Racing Dudes Divisional Rankings 8/7/19: McKinzie Makes Major Statement

Welcome to the 2019 Divisional Rankings! 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 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. McKinzie 

3. Midnight Bisou  

4. World of Trouble   

5. Sistercharlie 

6. Mitole 

7. Elate 

8. Maximum Security 

9. Imperial Hint 

10. Shancelot 

Older Males

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

2. McKinzie – A big time win in the Whitney Stakes (G1) moves him up the list in a major way. 

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

4. Vino Rosso –  He was third in the Whitney Stakes (G1); however, there is no doubt he is better when running longer. 

5. Catalina Cruiser – He’s come back with two big wins in 2019, including the San Diego Handicap (G2) for the second straight year.

Sleeper: Yoshida – He finally woke up with a nice performance, finishing second in the Whitney Stakes (G1). 

Older Females

1. Midnight Bisou – Forget top older female, this rapidly-improving filly is making a case for Horse of the Year.

2. Sistercharlie – The big mare is back in a major way after earning a career-best 105 Beyer in her Diana Stakes (G1) triumph.

3. Elate – The Delaware Handicap (G2) proved that she is back to her top form, giving her two straight powerful victories.

4. Rushing Fall – There is no disgrace in finishing second to her stablemate Sistercharlie in the Diana.

5. Monomoy Girl – We haven’t seen her run this year, and there is no word on when she might make her next start, but she belongs here based on class and talent. On July 14, she finally returned to trainer Brad Cox’s barn.

Sleeper: Ollie’s Candy – She qualified for the Breeders’ Cup by winning the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1).

3-Year-Old Males

1. Maximum Security – He left no doubt with an impressive victory in the Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1).

2. Mr. Money – His win in the West Virginia Derby (G3) gives him four straight victories. Now, will he try tougher company? 

3. Shancelot – After his amazing win in the Amsterdam Stakes (G2), it’s hard to deny that he could end up being the best in this division. 

4. Omaha Beach – He’s pointing to make his long-awaited return in the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar in late August, with the Breeder’s Cup Classic being the ultimate goal.

5. Tax – Winning the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) earned him a spot in the rankings. He has always been a consistent horse. 

Sleeper: Game Winner – Quietly, he looks to be in great form heading into the Travers Stakes (G1) after easily winning the Los Alamitos Derby (G3).

3-Year-Old Females

1. Guarana – A win around two turns in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) makes her the top horse in this division by a decent margin.

2. Serengeti Empress – It was another great race from her in the Test Stakes (G1); however, she lost once again. She needs a win soon to stay at #2 in the rankings. 

3. Covfefe – Her first Grade 1 win over the weekend moves up her the list, with the chance to gain even more ground if she can consistently show those kind of efforts. 

4. Dunbar Road – An ultra-impressive Mother Gooses Stakes (G2) triumph served notice that she will be a player in this division the rest of the season.

5. Point of Honor – There was no shame in finishing second to Guarana in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1). Now, she moves on to the Alabama Stakes (G1), where she’ll have a better shot at winning.

Sleeper: Bellafina – A return to California might be what she needs to get back to top form. Her Test Stakes (G1) effort was a little disappointing. 

Sprinters

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

2. Mitole – The Met Mile (G1) was the race of the year so far, but he followed that up by losing the Vanderbilt Handicap (G1). It was his first in eight starts, but he gets a pass after getting stuck on a dead rail.

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

4.Imperial Hint – He’s back in a major way after setting a track record in his Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) victory. 

5. Promises Fulfilled – His John A. Nerud Stakes (G2) win earned him an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).

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