"With no real solid standout like we had last year in American Pharoah," Churchill Downs racing analyst Jill Byrne wrote this week, she's going with another trained by Bob Baffert – Mor Spirit – to win the Kentucky Derby.

"Why not?" Byrne asked while submitting a list of contenders for The Courier-Journal's DerbyHQ Top 20 Poll.

It's a question that applies to many voters on the coast-to-coast panel of racing experts that followed the Derby trail to its end.

The race's favorite, Nyquist, received 10 of 15 first-place votes in Sunday's final poll to solidify the top spot. But some who positioned him there acknowledged the undefeated champion might not be the top pick by post time Saturday.

"It's difficult to knock Nyquist, but he's the favorite and is ripe for contrary thinking," said Scott Jagow, editor-in-chief of The Paulick Report.

Jagow gave his No. 1 vote to Santa Anita Derby winner Exaggerator. Others went to Louisiana Derby winner Gun Runner, Blue Grass Stakes winner Brody's Cause and Tampa Bay Derby winner Destin.

See individual DerbyHQ Top 20 ballots with comments: http://bit.ly/1Lo8pCL
READ MORE | Notes, quotes on every contender

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Santa Anita Park's odds maker, Jon White, pointed out that the average winning speed figure for horses in major Derby preps ranks slowest in a decade.

"It is an indication to me that the bar has not been set very high this year for this year's Kentucky Derby, a situation that could play into the hands of probable favorite Nyquist," White said. "Based on speed figures, it does not appear that Nyquist has to beat an especially strong group to win the roses."

Mohaymen, Outwork, Creator and Destin, each horses that have impressed in their daily training at Churchill Downs, also staked top 10 spots in the final DerbyHQ rankings. Pollsters ranked UAE Derby winner Lani 18th, lowest since his latest victory, this week. Danzing Candy (No. 12) and Shagaf (No. 15) are also winners of important preps outside the top 10.

"I'm not an indecisive person in day-to-day life, but if you ask me to come up with a list 10 minutes from now, it might be different," said Churchill's Joe Kristufek. "I can honestly say I haven't settled on my Derby horse yet."

"I began this assignment stating the philosophy that No. 1 remains No. 1 until proven otherwise," added Del Mar's Hank Wesch. "So, for the sake of symmetry (and being unburdened from the need for creativity) I'm pleased that Nyquist has made it from start to finish. And Nyquist remains my Derby pick, although that is not etched in stone. The hammer and chisel will be withheld until after Wednesday's post position draw."

DerbyHQ Top 20 Poll

The Top 20 Kentucky Derby contenders as voted on by a national panel of horse racing media members, with first-place votes in parenthesis. A weighted points system determines the consensus rankings.

This is a reprint from courier-journal. to view the original, click here.