the contenders, but once he switches to dirt he might improve enough to challenge I Want Revenge in the Kentucky Derby. The son of Empire Maker is also a versatile sort that could be peaking under the careful hand of three time Kentucky Derby winning trainer, Bob Baffert.

3. Quality Road +500 - - Rival Dunkirk may or may not make the race, even though Dunkirk is too good to leave off of the list, but Quality Road might be better anyhow. Forget whatever some horse racing enthusiasts are saying about Quality Road getting a dream trip and a favorable track in the Florida Derby. The truth about Quality Road is that he’s flat out good. Sired by Elusive Quality and out of a Strawberry Roan mare, Quality Road has been nothing short of fantastic in his short career. He’s a serious player that BetUS racebook fans should think about betting to win the Kentucky Derby.

4. Regal Ransom +2500 - - I still believe that out of the two Godolphin invaders the winner of the UAE Derby, Regal Ransom, is the better pick than his stable mate Desert Party. Not only did Regal Ransom win the UAE Derby, but he’s sired by Distorted Humor, the sire of 2003 Kentucky Derby winner, Funny Cide. Both Regal Ransom and Desert Party are now in Kentucky and both of them have a shot to wear the roses in the First Saturday in May.

5. Papa Clem +1200 - - There is going to be some debate as to who is the better horse, Papa Clem, who won the Arkansas Derby, or General Quarters, who won the Bluegrass Stakes. I’m going with Papa Clem because he went wide around the first turn in the Arkansas Derby, contested the pace for the first half mile, dropped off the pace, and then ran past Old Fashioned in the lane. Papa Clem is a definite up and comer who deserves serious consideration for Derby honors.

6. Friesan Fire +600 - - Friesan Fire has a shot to win the Kentucky Derby but while the rest of the horses on the list will have run in their final preps five weeks or less before entering the starting gate at Churchill Downs, Friesan Fire will have had 6 weeks in between the Louisiana Derby and the Kentucky Derby. That could seriously work against him, but there’s no denying his talent, connections, and breeding. He’s still worth a long look in the racebook, but horseplayers have to take the 6 weeks into consideration.