Racing Dudes Divisional Rankings 6/2/20: Action Set to Heat Up in June

Welcome to the 2020 Divisional Rankings! Each week, we rank the best thoroughbred horses in America based on their divisions. Let’s take a look at the rankings, including my last vote in the NTRA Top 10 Poll:

Overall Rankings

Here are my overall rankings as seen in the latest NTRA Top 10 Poll this week. The poll ranks the top thoroughbred horses based on if Horse of the Year voting was conducted at this very moment. With the year now almost half over, we’ve started to get a good feel for the top horses in the country. Here’s what my latest Top 10 poll looked like:

1. Midnight Bisou
2. Maximum Security
3. Mucho Gusto
4. Zulu Alpha
5. Tom’s d’Etat
6. By My Standards
7. Whitmore
8. Warrior’s Charge
9. Ce Ce
10. Monomoy Girl   

Older Males

1.  Maximum Security – His Saudi Cup (G1) win lands him at the top, despite the drama with his former trainer. 

2. Mucho Gusto – The Pegasus World Cup (G1) was his best career race by a wide margin. 

3. Zulu Alpha – He was on fire at Gulfstream Park in the winter, where he won the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1). 

4. Tom’s d’Etat – An impressive 2020 debut win in the Oaklawn Mile Stakes has him looking great heading into the summer.  

5. By My Standards – He’s now 2-for-2 this year after an impressive victory in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2).

Sleeper: Warrior’s Charge – A win in the Razorback Handicap (G3) and a near-miss in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) showed that he is legit.  

Older Females

1. Midnight Bisou – She finds herself on top of this division again after a runner-up effort against males in the Saudi Cup (G1).

2. Monomoy Girl – She’s back and looking as good as ever after defeating allowance company at Churchill Downs in her first race in 18 months.

3. Ce Ce – A tremendous effort to win the Apple Blossom Stakes (G1) had her primed to take the top spot; however, she ran a disappointing third in the Santa Maria Stakes (G2) last time out.

4. Dunbar Road – She looked sharp in her 2020 debut, winning the Shawnee Stakes at Churchill Downs. 

5. Ollie’s Candy – She lost the Apple Blossom Stakes (G1) by just a nose after setting fast fractions. 

Sleeper: Point of Honor – She is one to watch as the distances get longer this summer. 

3-Year-Old Males

1. Nadal – Sadly, he’ll miss the remainder of the season after suffering an injury in training. He remains on top for now, but he will soon be passed.

2. Tiz the Law – His Gulfstream Park dominance was capped off with a win in the Florida Derby (G1).

3. Maxfield – He returned impressively to win his 2020 debut in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3).  

4. Authentic – He’s a perfect 3-for-3 so far, with his latest triumph coming in the San Felipe Stakes (G2). 

5. Honor A. P. – He could be the one to beat as the distances get longer. 

Sleeper: Charlatan – He’s a perfect 3-for-3 after taking home the Arkansas Derby (G1) last time out; however, that win is in question after a positive drug test.

3-Year-Old Females

1. Swiss Skydiver – She has proven to be the top filly in this class after two impressive victories against top-notch company. 

2. Tonalist’s Shape – She has only one flaw on her resume after reeling off win after win at Gulfstream Park. 

3. Venetian Harbor – She was second in the Fantasy Stakes (G2) while putting forth a solid effort.

4. Finite – Her five-race winning streak was snapped last time out in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2). 

5. Donna Veloce – She looked great in her 2020 debut, but she will miss some time after a minor injury. 

Sleeper: Bonny South – Her upset Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) victory was a really solid showing. 

Sprinters

1. Whitmore – He earned the top spot after an impressive Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) victory at Oaklawn Park

2. Mind Control – He’s 2-for-2 this year, with his latest victory coming in the Tom Fool Handicap (G3). 

3. Shancelot – It will be interesting to see if he can still be effective under new trainer Steve Asmussen. 

4. New York Central – His Saudi Cup Sprint victory was very impressive. 

5. Vekoma – He returned a winner in his 2020 debut, the Sir Shackleton Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Sleeper: Flagstaff – With a better trip, he could have won the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) last time out.