Division Rankings: Are most Eclipse races decided already?

Breeders’ Cup hangover is upon us. About the only things we have left to debate this season are the few remaining graded stakes that could impact the rankings below and, of course, what this column is all about, the Eclipse Award races.

This season is unique in that all but one divisional Eclipse is wrapped up, in my opinion. But before I explain my thoughts on all of these divisions below, let's take a look at this week's updated Division Rankings.

Older dirt males

1. Flightline. One of the best horses we have seen in the Breeders' Cup era, this guy went out with style with his overwhelming Breeders' Cup Classic win. A match race from the start, he kept up with Life Is Good's historic early fractions and ran off to another facile win. Retired now after only three races this season and six in his career, we will never know how he could have stacked up to the past greats.

2. Life Is Good. I give this guy a lot of credit: He was the only other horse in the Breeders' Cup Classic who was intent on trying to win. Set ridiculously fast fractions and was brave on the lead until the stretch, where he simply ran out of gas. Although he finished fifth, it likely will be the most talked about fifth-place finish we have ever seen. I agree with his connections now on the this race choice, despite his loss. As his trainer Todd Pletcher stated after the race, Life Is Good went out courageously.

3. Olympiad. Ran another strong race that in most years would have won him the Breeders' Cup Classic and horse of the year. His runner-up finish was best of the rest, but because of the presence of Flightline this guy will not win an Eclipse award. Finishes the season with six wins from eight starts. His five graded-stakes wins in 2022 were the most of any horse in this division.

4. Cody's Wish. Came on late at the end of the season, winning the Forego (G1) at Saratoga and narrowly winning the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile by a nose over Cyberknife. Will stay in training and run again next season.

5. Country Grammer. Ran his race when a distant runner-up to Flightline in the Pacific Classic (G1), finishing clear of the rest. Like everyone else in this division, he is far behind Flightline. A disappointing runner-up previously in the Awesome Again (G1) at Santa Anita, he is done racing this season and will point to the Saudi Cup (G1) in February.

Next 5: Hot Rod Charlie, Art Collector, Defunded, Royal Ship, Americanrevolution.

Older dirt females

1. Malathaat. Her Breeders' Cup Distaff win by a nose will net her the Eclipse in this division as she swept to Grade 1 wins in her last three starts this season.

2. Blue Stripe. Came within a nose of Malathaat and the Eclipse in this division. It was a three-horse blanket finish where any one of the three would reside at No. 1 in this division and win the Eclipse with a win. Such is life in the Thoroughbred racing world. A tough-luck runner-up for this gal. She too is now retired.

3. Clairiere. She was third in that Distaff blanket finish, losing by two noses. She could be back racing next year, which is the good news for her fans. The bad news is she will be a denied an Eclipse that she came so close to winning.

4. Search Results. Well beaten in the Breeder's Cup Distaff, she still had a great season placing in all of her starts but one.

5. Letruska. Off the board with no apparent excuses last time out in the Spinster (G1), it is clear her best days are behind her. She likely will be retired soon after an outstanding career that saw her win the Eclipse in this division last season.

Next 5: Shedaresthedevil, Pauline's Pearl, Private Mission, Miss Leslie, Army Wife.

3-year-old males

1. Epicenter. Despite his Breeders' Cup mishap, where he was injured during the race and didn't finish, this guy will win the Eclipse in this division. Unfortunately, he is now retired because of the injury. 2. Taiba. Ran a good race in the Classic to finish third and will be back next year, likely as the leader of the older dirt male division to start the season. Won two Grade 1 events in 2022. 3. Cyberknife. Ran another great race in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile when runner-up to Cody's Wish, and he will get plenty of Eclipse support in this division based on his multiple Grade 1 wins and Breeders' Cup showing. 4. Rich Strike. Didn't run bad in the Classic, finishing fourth and beaten for the runner-up spot by three lengths. Very likely to run in the Clark (G1) later this month against older and will run next season too. 5. Zandon. Ran his usual race in the Penn Derby (G1), which resulted in another good on-the-board effort. In four graded stakes since his Blue Grass (G1) win in April, he has finished runner-up twice and third twice. Scheduled to run in the Cigar Mile (G1) in early December. Next 5: Mo Donegal, Early Voting, Jack Christopher, Charge It, White Abarrio.

3-year-old females

1. Nest. As I expected, she was a bit overmatched in the Breeders' Cup Distaff when off the board, finishing fourth. But the Eclipse is in the bag with her multiple Grade 1 wins this season.

2. Secret Oath. Looked good turning for home in the Breeders' Cup Distaff but ran out of gas to finish fifth, beaten over five lengths for the win. She will be back next year and should be a major player in the older dirt female division along with Nest.
3. Echo Zulu. Very good runner-up effort in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint after only one race to prepare since May. I am really looking forward to seeing this gal try two turns again. Still think she might be the best of any in her class.
4. Society. It was too much too soon in the Breeders' Cup Distaff as she finished second to last. Before her Breeders' Cup debacle, she won the Cotillion (G1).
5. Moira. Didn't run poorly in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, where she finished fifth. The Queen's Plate winner from earlier this year faced tough older foes her last two starts and will get a freshening before a 2023 campaign.

Next 5: Midnight Memories, Matareya, Wicked Halo, Interstatedaydream, Kathleen O.

Turf males

1. Modern Games. The Breeders' Cup Mile winner won both of his North American starts in 2022 and likely will win the Eclipse in this division as no U.S.-based horse has stood out.

2. Count Again. This guy has racked up two Grade 1 wins this season and is 3-for-4 on the year. His win over Smooth Like Strait in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) was his best effort yet. The only member of this division who has multiple Grade 1 wins on the season.

3. Rebel's Romance. The Breeders' Cup Turf winner by a wide margin, this gelding has won five in a row. Being a gelding, we should see him in the years to come. Good news for racing fans.

4. Golden Pal. One-dimensional type: If he misses the break, his chances of winning go down the tubes. That that is what happened in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, where he was favored.

5. Nations Pride. Fifth in the Breeders' Cup Turf, he ran well in his other North American turf starts, winning the Saratoga Derby (G1) and Jockey Club Derby (G3).

Next 5: Annapolis, Ivar, Gufo, Santin, Shirl's Speight.

Turf females

1. War Like Goddess. The top three here are very difficult to separate. All three have three graded-stakes wins on the season. As it stands right now I am leaning toward this gal for the Eclipse. This is a tough call. Ran well against the boys in the Breeders' Cup Turf, by far the best showing of any U.S.-based horse.

2. In Italian. Ran well when runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Before that effort, she scored her second Grade 1 win in a row in the First Lady at Keeneland. Again, this is a tough call between these top three.

3. Regal Glory. Perhaps this gal went a bit off form in the later part of the season, going winless in her last three starts, although two of those came against males. Finished 10th in the Breeders' Cup Mile but will get support for the Eclipse based on her full 2022 resume. She can retake the top spot here still this season as her connections will send her to California and run in the Matriarch (G1) on Dec. 4 at Santa Anita. A win there would be her third Grade 1 win this season and enough for me to vote her the Eclipse winner of this division.

4. Going Global. Was superb last time out in the Goldikova Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita. Wish we could have seen her in the Breeders' Cup. She has won nine graded stakes in her career and has won three of her five starts this season.

5. Bleecker Street. Suffered the first loss of her career last time out in the Diana (G1) after starting her career 7-for-7. She put in her run from the back but had too much to do when finishing third. I won't drop her off because of that one loss, but now she is on the shelf with an injury. Will drop in the coming weeks.

Next 5: Dalika, Going to Vegas, Technical Analysis, Wakanaka, Princess Grace.

Male sprinters

1. Jackie's Warrior. Despite his Breeders' Cup Sprint loss, he will win the Eclipse as he was the best in this division in 2022. Clearly, he lost a step or two in the latter part of the season after a nice career where he danced pretty much every dance as a sprinter.

2. Cody's Wish. Came on late at the end of the season, winning the Forego at Saratoga and narrowly winning the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile by a nose over Cyberknife. Will stay in training and run again next season.

3. Elite Power. The Breeders' Cup Sprint winner came on well in the last month, also winning the Vosburgh (G2) in October. But he won't win the Eclipse as those were his only starts in stakes competition this season.

4. Jack Christopher. He was dominant in the Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) at seven furlongs over the Saratoga oval. He missed the Breeders' Cup.

5. American Theorem. Off the board in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, but he was very good out west earlier this season.

Next 5: CZ Rocket, Laurel River, Golden Pal, Gunite, Brickyard Ride.

Female sprinters

1. Goodnight Olive. Facile winner of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, she is a deserving No. 1 as she beat the best in this division in her last two starts, both Grade 1 events.

2. Echo Zulu. This 3-year-old filly ran well against her elders, finishing runner-up to Goodnight Olive in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

3. Obligatory. No excuses when fifth to Goodnight Olive, she was beaten six lengths for the win. Earlier this season she beat the best in this division except for Ce Ce in the Derby City Distaff (G1) at Churchill Downs with a strong closing kick.

4. Kimari. Connections ran her against the boys in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, and she was off the board. Perhaps she could have given Goodnight Olive a challenge? We will never know.

5. Wicked Halo. Another 3-year-old filly who ran well in the Breeders' Cup as this gal finished third in the Filly & Mare Sprint. Before that effort she won two Grade 2 events, the Raven Run at Keeneland and the Prioress Stakes at Saratoga.

Next 5: Ce Ce, Just One Time, Edgeway, Bell's the One, Chi Town Lady.

2-year-old males
1. Forte. Reeled in Cave Rock in the stretch of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and is a deserving champion. Already three Grade 1 wins in his short career.
2. Cave Rock. Really no excuses when runner-up to Forte, but still had a great campaign. Before the Breeders' Cup he won by more than five in the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita. 3. National Treasure. Ran well again when third in the Breeders' Cup to the top two. Should be a major player next year on the Kentucky Derby trail. 4. Blazing Sevens. Fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, he finished third earlier this season in the Hopeful at Saratoga and then won the Champagne (G1) over a sloppy track. 5. Loggins. Close runner-up to Forte in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) in only his second start. This guy was flattered by that Breeders' Cup result.
Next 5: Curly Jack, Arabian Knight, Havnameltdown, Gulfport, Verifying.

2-year-old females
1. Wonder Wheel. Super impressive in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, closing strong to win going away. Won the the Alcibiades (G1) at Keeneland in her previous start.
2. Leave No Trace. She validated her high ranking in these parts with her runner-up finish to Wonder Wheel at 25-1. Won the Spinaway (G1) earlier this season. 3. And Tell Me Nolies. The Chandelier (G2) and Del Mar Debutante (G1) winner found the competition tough in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies, where she finished eighth, beaten about seven lengths. 4. Raging Sea. Ran well when third to Wonder Wheel in the Breeders' Cup after finishing fourth to that same rival in the Alcibiades (G1)
5. You're My Girl. Finished second in the Frizette (G1) and fifth in the Breeders' Cup Jevnile Fillies in her last two starts after a maiden win.
Next 5: Chocolate Gelato, Vegas Magic, Shoplifter, Uncontrollable, Chop Chop.

One division still up for grabs

I’ll just go ahead and write it – my Eclipse votes are decided in all of the equine divisions with the exception of the turf female division. That’s how strongly I feel about the horses I have ranked No. 1 above. I have weighed the accomplishments of each equine athlete in each of the divisions every week since the start of the season, and this year at least, the decisions are pretty clear for me.

I will write my annual Eclipse vote piece in late December, when I will go over my Eclipse vote in detail, but for now I will just give a broad overview of where I stand.

If you disagree, please comment below as I do consider reader feedback. In some cases, have adjusted my rankings accordingly if a great point is brought up that I missed.

In the older dirt male division, we all know Flightline has the Eclipse sewn up, and he will get my vote for the top spot. There are some readers I have seen comment that three races shouldn’t net you an Eclipse, but in this day and age of racing it will become more common in future years. And remember, Forever Unbridled won the Eclipse in 2017 in her division with just three starts.

Malathaat also will be a landslide winner of the older dirt female divisional vote, but this division is much closer than people realize. Blue Stripe came within an inch or two from not only winning the Breeders’ Cup Distaff but also the Eclipse in this division. The same can be said of Clairiere, who lost by two noses in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. So although Malathaat will win the Eclipse, it was by the narrowest of margins in my mind.

Some still believe the 3-year-old male division is open for discussion, and that might be true. But for me the decision is clear. Epicenter will get my vote because he was the best in this division. Taiba certainly had a good season, but he didn’t do enough in my mind to unseat Epicenter.

Rich Strike certainly proved this season he was no fluke in the Kentucky Derby with good runs in several races, but he hasn’t won since his Derby triumph. He will try older again in the Clark next week, but even a win there won’t be enough for me. Cyberknife probably has the best resume of all of these to give Epicenter a run for his money in the Eclipse vote. But remember, Epicenter beat Cyberknife both times they met. I get it, Epicenter detractors will say he won only one Grade 1 event, but you have to look deeper than that at his races, how he ran and who he ran against. He is a deserving Eclipse winner of this division.

Nest will most certainly win the Eclipse as the top 3-year-old female, I don’t think there is much debate there. In the turf divisions there will most certainly be much debate.

The turf male division saw no U.S.-based horse stand out. Count Again won two Grade 1 events but missed half the season. My vote will go to Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Modern Game, who at least ran on this continent two times, winning both his Grade 1 starts impressively.

The turf female Eclipse race is still ongoing. It is likely the most difficult one I have seen in years. The top three, War Like Goddess, In Italian and Regal Glory all are in the race. Regal Glory could have the upper hand now with her connections sending her to California for the Grade 1 Matriarch in December. If she wins that, it will be her third Grade 1 win this season and enough for me to move her to the top of this division based on her full 2022 resume, which started in January. There will be large sentiment for War Like Goddess given she was robbed of the Eclipse last season, but last season was last season. Voters need to be impartial and not have that in their minds.

The sprint divisions are clear for me, but for others there will be debate on the male side of things.

Jackie’s Warrior was the best sprinter for most of the season, and despite his loss in the Breeders’ Cup he will get my vote for the Eclipse. If ever there was a textbook case of a horse losing a step or two at the tail end of their career, it was Jackie’s Warrior in his last two starts. Specifically the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, where the Jackie’s Warrior we have seen for most of his career would have put that field away early and not looked back based on the final speed figures for that race, which were well below the norm for Jackie’s Warrior. The Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner, Elite Power, can’t win the Eclipse in my book. He didn’t make his stakes debut until a month before the Breeders’ Cup.

On the female side it is a bit more clear. Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Goodnight Olive will win the Eclipse. In a division void of a clear leader for most of the season, this gal took over divisional supremacy in August at Saratoga with her Ballerina (G1) win and never looked back.

In this day and age of racing, the 2-year-old Eclipse awards usually go to the Breeders’ Cup winners. I don’t necessarily agree with it, but this year I do. Forte won a whopping three Grade 1 races and is a deserving winner on the male side. Wonder Wheel won her Breeders’ Cup race and two Grade 1 races overall; she will be an easy Eclipse winner too.

If you disagree with me, I am open to reading why I should change my mind on any of these.