Racing Dudes Divisional Rankings 8/24/16

Older Males

1. California Chrome – If there were any doubts before the Pacific Classic (I don’t think there were) it’s absolutely a FACT now that Chrome is the best horse in the country.

2. Frosted – Another unbelievable performance by Frosted as he won the Whitney Stakes with basically a hand ride. Only flaw on his resume this year is the Dubai World Cup.

3. Flintshire – Runs this weekend at Saratoga as he’ll looks to pad his resume even more.

4. Melatonin– Proved his worth for the third straight race as now I’m completely sold that he’s for real. Now has two Grade 1 victories at the classic mile and one quarter distance.

5. Dortmund – His third place effort in the Pacific Classic was not as good as his San Diego Handicap race, but he still ran very well. Lets hope he stays healthy and continues to progress.

Sleeper: Effinex– He is so up and down, but that’s what makes people forget about him. At his best he can run with anyone.

Older Females

1. Tepin – Will now be pointing towards the Woodbine Mile, and had a very solid workout at Saratoga on Tuesday morning.

2. Beholder – No shame in finishing second to California Chrome in the Pacific Classic as she ran a fantastic race.

3. Stellar Wind – She takes down Beholder!! What an amazing effort by Stellar Wind in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes. She’s come back as an extremely strong four year old.

4. Cavorting – Awaiting her next race as she’s been running as good as anyone in this division to kick off the year.

5. Curalina – Even though it was a short field in the Shuvee Handicap last weekend, Curalina was fantastic. In two of her three races this year she’s looked unbeatable.

Sleeper: Forever Unbridled – People are forgetting about her as she hasn’t ran in awhile, but she’s been extremely solid so far this year.

3 Year Old Males

1. Exaggerator– Points towards the Travers Stakes this weekend. Wondering if his connections are already breaking out the rain dance!

2. Nyquist – All of the sudden Nyquist can’t rate off the pace…and all of the sudden he can’t win. Maybe he just really hates the slop. He must regain his prior races soon or this divisional award is going to slowly keep slipping away.

3. Creator– He had his mulligan in the Jim Dandy, but now he must run better in the Travers Stakes to prove last time was a fluke.

4. Gun Runner– The Travers Stakes will be big for him this weekend as he really needs to bounce back from his poor Haskell Invitational race last time out.

5. American Freedom– Comes into this weeks Travers Stakes off of his best race yet in the Haskell last time out. Can he run like that two races in a row?

Sleeper: Laoban– All you can do is laugh at this one…but hey if he can repeat that Jim Dandy effort he’ll have a shot in the Travers Stakes.

3 Year Old Females

1. Songbird– She came to the Spa and proved she’s the best without a shadow of a doubt. The Summer of Songbird ended with another blowout Grade 1 victory in the Alabama Stakes.

2. Catch a Glimpse – Her win streak was busted in the Grade 2 Lake Placid Stakes on Sunday at Saratoga, but she’s done enough to stay at number two.

3. Cathryn Sophia – Needs to rebound from her poor Acorn effort and get back to rolling soon. There are quality fillies behind her at the moment.

4. Carina Mia – Big race for her this weekend at Saratoga against older horses. A win would go a long ways towards moving up to number two in the rankings.

5. Off The Tracks – Can’t set those kind of blazing fractions next time out, but she’s shown a ton of quality in all her races.

Sleeper: Going for Broke – Ran an ok race in the Alabama Stakes to finish second to Songbird. Never threatened though.

Sprinters

1. Lord Nelson – Another massive performance in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby, and this time at 6 furlongs. Definitely the top dog in the division now.

2. A. P. Indian – Just like Lord Nelson this horse has stamped himself now as one of the top sprinters with back to back flawless efforts.

3. X Y Jet – Was running better than anyone before the injury. Hope he comes back 100% when he returns.

4. Kobe’s Back– No way I’m going to penalize him for his Triple Bend Stakes effort because the ride was poor. He’ll be fine.

5. Private Zone – Has to rebound with a better effort next time out or he’ll fall out of the rankings.

Sleeper: Marking – His narrow loss to A. P. Indian last time out looks very good now. He’s flying way under the radar.