Racing Dudes Divisional Rankings 10/2/19: New 3-Year-Old Leader

Welcome to the 2019 Divisional Rankings! Each week, we will rank the best thoroughbred horses in America based on their divisions. Let’s take a look at the rankings, including my latest NTRA Top 10 Poll:

Overall Rankings

Here are my overall rankings as seen in the latest NTRA Top 10 Poll of the season. 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 more than 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. Bricks and Mortar 

2. Midnight Bisou 

3. Mitole  

4. Sistercharlie    

5. Imperial Hint 

6. Code of Honor 

7. Elate 

8. McKinzie 

9. Vino Rosso 

10. Maximum Security 

Older Males

1.  Bricks and Mortar – He picked up yet another victory in the Arlington Million Stakes (G1). This is the Horse of the Year at the moment, but there’s an older female who might turn it into a tight finish.

2. McKinzie – A loss in the Awesome Again (G1) was disappointing, but he still put up a decent performance. He has been a consistent runner all year long.

3. Vino Rosso – A disqualification cost him a win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). He is dangerous at the classic 1 1/4-mile distance. 

4. Catalina Cruiser – Three straight victories capped off with a repeat score in the Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2) puts him right in the middle of this division heading into the fall. 

5. City of Light – His Pegasus World Cup (G1) win will end up being one of the best races that we see all year long.

Sleeper: Yoshida – He hit the board in two straight Saratoga efforts, which is enough to keep him as a sleeper in this weak division. 

Older Females

1. Midnight Bisou – This division in on lockdown as Midnight Bisou picked up her seventh straight win in the Beldame Stakes (G2). 

2. Sistercharlie – This world-class turf horse needs to be recognized at the highest level. She might be the most talented horse in training right now. 

3. Elate – She suffered another heart-breaking Saratoga moment, losing the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) by a nose. 

4. Got Stormy – She lost the Woodbine Mile (G1) by a 1/2-length, but it was still a tremendous effort. 

5. Rushing Fall – There is no disgrace in finishing second to her stablemate Sistercharlie in the Diana Stakes (G1). 

Sleeper: She’s A Julie – It looks like she is a cut below the top females in the dirt division, but she has been a consistent filly all season long. 

3-Year-Old Males

1. Code of Honor – A win against older horses in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) moves him to number-one in the division. 

1. Maximum Security – An acute bout of colic forced him to miss a start in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1). His status for the rest of 2019 is unknown. 

3. Tacitus – Another on the board finish for him in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) adds to his consistent resume. 

4. Mr. Money – He blew his chance of winning a Grade 1 race in the Pennsylvania Derby, losing to Math Wizard, who he had already defeated twice. 

5. War of Will – His Pennsylvania Derby (G1) effort was at least a major improvement over his last two efforts. 

Sleeper: Owendale – A win in the Oklahoma Derby (G3) puts him back in the mix. 

3-Year-Old Females

1. Dunbar Road – Her Alabama Stakes (G1) triumph was a major step towards winning this division. Her stablemate is all that stands in the way.

2. Guarana – She suffered her first defeat in the Cotillion Stakes (G1), though she still finished a solid second. 

3. Covfefe – The top 3-year-old female sprinter in the country only seems to be getting better as she heads to the Breeders’ Cup.

4. Street Band – Her Cotillion Stakes (G1) romp puts her in a position to make some major noise at the Breeders’ Cup. 

5. Serengeti Empress – A tough effort in the Cotillion Stakes (G1) moves her down the list. She may be at her best when sprinting. 

Sleeper: Point of Honor – The Alabama Stakes (G1) did not go her way; however, she deserves credit for finishing second in both that race and the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1).

Sprinters

1. Mitole – The Mighty Mitole returned to beast mode with an amazing performance in the Forego Stakes (G1). 

2. Imperial Hint – He showed he was all heart in a heart-stopping win in the Vosburgh Stakes (G1). 

3. World of Trouble – The stellar World of Trouble rolled again at Belmont Park in the Jaipur Invitational Stakes (G1).

4. X Y Jet – He finally got his Golden Shaheen (G1) victory in Dubai after coming so close in previous years. He recently returned to training with an eye on a late 2019 campaign.

5. Cistron – He may be a cut below the best horses in this division, but his Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) win was nice.

Sleeper: Giant Expectations – His Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2) effort was impressive. Maybe 6 or 7 furlongs are his best distances.

2-Year-Old Males

1. Dennis’ Moment – He left no doubt with a dominant performance in the Iroquois Stakes (G3). He will be one of the top favorites in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). 

2. Eight Rings – He stamped himself as a serious player with a bounce-back win in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1). 

3. Green Light Go – His Saratoga Special (G2) triumph was impressive enough to earn the number-one spot before Dennis’ Moment won the Iroquois. 

4. Basin – A powerful win in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) gives his connections plenty to be excited about moving forward. He is taking off the rest of 2019.

5. Scabbard – Back-to-back runner-up efforts against the two of the top three horses in our rankings have us high on this colt moving forward. 

Sleeper: Three Technique – He lost to Basin on debut before breaking his maiden next time out at Saratoga in impressive fashion. 

2-Year-Old Females

1. Bast – Back-to-back Grade 1 victories moved her to the number-one spot as we head to the Breeders’ Cup.

2. Perfect Alibi – Wins in the Adirondack Stakes (G3) and the Spinaway Stakes (G1) have her in a good spot.  

3. Amalfi Sunrise – She won the Sorrento Stakes (G2) in impressive fashion, making her a perfect two-for-two. 

4. Inspiressa – After defeating Bast on debut, she lost to her in the Del Mar Debutante (G1) last time out.

5. Lazy Daisy – She was beaten easily in the Del Mar Debutante (G1), but she won the Pocahontas Stakes (G2) last time out.

Sleeper: Donna Veloce – An impressive maiden special weight win at Santa Anita Park turned a lot of heads. She could be a big-time talent.