Racing Dudes Divisional Rankings 6/12/19: Post-Belmont Rankings

Welcome to the 2019 Divisional Rankings of the year! Each week for the whole year, we will rank the best thoroughbred horses in America based on their divisions. Let’s take a look at the first 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 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. Mitole

3. World of Trouble  

4. Midnight Bisou

5. Vino Rosso  

6. Gift Box

7. McKinzie 

8. Rushing Fall 

9. X Y Jet 

10. Maximum Security 

Older Males

1.  Bricks and Mortar – He picked up his fourth straight victory in the Manhattan Stake (G1) at Belmont Park

2. Vino Rosso – His huge Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (G1) victory means that he is a major player in the handicap division.

3. Gift Box – His loss in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (G1) was disappointing, but he ran well in defeat.

4. McKinzie – A big effort in the Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1) ended in a second place finish.

5. City of Light – His Pegasus World Cup (G1) win will probably be the best race that we see all year long.

Sleeper: Catholic Boy – He returned from a long layoff with a big win in the Dixie Stakes (G2) at Pimlico. This should be a huge year for him.

Older Females

1. Midnight Bisou – She is easily the top female after her fourth straight win in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.

2. Monomoy Girl – We haven’t seen her run this year, and there is no word on when she might return, but she belongs here based on class and talent.

3. Rushing Fall – The Just a Game Stakes (G1) was an ultra-impressive win for her.

4. She’s A Julie – Her massive La Troienne Stakes (G1) win at Churchill Downs has her in the mix to kick off her 4-year-old season. 

5. Sistercharlie – She hasn’t done anything this year yet; however, she is working out like she is about ready to roll.

Sleeper: Mia Mischief – This filly could be on her way to a huge season sprinting.

3-Year-Old Males

1. Maximum Security – He is the deserving top horse for now, regardless of his disqualification in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He’s training at Monmouth Park with an eye on making a return in the Pegasus Stakes on June 16.

2. War of Will – A no-show type performance in the Belmont Stakes (G1) shows that he might need a little break. We’ll see if he can bounce back in the second half of the season.

3. Omaha Beach – He may be the best horse in this crop, but until he proves it, he will remain ranked behind the classic winners.

4. Country House – His Kentucky Derby (G1) “win” puts him in the conversation, but he still has much to prove.

5. Sir Winston – A win in the Belmont Stakes (G1) gives him a spot in the top 5; however, he still has some proving to do.

Sleeper: Tacitus – He ran well enough in the Belmont Stakes (G1) to think the summer months of racing will be solid for him.

3-Year-Old Females

1. Serengeti Empress – She ran huge in the Acorn Stakes (G1); however, she had to settle for second. She has the lead in this division going into the summer but it’s wide open.

2. Guarana – There is no doubt she could easily end up #1 in this division. Her win in the Acorn Stakes (G1) was breathtaking, which made her a perfect 2 for 2.

3. Bellafina – The curse of Kentucky continued for her in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), but she still could take this division over with solid races over the summer. Her connections are planning to cut her back to one-turn distances with an eye on the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint over her home track at the end of the year.

4. Point of Honor – Her big-time Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) win puts her in a position to move forward.

5. Covfefe – She showed in the Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) that she might be the best female sprinter in the country.

Sleeper: Dunbar Road – This lightly-raced filly could be headed for big things in the second half of 2019.

Sprinters

1. Mitole – The Met Mile (G1) was the race of the year so far! This could end up being the best horse in the country, regardless of divisions.

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

3. X Y Jet – He finally got his Golden Shaheen (G1) victory in Dubai after coming so close in previous years.

4. Roy H – A setback in Dubai has forced him to miss some time; however, we know that he can come back with a vengeance when he’s healthy.

5. Catalina Cruiser – His win in the True North Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park shows that he’s back and ready for a big 2019. It’s uncertain whether he will be a sprinter or distance horse this year.

Sleeper: Imprimis – This could be the next big turf sprinter. He really showed his class in the Shakertown Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.