This weekend marks a lull in preparatory races leading to the Kentucky Derby, with the only significant race being the $50,000.00 Mountain Valley Stakes at Oaklawn Park, an ungraded six-furlong sprint.

Preps resume with an explosion next weekend with the Fountain of Youth and Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream, the John Battaglia Stakes at Tampa and the Robert Lewis Stakes at beautiful Santa Anita.

This natural break in the action provides an ideal time to assess who's who on the three-year old trail. Let's get to it!

No. 1 Nobiz Like Showbiz: This colt is the real deal and if he has a weakness, it hasn't shown yet. Until another beats him, there is no doubt he is the classiest of the lot. This stalker can move and has literally forced all comers to eat his dust.

No. 2 Circular Quay: His Risen Star run is a throw-out as his skilled handling under John Velazquez saved the life of James Graham who fell off of Slew's Tizzy. He finished a distant second to Street Sense in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile but has kept in training, a practice which seemingly half the trainers out there seem to feel is unimportant. Until he fails, he will remain with the cream of the crop.

No.3 Great Hunter: Unproven and untried this year, he is a horse of tremendous talent who has already competed against some of the top runners last year with a significant degree of success. His third in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile merits his current ranking.

No. 4 Ravel: After earning a 102 Speed Figure in Santa Anita's Sham Stakes earlier this month, he is another stalker who can seal the deal. The Sham was a "head-bobbing thriller" according to announcer Trevor Denman, and was one of the better preps this year. Ravel ran outside of Liquidity and was going away as he hit the wire. One of the few colts out there who will have no problem with distance.

No. 5 Street Sense: Sure, his crushing BC Juvenile romp was one for the ages and readers everywhere will question his ranking here, especially behind Circular Quay and Great Hunter. I need to see more proof of his ability before I rank him second to Nobiz Like Showbiz. Can he really be this good or did he receive the rail dream trip of a lifetime?

No.6 Notional: Unlike Quay, Hunter and Street Sense, this colt has done the work to earn the right to be here. All he has done is win the San Rafael and Risen Star Stakes. At first a troubled horse with potential, but also some issues, he loves his blinkers. He deserves more credit than he is given. You've got to love a horse who goes out there and earns it!

No. 7 Liquidity: Second to Ravel in the Sham, this colt ran a 100 Speed Figure. He needs to relax and run a bit off the pace, the only difference between him and Ravel. He is another competitor who likes his blinkers.

No. 8 Scat Daddy: Lately it seems as if every critic has nothing positive to say about this son of Johannesburg. Questions linger about his ability to cope with distance. He has not won in quite a while, but he has finished in the money almost every time. Does anyone remember that he beat Nobiz Like Showbiz in the Champagne Stakes?

No. 9 Zanjero: Third in the Risen Star, he carries some promise and potential. He must prove himself in his next race. Considered too slow by many.

No. 10. Drums of Thunder: His Holy Bull effort earlier this month was the stuff champions are made of. After splitting Nobiz Like Showbiz and Scat Daddy, he blasted down the stretch and gave Nobiz a run for his money, something few have done. Needs to run another monster race to move to top five.

Honorable Mention: Any Given Saturday, Adore the Gold, Grapelli, Summer Doldrums, Teuflesberg, Hard Spun : These boys need to run against better competition and win.

Prove it to me: Stormello, CP West, Buffalo Man, Birdistheword