Racing Dudes Divisional Rankings 6/5/19: Belmont Week Looms Large

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. World of Trouble 

3. Mitole  

4. Vino Rosso

5. Gift Box 

6. McKinzie

7. Midnight Bisou

8. City of Light

9. X Y Jet 

10. Maximum Security 

Older Males

1.  Bricks and Mortar – After three straight stakes victories, he’s easily number one on the list. He’ll try to extend his streak in the Manhattan Stakes (G1) this weekend.

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 powerful win in the Alysheba Stakes (G2) has him on track for the Met Mile (G1) this weekend.

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 has earned her way here with three graded stakes victories this season and will try to make it four in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) this weekend.

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. 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.

4. Vasilika – All this horse does is win. Her latest triumph came in the Gamely Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita.

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 – His Preakness Stakes (G1) victory was great for the sport and possibility set up a huge rematch with Maximum Security down the road.

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. Code of Honor – This solid horse seems to excel best when going a smidge shorter than the classic 1 1/4-mile distance.

Sleeper: Tacitus – Look out for him in the Belmont Stakes (G1). He seems to be getting better with every start.

3-Year-Old Females

1. Serengeti Empress – She’s wildly inconsistent, but when she’s on her game, she is ultra-difficult to beat.

2. 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.

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

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

5. Champagne Anyone – There will be better days for her after a disappointing Kentucky Oaks (G1).

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

Sprinters

1. World of Trouble – Dirt, turf, it doesn’t matter. This guy can do it all.

2. Mitole – Back-to-back graded stakes victories have him rolling into the Met Mile (G1) in perfect form.

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. Whitmore – The old pro will bounce back from his recent so-so effort at Churchill Downs.

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