Top 5 Best Horses Right Now By Division 10/2/23: Slow Down Andy Rolls In Awesome Again

Welcome to our weekly rankings of the top 5 best horses right now by division in America! We’re always right & never wrong, except for the times that we are. Or aren’t.

Slow Down Andy rolled home victorious in the Awesome Again Stakes (G1) to back up his solid 3rd in the Pacific Classic (G1), but did the Doug O’Neill trainee crack the list? Arcangelo holds a firm grasp on 1st place in the 3-year-old division, but could he be topped at the Breeders’ Cup?

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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. Here’s what my last Top 10 poll looked like:

1. Arcangelo
2. Cody’s Wish
3. Up to the Mark
4. Echo Zulu
5. Elite Power
6. White Abarrio
7. Arabian Knight
8. Casa Creed
9. Geaux Rocket Ride
10. Zandon

Older Males

1. Cody’s Wish – He returned a winner in the Vosburgh Stakes (G2), which set him up nicely for a return trip to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

2. Up to the Mark – He showed that he’s one of the best turf horses in the world right now after back-to-back dominating victories in the Turf Classic Stakes (G1) & the Manhattan Stakes (G1).

3. White Abarrio – If he can repeat his Whitney Stakes (G1) performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, then he could very well be the Horse of the Year.

4. Casa Creed – He took home the Fourstardave Handicap (G1) at Saratoga for the second straight season.

5. Zandon – It was nice to see him back in the winner’s circle with a sharp effort in the Woodward Stakes (G2).

Sleeper: Slow Down Andy – He has been a consistent runner all year long, including a win last time out in the Awesome Again Stakes (G1).

Older Females

1. Echo Zulu – Her effort in the Ballerina Handicap (G1) was a thing of beauty.

2. Caravel – She lost against the boys at Saratoga in the Troy Stakes (G3), but she is still having an awesome season.

3. Clairiere – Despite her total non-effort in the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1), she still has a strong resume.

4. Nest – She didn’t show up with her best effort in the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1).

5. Adare Manor – She keeps racking up victories out in California against weak company.

Sleeper: In Italian – She ran well but couldn’t do better than runner-up in the Diana Stakes (G1).

3-Year-Old Males

1. Arcangelo – His rise to stardom has been ultra-impressive, culminating with winning the Belmont Stakes (G1) and the Travers Stakes (G1).

2 Arabian Knight – He’s back in the picture in a big way after winning the Pacific Classic (G1).

3. Geaux Rocket Ride – His second-place effort in the Pacific Classic (G1) puts him within striking distance heading into the fall.

4. Forte – He showed up with no real effort in the Travers Stakes (G1) for the first time this year.

5. Saudi Crown – He picked up his first big win in a gate to wire score in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1).

Sleeper: Mage – We’ll see if he can bounce back after a poor start in the Travers Stakes (G1).

3-Year-Old Females

1. Maple Leaf Mel – She was 1 stride away from defeating multiple Grade 1 winner Pretty Mischievous by 6 lengths before her tragic breakdown.

2. Pretty Mischievous – She was a solid second in the Cotillion Stakes (G1), nearly catching the winner at the wire.

3. Asinette – She dominated 3 straight turf races, including the Del Mar Oaks (G1), to stamp herself as a major player in the division.

4. Wet Paint – Her Alabama Stakes (G1) effort was solid, but she wasn’t good enough to catch the winner. She still has a solid resume heading into the fall.

5. Randomize – She picked up her first graded stakes victory with a gate-to-wire Alabama Stakes (G1) win.

Sleeper: Ceiling Crusher – She has arrived on the scene in a big way after a nice win in the Cotillion Stakes (G1).

Sprinters

1. Elite Power – He put in another good effort but could not catch Gunite in the Forego Stakes (G1).

2. Gunite – For some reason, they ran him in a 2-turn mile at Parx, which he lost because that isn’t his game. He should bounce back if he returns to 1 turn for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).

3. Dr. Schivel – He fought hard to win the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) over a solid field.

4. The Chosen Vron – The California-bred defeated open company in the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1).

5. Anarchist – He finally got a big win in the Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar.

Sleeper: Skelly – He’s gone missing, but he was developing into a good horse.

2-Year-Old Males

1. Prince of Monaco – He is the clear leader in the division after back-to-back graded stakes victories at Del Mar, including the Futurity (G1).

2. Nutella Fella – The upset winner of the Hopeful Stakes (G1) debuts second on the list for now.

3. Timberlake – His runner-up effort in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) was a good first stakes effort.

4. West Saratoga – He surprised many by winning the Iroquois Stakes (G3).

5. Heartland – This debut winner for Bob Baffert looks to have a big future in front of him.

Sleeper: Muth – He is still a maiden; however, this horse should excel when stretching out in distance.

2-Year-Old Females

1. Brightwork – Three straight stakes wins including the Spinaway Stakes (G1) lands her the top spot heading into the fall.

2. Tamara – Her win in the Del Mar Debutante (G1) was tremendous.

3 V V’s Dream – She looked like a star winning the Pocahontas Stakes (G3), setting up what could be a showdown at the Breeders’ Cup.

4. Gala Brand – She beat the boys in her second career start at Saratoga in the With Anticipation Stakes (G3).

5. Ways and Means – She was a tough-luck second in the Spinaway Stakes (G1) behind our top-ranked horse but was reportedly injured after the race.

Sleeper: Laurent – She was a distant second in the Del Mar Debutante (G1) behind our second-ranked horse.