Ten weeks before the lineup and official odds for America’s greatest race are set, the Kentucky Derby picture may come into sharper focus in the next few days on the track and on betting platforms.

Derby future wagering resumes Thursday through Sunday at 3 p.m. PST, with Paladin an 8-1 favorite on the morning line after 3-year-old division leader Ted Noffey, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner at Del Mar, was sidelined by an injury.

Saturday’s Risen Star Stakes in Louisiana could decide if Paladin remains the Derby favorite. He’s 8-5 on the morning line for the 1⅛-mile race but has competition in Golden Tempo, Chip Honcho, Courting and others. It’s the start of the phase of Derby qualifying in which points increase from 20 to 50 for the winner.

Here’s this column’s annual ranking of 20 horses to follow as the qualifying campaign builds up to the round of major prep races that includes the April 4 Santa Anita Derby. In parentheses are morning-line odds for this week’s Kentucky Derby future betting, which offers 39 individual horses and an all-others option.

1. Nearly (10-1): Multiple Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez quickly found a replacement for Ted Noffey in this colt who’s burying opponents in Florida.

2. Further Ado (25-1): Ted Noffey owner Spendthrift Farm may have its own super sub in this Brad Cox-trained horse. Further Ado has looked brilliant (in a 20-length maiden win) and tough (in a stakes win at Churchill Downs).

3. Paladin (8-1): A son of Gun Runner, like Further Ado, the $1.9 million yearling is the top Derby prospect for leading jockey Flavien Prat. He has shown stamina but hasn’t been especially fast so far.

4. Litmus Test (40-1): Nos. 4, 5 and 6 are trained by six-time Derby winner Bob Baffert. Litmus Test broke through by winning the Los Alamitos Futurity and now aims for the March 7 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita.

5. Brant (20-1): First in the Del Mar Futurity, third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, the $3 million Gun Runner offspring has begun working toward a return in the March 1 Rebel Stakes in Arkansas.

6. Plutarch (20-1): One of several on this list by leading North American sire Into Mischief, he has matured into a Derby contender after scoring a mild upset in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday.

7. Intrepido (30-1): The American Pharoah Stakes hero at Santa Anita last fall pleased trainer Jeff Mullins with his second to Plutarch in the Lewis, his first start since a troubled fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

8. So Happy (40-1): It’ll be fun to see if Mike Smith, jockey in his 7-furlong San Vicente Stakes win at Santa Anita, is correct in saying the son of champion sprinter Runhappy can go longer. Trainer Mark Glatt is looking to the San Felipe.

9. Renegade (20-1): Two battles with Paladin set him up for a sharp win at Tampa Bay for Pletcher and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Renegade is co-leader with Silent Tactic in Derby points (25) among active horses.

10. Blackout Time (40-1): A regulatory veterinarian scratched the 5-1 morning-line third choice from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with a soundness issue. He has been working well toward a season debut in the Rebel.

11. Napoleon Solo (25-1): A runaway win in the Champagne was impressive, though maybe it’s less so as time goes by and horses he beat in that New York race come back to run poorly.

12. Commandment (25-1): By Into Mischief, like trainer Brad Cox’s 2021 Derby winner (by DQ) Mandaloun, he has eye-pleasing wins in Kentucky and Florida but must prove himself against better horses.

13. Thunderously (25-1): A strong maiden winner in Florida for Sovereignty trainer Bill Mott, who could be the first trainer with back-to-back Derby victories since Baffert with Silver Charm and Real Quiet in 1997-98.

14. Canaletto (40-1): Like Thunderously, this $1 million colt from Chad Brown’s barn has only one start but shows potential. They could be tested together in the Feb. 28 Fountain of Youth in Florida.

15. Silent Tactic (30-1): He had to pass nine horses in the stretch to win at 12-1 in Arkansas last week, a style that can win in the Derby with special talent or, well, tactical help.

16. Golden Tempo (20-1): No surprise if he stays unbeaten in the Risen Star, where the gritty colt is 3-1 morning-line second choice for trainer Cherie DeVaux and owners Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable.

17. Courting (90-1): The son of Curlin and Cavorting cost owner Whisper Hill Farm $5 million at a yearling auction and has earned back $66,850 of that in three starts. He should get better for Pletcher and is 6-1 in the Risen Star.

18. Secured Freedom (90-1): Caught favorite Desert Gate for third after a wide trip from the outside post in the 1-mile Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita, showing promise for trainer Tim Yakteen and jockey Kazushi Kimura.

19. Mesquite (75-1): He and Prat had to range widest on the turn to complete a DeVaux-trained exacta with Golden Tempo in the Lecomte Stakes in Louisiana.

20. Solitude Dude (50-1): Unbeaten in three races in Florida, none longer than 7 furlongs, he’ll be heard from even if not in the Kentucky Derby winner’s circle. There are other races.

Last year, this list (published in mid-January) included Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty at No. 16 and Preakness winner Journalism at No. 6. East Avenue, No. 1 on that list, finished eighth in the Derby and has won one minor race since.

We’ll see how these 20 fare and which new contenders emerge in the next 10 weeks.