Division rankings: Don't dismiss Barnes as yesterday's news

Horse racing at the top level is a fickle game. One day you’re the golden boy or girl, the next you’re yesterday’s news after a single tough loss. 

This season, no horse embodies this whiplash effect more than Barnes. Just a month ago, he was the top individual choice in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. But after finishing second to Journalism in the Grade 2 San Felipe, his bandwagon emptied fast as some practically tripped over themselves trying to jump off. The bandwagon exodus was so dramatic, you’d think he finished dead last rather than a game second in the second-fastest two-turn race of the season for his division. 

The next few days bring a trifecta of major Derby preps, but the Santa Anita Derby (G1) towers above the other two. With three standouts who outclass anything entered in the Blue Grass (G1) or Wood Memorial (G2), this rare showdown marks the first time in seven years of these rankings that the top three 3-year-old males collide in a penultimate Kentucky Derby prep. 

More on this showdown below, but a quick look at the rankings shows Citizen Bull on top. The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champ and Eclipse winner won his first start this season over two months ago. Journalism is holding steady at no. 2, and Barnes a solid third. At this stage, there’s a clear divide. These three are in a league of their own. 

3-year-old males

1. Citizen Bull. Citizen Bull came out of hibernation like a freight train, flattening the Robert B. Lewis (G3) in his 3-year-old debut. The reigning Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and 2-year-old champ stays at the top, brushing off the usual recency bias that tempts rankings to shift with the latest buzz. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of performances such as Journalism in his last race, but until Citizen Bull stumbles or steps aside, this throne is his. The Santa Anita Derby this weekend is where he'll have to remind everyone why he's still king of the hill.

2. Journalism. His seasonal debut in the San Felipe was so impressive that I briefly considered vaulting him to the top spot. Now 3-for-4 in his career, he’s on a rapid ascent and will make his next start this weekend in the Santa Anita Derby, where a showdown with Citizen Bull  and Barnes awaits.

3. Barnes. Turned in a strong effort in the San Felipe but ran into a better horse in Journalism. Still, he was more than nine lengths clear of third-place finisher Rodriguez, proving his class. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, he did it on three wheels, losing his left front shoe mid-race but never losing his stride. He might be the third choice on the tote board this weekend, but he’s a live threat to win. 

4. Sovereignty. He fell short in the Florida Derby (G1), but his late run ensured he lost no momentum on the road to Churchill. Tappan Street had his measure that day, but with a stakes win already under the Twin Spires, he’ll be a major player when it matters most.

5. Sandman. He finally found his stride, breaking through with his first stakes win in the Arkansas Derby (G1) thanks to a pace that set him up perfectly. But for all his experience with eight starts under his belt, he still looked a bit green in the stretch.

Next 8: Tappan Street, Coal Battle, Burnham Square, Tiztastic, Disco Time, Owen Almighty, Chancer McPatrick, Flood Zone

The last few weeks, I've been busy dousing the flames of two wildly overbet favorites, East Avenue and, last week, the Cornucopian circus. This week, I'm shifting gears and talking about Barnes, who’s been quietly overshadowed in the lead-up to the stacked Santa Anita Derby. With all the hype surrounding other contenders, it's time to give this one the spotlight he deserves. 

It’s amusing to me that Santa Anita is taking heat for drawing only five entries into the Santa Anita Derby. I mean, are we really complaining when we have arguably the top three Kentucky Derby contenders lined up in the same race four weeks prior to the big one? Small fields in Derby preps are hardly a new thing. Just look back to 1989 when Sunday Silence won the Santa Anita Derby against only five others. This year's race might be small in number, but it's massive in talent. 

Journalism took down Barnes last out in the San Felipe, reeling him in mid-stretch to score by 1 3/4 lengths. That day, he won the battle and did so in style. His performance wasn’t just impressive. It was the fastest two-turn race by any 3-year-old male this season. A highly regarded juvenile who snagged the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), Journalism has clearly leveled up, and if the San Felipe was any indication, he is improved greatly at age 3. Still, I wonder if Journalism can bring that type of race again this weekend. 

Barnes’s runner-up finish to Journalism in the San Felipe deserves an asterisk. Losing a front shoe mid-race didn’t stop him from running his heart out, and he still crushed the rest of the field. He finished more than nine lengths ahead of Rodriguez, the same horse Citizen Bull beat by just 3 3/4 lengths in his 2025 debut. His effort was the second-fastest two-turn race by a 3-year-old male this season, yet somehow, the masses have bailed on him. This time, he’ll get a more favorable trip, stalking his stablemate Citizen Bull instead of setting the pace himself. The real test will be whether he can handle the nine-furlong distance? 

The same distance question looms over Citizen Bull. We know he’ll be on the lead in the Santa Anita Derby, but can he carry his speed an extra furlong? I think so. Give him a comfortable pace and he might never look back. He’s been nothing short of brilliant in his last three starts, showing that he too has taken that crucial leap from a very good 2-year-old to a serious 3-year-old. 

With the three heavyweights of the division lining up in a short field, this is a fascinating race.

Older dirt males

1. White Abarrio. Scored another win, this time in the Ghostzapper (G3) at Gulfstream. The Pegasus World Cup (G1) winner will run next in the Met Mile (G1) on Belmont Stakes day. 

2. Locked. Unleashing a tour de force in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1), he secured his first Grade 1 win since his juvenile days. Though he started the year playing second fiddle to White Abarrio in the Pegasus, his Big 'Cap domination proved he might deserve another crack. Will run next in the Alysheba (G2) on Kentucky Oaks day at Churchill Downs.

3. Sierra Leone. Ran the worst race of his career in his seasonal debut in the New Orleans Classic (G2). No excuses, but he doesn't drop in these rankings and deserves one mulligan given the equity he has built on his resume. 

4. Fierceness. He ran a strong second in the Breeders' Cup Classic, backing up two earlier Grade 1 wins that sparked Eclipse debate with Sierra Leone. Still sidelined with no guarantee he returns to the track. He apparently is pointed to a start on Kentucky Derby weekend at Aqueduct in the Westchester (G3).

5. Hit Show. No excuses for his third-place finish in the Big 'Cap, where he was beaten by more than 12 lengths. He's simply a notch below the top tier of this division right now. He's entered in the Dubai World Cup (G1) this weekend.

Next five: Express Train, Mindframe, Hall of Fame, Just a Touch, Touchupsonastar

Older dirt females

1. Thorpedo Anna. She made her 2025 debut rolling to a win in the Azeri (G2). She had to shake off a pesky Free Like a Girl, who was winless in 11 graded-stakes tries, but the outcome really wasn't in doubt. Next up is the Apple Blossom (G1) at Oaklawn.

2. Cavalieri. This filly means business. At 4-for-4 and only getting faster, she’s proving to be a real force in the division. No word yet on her next move, but a showdown with Thorpedo Anna in the Apple Blossom would be one to circle on the calendar.

3. Richi. The import from Chile has been impressive in her four U.S. starts since June. She finished second to Cavalieri last time out, but she set the pace and ran a game race. Don't box her in as just a sprinter. She has proven her stamina with a Group 1 win at 10 furlongs in Chile. Wherever she heads next, she'll be a tough one to catch.

4. Raging Sea. Runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, she delivered as expected. Her 2024 highlight was upsetting Idiomatic in the Personal Ensign (G1). She starts this season far back of the leader and is now back on the work tab.

5. Candied. She was third in the Breeders' Cup Distaff and the Spinster (G1) after Grade 1 runner-up finishes to Thorpedo Anna in the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama. She's consistently close, but her only win from six starts last season came in the Lady's Secret at Monmouth.

Next five: Power Squeeze, Sugar Fish, Randomized, Free Like a Girl, Just F Y I

3-year-old fillies

1. Good Cheer. She’s now 6-for-6 in her career after her win in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2). With three Grade 2 stakes victories under her belt, she’ll be aiming for her first Grade 1 win in the Kentucky Oaks next.

2. Quietside. She delivered a thrilling victory in the Fantasy (G2), outdueling Simply Joking in what could easily be the race of the year so far. After her impressive Honeybee (G3) win two races ago, she’ll now head to the Kentucky Oaks as the second choice behind Good Cheer.

3. Tenma. She beat only two others last out in a six-length win in the Las Virgenes (G3), and before that she scored a win in the Starlet (G2) in her final start at age 2. Runs this weekend in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2).

4. Simply Joking. She may have been defeated in the Fantasy, but she put up a fierce fight, going toe-to-toe with Quietside for nearly the entire race. That runner-up finish was her first blemish in three starts.

5. Muhimma. Disappointed last out in the Honeybee for her first loss in four starts. She gets a chance on Monday to make amends in the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland.

Next five: Five G, Eclatant, Nitrogen, Immersive, Non Compliant.

Turf males

1. Far Bridge. He kicked off 2025 with a hard-fought neck victory in the Pan American (G2) at Gulfstream, a win that propels him to the top of a division desperately craving some order. With two Grade 1 wins under his belt from last year, he could run next on Kentucky Derby weekend in the Turf Classic (G1).

2. Spirit of St Louis. Finished fourth, beaten by less than two lengths, last out in the Muniz Memorial presented by Horse Racing Nation (G2) at Fair Grounds. It was a disappointing effort, and it sent this division into further disarray. He does have that win in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1), where he won his first graded stakes. A winner of 10 of 15 starts, this was only his second off-the-board finish. 

3. Johannes. Kept his hot streak going with a win in the San Gabriel (G2) in December, capping off a stellar 2024 campaign with five graded-stakes victories from six starts. His only loss came as a runner-up to More Than Looks in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Unfortunately, he's sidelined with an injury and will drop from the rankings in the coming weeks.

4. Carl Spackler. He finished sixth in the Breeders' Cup Mile, just over two lengths back, but had a solid season last year with two Grade 1 wins.

5. Integration. Very good runner-up finish to the top one in the Pegasus Turf, where he came up a neck short. 

Next five: Nation's Pride, Formidable Man, Dashman, Atitlan, Corruption.

Turf females

1. She Feels Pretty. Starts the season on top here after capping off her 3-year-old season with back-to-back Grade 1 wins in the Queen Elizabeth at Keeneland and the American Oaks at Santa Anita. She will start dropping from this spot soon for lack of action but is back on the work tab.

2. Be Your Best. Captured the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G2) for her third straight graded-stakes victory, proving she’s in the best form of her 18-race career. With three of her five career wins coming in her last three starts, she’s on a roll now.

3. Sacred Wish. Turned in a strong runner-up effort in the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf, falling a neck short to Be Your Best. Last season’s Matriarch (G1) winner has been a consistent player, hitting the board in three other graded stakes in 2024.

4. Raqiya. Fifth in the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf, she won the Goldikova (G3) prior to that in her first start in this country.

5. Ag Bullet. Third last out in the Matriarch, and before that she was third in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Back on the work tab.

Next five: Beach Bomb, Lady Claypoole, Special Wan, Liguria, Nanda Dea

Male sprinters

1. Straight No Chaser. The reigning Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion kicked off 2025 in style, taking the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) in Saudi Arabia. Next stop is Dubai for the Golden Shaheen (G1) this weekend.

2. Mullikin. Finished second in the Cigar Mile (G2) behind Locked after a third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. He earned his first Grade 1 win in the Forego and first graded win in the Nerud (G2). The 4-year-old colt is 5-for-10 in his career and is back working for a possible stakes start on Kentucky Derby weekend.

3. Raging Torrent. Scored a strong victory in the Malibu last time out, marking his first Grade 1 win. Finished 4-for-7 last season, and he's entered in the Godolphin Mile (G2) at Meydan this weekend.

4. Book'em Danno. Made his 2025 debut a winning one as he scored in a race at Colonial Downs, beating just two others. Connections have wisely chosen to skip Dubai and keep him in the U.S. for the remainder of the season. Could see him in stakes action on Kentucky Derby weekend.

5. Big City Lights. This guy won his first start of of 2025 in California Cup Sprint at Santa Anita in a romp, and before that he romped in the Cary Grant Stakes at Del Mar. Placed in three graded-stakes races last season but appears to be a step above that form now.

Next five: Bentornato, Nakatomi, Mufasa, Federal Judge, Booth

Female sprinters

1. Kopion. Back-to-back dominant wins in the La Brea (G1) and Santa Monica (G2), both with speed figures no one in this division was able to muster last year. She’s the one to beat in this division. Although she missed the Beholder Mile (G1), it might turn out to be a blessing in disguise. 

2. Mystic Lake. Won the Inside Information (G2) in her seasonal debut and last year won five sprint stakes. Will run in the Madison (G1) Monday at Keeneland. 

3. Nic's Style. This Florida-bred is 7-for-8 in her career, her only loss a runner-up to Ways and Means last year in the Gallant Bloom (G2). She won the Hurricane Bertie (G3) last out for her fourth win in a row. A serious player in this division.

4. Hope Road. Second best to the top one in the Santa Monica last out, she won two stakes last season.

5. Richi. Ran well when stretching out last time against Cavalieri and before that ran well against Kopion. Won the Las Flores (G3) sprinting in her first start of 2025.

Next five: Ways and Means, Scylla, Pleasant, Emery, Spirit Wind