There were no surprises when the first Breeders’ Cup Classic rankings were announced this week. Flightline, Country Grammer, Life Is Good and Hot Rod Charlie led the way as a panel of 30 voters ranked their top 10 Classic contenders leading up to the $6 million centerpiece of this year’s Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 4-5 at Keeneland.
I was chosen to be on the voting panel again, an honor I don’t take lightly, and the first ballot is always the toughest because we’re just heading into the summer heavyweight races that will help determine the horses to beat at the Super Bowl of horse racing.
Here is my initial ballot, with the expectation that my final top 10 the week of Oct. 11 could be drastically different than the first, with brief comments on each Classic contender:
1. Flightline
You ordinarily might not put a horse who’s never raced beyond one turn at the top of a list that includes many others who are tested at 1 1/8 miles and beyond. But Flightline is no ordinary horse, and jockey Flavien Prat says the Tapit colt can easily handle a distance of ground.
Next start: Grade I Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Sept. 3.
2. Country Grammer
It remains to be seen if the 5-year-old son of Tonalist is the same horse after two races in the Middle East – a second in the Saudi Cup and an impressive victory in the Dubai World Cup. It’s a grueling trip, and some horses don’t retain their brilliance once they return home. Remember Arrogate?
Next start: Possibly the Grade II San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 30.
3. Life Is Good
Some are down on this 4-year-old Into Mischief colt because he faded late to finish fourth in the Dubai World Cup. But horses aren’t machines and sometimes they don’t fire their best shots. The Todd Pletcher-trained colt deserves a mulligan.
Next start: Grade II Nerud Stakes at Belmont Park on Saturday.
4. Hot Rod Charlie
The knock on the Doug O’Neill-trained son of Oxbow is that he rarely wins. He’s always right there at the finish, which shows his consistency, but he’s won only 4 of 16 starts. To be fair, he did win the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth last summer, only to be disqualified.
Next start: Possibly the Grade I Whitney Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 6.
5. Mo Donegal
The highest-rated 3-year-old on our ballot, the Uncle Mo colt won the Wood Memorial, didn’t disgrace himself with a fifth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, and then won the marathon Belmont Stakes to keep his chances alive for an Eclipse Award as top sophomore male.
Next start: Possibly the Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on July 30.
6. Early Voting
This year’s Preakness Stakes winner, trained by Chad Brown, has won three of his four starts. The only blemish on his record was a runner-up effort in the Wood behind Mo Donegal. The Gun Runner colt seems to be getting better with each race.
Next start: The Grade I Haskell at Monmouth Park on July 23 or the Jim Dandy.
7. Tawny Port
Thought to be nothing more than a synthetic-track specialist, the Pioneerof the Nile colt proved that label wrong by winning last weekend’s Ohio Derby on the dirt over Florida Derby winner White Abarrio. He’s another who seems to be peaking at the right time.
Next start: Unknown.
8. White Abarrio
The son of Race Day won four of his first five races before a disastrous trip in the Kentucky Derby led to a 16th-place finish and a short respite before his strong outing in the Ohio Derby. The Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.-trained colt’s Derby nightmare is the only time he’s finished worse than third in seven outings.
Next start: The Jim Dandy.
9. Epicenter
One of these years trainer Steve Asmussen will get his first Kentucky Derby victory, but it’s been an elusive target for the man who trained Rachel Alexandra and Gun Runner. Epicenter, a son of Not This Time, almost turned the trick for Asmussen this spring only to fall victim to Rich Strike’s shocking victory.
Next start: Possibly the Grade I Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 27.
10. Express Train
The 5-year-old son of Union Rags has had a productive 2022 to date, winning the Grade II San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita and the Santa Anita Handicap before coming up second best behind Stilleto Boy in the Grade II Californian.
Next start: Possibly the San Diego Handicap.
Follow Art Wilson on Twitter @Sham73
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