There’s a new number 1 in our Kentucky Derby 3- year-old rankings, but it’s not the way you want to see it happen.

Formerly top-ranked Life is Good has been declared out of the Santa Anita Derby and Kentucky Derby after coming out of a workout with something wrong. That pulls him off the list for now, as the connections have said while they think the problem may be minor, there’s no way the horse will make the Derby(s).

Essential Quality inherits the top spot on the list, which is where he started the year. EQ has done nothing wrong to date, though I want to see a jump forward on the Beyer speed scale in his next to confirm his ranking, and forward progress from age 2 to age 3.

The star of the weekend was Hot Rod Charlie, who took his show on the road to Louisiana and was a convincing winner of the Louisiana Derby. His Beyer took the requisite step forward with a 99, and his pressing style fits well in the chaos that is the first Saturday in May. Its rare that we see the 1-2 finishers from the Breeders Cup Juvenile still sitting at the top of the class at this time of year, but so far, that race has stood up.

Based on Charlie and Concert Tour’s recent wins, there is little doubt in my mind that the California horses are currently the top of the 3-year-old class. With that said, I’ve jumped Concert Tour up ahead of Medina Spirit (though its a coin flip between them), and slid Greatest Honour down a spot, as he still needs to run faster to be a serious Kentucky Derby contender. He’s 4-5 lengths behind Hot Rod Charlie at this point.

Further cheekiness ensues, as we slide Dream Shake and Rombauer into the top 10. Dream Shake will appreciate not chasing Life is Good, and should be getting better as the distance increases.

Rombauer was my paddock pick for the Derby after seeing him work for the BC Juvenile last fall. He’s a big, rangy sort that looks like he’ll relish the longer distances, and his win in the El Camino Real shows he’s game. Like several above, he will need a speed figure jump, but with two months to improve off his last, I’ll tip him now.

Mandaloun clings to the bottom of the list. I though the ride was atrocious in the Louisiana Derby, he was kept wide throughout and lacked the needed punch in the lane. With 52 points on the Derby Points List he should be safely in the Derby field, but it’s not a particularly convincing way to go in. However, you could have some wise guy angles to jump the horse forward in may.