Division Rankings: Clairiere pushes her way to the top

Of all the divisions below, the older dirt female division has always had the least amount of movement at the top. Only two horses have had the honor of being ranked No. 1 at one time or another over the last 600-plus days. Letruska occupied the top spot for the last 420 plus days, and before Letruska, Monomoy Girl held the top spot for 212 days.

This week Clairiere makes jump to No. 1 after her gutsy win in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps last weekend over Letruksa. How long can Clairiere hold on to this top spot? Before I dive into my thoughts on that, let’s look at this week’s updated Division Rankings.

Older dirt males

1. Flightline. His Met Mile (G1) win was good, overcoming trouble and answering several questions such as shipping across the country and the added distance. He still has questions, and the field he beat was not what I would consider good, but here he sits on top – mainly because the horses I feel who will be better at the 10-furlong distance required to win an Eclipse in this division, still haven't run in this country in 2022.

2. Olympiad. A winner in the Alysheba Stakes (G2) on Derby weekend, this guy has quietly put together four wins in a row, three of which are graded. I put him near the top because if the season ended today, he would have to be voted the Eclipse winner. Country Grammer and Hot Rod Charlie haven't even run in the U.S. this year. While some of the others are still sidelined after races overseas, Olympiad figures to pad his resume even more in the coming months. The Stephen Foster (G1) will be next on July 2, and if all goes well the Whitney (G1) later this summer.

3. Country Grammer. Sensational in both of his starts overseas, he was a facile winner of the Dubai World Cup (G1). Before that, he was a close runner-up in the Saudi Cup (G1), his first start in nine months. The hope is to bring him back for the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar late this summer. Still, he hasn't run in this country yet this season, and that matters. Could drop in the coming weeks.

4. Express Train. Ran one of his best career races in the Californian (G2), but he was beaten by Stilleto Boy. If anything, he gained more respect from me with that effort. Now 2-for-3 on the season, he is in the best form of his career.

5. Hot Rod Charlie. Struggling midway through the Dubai World Cup, he looked to be in serious trouble but gathered himself and ran a solid second on a day where he might not have been his best. If the Breeders' Cup Classic were held today, he would be the second betting choice. Will return in the Salvator Mile (G3) this weekend at Monmouth Park.

Next 5: Life is Good, Happy Saver, Speaker's Corner, Mandaloun, Stilleto Boy. 

Older dirt females

1. Clairiere. Moves to the top based on her win last weekend over several below in the Ogden Phipps. Previously she ran very well when runner-up to Letruska in the Apple Blossom (G1).

2. Malathaat. Has only a Grade 3 win on the season but she ran a big race in the Phipps, narrowly losing to her rival, Clairiere.

3. Letruska. She was part of that hot pace in the Phipps, but so was Search Results and she finished third. While she wasn't pushed at all in the stretch, the result was disappointing. She has shown the ability to rate before so I am not sure why that tactic has been used, given the pace scenarios she has had in two of her last four starts. Still right there near the top of this division, but right now too one-dimensional.

4. Search Results. Considering the early fractions this gal set, she ran an outstanding race in the Phipps when finishing third. It's not a stretch to write that she may have run the best race of them all.

5. Ce Ce. Letruska and Clairiere were too much last out in the Apple Blossom. Will be back sprinting in her next start.

Next 5: Pauline's Pearl, Shedaresthedevil, Blue Stripe, Bonny South, Royal Flag.

3-year-old males

1. Epicenter. He was the 17th horse to finish second in the first two legs of the Triple Crown since 1937, and he stays here at No. 1 despite those runner-up efforts. Still feel he is best in this division after having questionable trips in those runner-up efforts.
2. Mo Donegal. Was superb in the Belmont as the facile winner. It wasn't the strongest of fields, but a win is a win. He moves to this spot, ahead of the Preakness winner whom he already defeated this season in the Wood Memorial (G2). He might train up to the Travers (G1), but if there is a prep it will come in the Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga.
3. Zandon. The Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner ran very well in the Kentucky Derby, where he made a nice run from the back of the pack, but he did hang a bit in the stretch to finish third. Will run next in the Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga on July 30.
4. Early Voting. Certainly looked good winning the Preakness with a perfect trip, but he loses points in these rankings for skipping the Kentucky Derby after having been runner-up in the Wood to Mo Donegal. Others will have him ranked higher, but he won't be ranked higher than No. 4 here. Will likely run in the Haskell (G1) on July 23.
5. Rich Strike. His win in the Kentucky Derby was the biggest upset I have ever seen at any level in this sport. Horses mature at different times and some more rapidly than others. The Kentucky Derby was his first start on dirt this season, and his Belmont run last week was dull when he finished sixth, beaten 14 lengths. Still, I think this guy will make his presence known and is still in with an Eclipse chance in this division.
Next 5: Jack Christopher, White Abarrio, Taiba, Simplification, Cyberknife.
3-year-old females

1. Secret Oath. Ran her race in the Preakness but was only fourth best. Prior she was certainly was much the best in the Kentucky Oaks, coming with a powerful run to circle horses on the turn. Before that she was third against the boys in the Arkansas Derby (G1). Will now rest and wait for the CCA Oaks (G1), where she will be back against her fellow females.
2. Nest. Ran well when runner-up to Mo Donegal in the Belmont, but I'm not sure what that means given the horses finishing behind her had been 2-for-15 in graded-stakes attempts. A clear second in this now, though.

3. Echo Zulu. Was a gate scratch in the Acorn last weekend. She previously had gained much respect with her solid run in the Kentucky Oaks, where she conceded the early lead to a long shot while attending solid early fractions only to begrudgingly give way at the end to finish fourth, beaten a length for the runner-up spot.
4. Kathleen O. Suffered her first loss when fifth in the Kentucky Oaks, but she hardly disgraced herself. She was beaten only fourth lengths for all the marbles.
5. Matareya. Four wins in four starts this season, three of which were graded. She was an easy winner of last week's Acorn, which was missing the favorite, Echo Zulu.

Next 5: Under the Stars, Desert Dawn, Eda, Interstatedaydream, Adare Manor.

Turf males

1. Count Again. This guy has racked up two Grade 1 wins already this season and is now 3-for-4 on the year. His win over Smooth Like Strait in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) was his best effort yet. He holds this spot for now.

2. Golden Pal. Was dominant in his 2022 debut last out at Keeneland, a win in the Shakertown (G2). The Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner from last season ran at Royal Ascot on Tuesday and was slow to break. But let's be clear, he was well beaten and wasn't going to win even with a clean break. A disappointing effort.

3. Colonel Liam. He found the waters a bit too deep in the Dubai Turf (G1), where he finished ninth. Previously he ran huge in defending his Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) and seemed better than ever despite his long layoff. There is a wide gap between grass horses in this country and overseas – and not for the better.

4. Gufo. Started his 2022 season off right with a facile two-length win in the Pan American (G2) at Gulfstream but then finished runner-up in the Man O' War Stakes (G1) and third in the Manhattan (G1), both at Belmont Park.

5. Yibir. Last year's Breeders' Cup Turf winner has placed in all three of his starts, two Grade/Group 1 starts and a Group 2.

Next 5: Smooth Like Strait, Adhamo, Santin, Shirl's Speight, Highland Chief.

Turf females

1. Regal Glory. Outstanding again in another Grade 1 event, this time in the Just a Game at Belmont. She started her season off with a win in the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G3) and then won the Jenny Wiley (G1) at Keeneland over a strong field. Now 3-for-3 on the season, she stays here on top.

2. Bleecker Street. Talk about a hot start to a career, his filly is unbeaten in seven career starts and already has won four graded stakes this year. Her last, the New York Stakes (G1), was her first Grade 1 win.

3. War Like Goddess. Won her 2022 debut impressively, picking off horses to win by open lengths in the Bewitch Stakes (G3). Kept out of Friday's New York Stakes (G1) at Belmont because of a minor physical problem, look for this gal to return at Saratoga, where she could run against males in the Sword Dancer (G1), a 1 1/2-mile race on Aug. 27.

4. Ocean Road. Won her first graded stakes in her last start, a win in the Gamely (G1) over Going Global at Santa Anita. She is now 2-for-2 on the season.

5. Going Global. Had no excuses last time out when third to Ocean Road in the Gamely (G1) at Santa Anita, but since that was her first loss in a grass race since last July she stays here in the top five. Previously she made her 2022 debut with a win in the Royal Heroine (G2) at Santa Anita.

Next 5: Shantisara, Wakanaka, In Italian, Going to Vegas, Technical Analysis.

Male sprinters

1. Jackie's Warrior. Seems to be better now than ever before. His win in the True North (G2) last week as easy as it gets. The Eclipse winner from last season was dominant in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) previously, where he defeated several ranked below. Before that he made short work of the Count Fleet Sprint (G3) at Oaklawn. Now 3-for-3 on the season, he will head to Saratoga for his next two starts.

2. Speaker's Corner. He was beaten in the Met Mile (G1) when third, but if he gets back to sprinting he could do some damage in this division. He is 3-for-4 on the season, with the Carter (G1) as his lone Grade 1 triumph.

3. Jack Christopher. This guy is only 3, but he deserves to be ranked here based off his sprint wins. He will stretch out for his next start in the Haskell, but there is little doubt in my mind he will be back sprinting after his first two-turn attempt. A real player in this division.

4. Reinvestment Risk. Runner-up to Jackie's Warrior three times in his career, the latest being the Churchill Downs Stakes last time out. Before that he was runner-up to Speakers Corner in the Carter at Aqueduct.

5. Golden Pal. Could contend for this Eclipse if he can right this ship after the Royal Ascot fiasco, but I doubt we see him run more than two more times this season.

Next 5: Dr. Schivel, Aloha West, Cezanne, Brickyard Ride, American Theorem.

Female sprinters

1. Obligatory. I am still keeping this gal on top, despite her stronger-than-it-looked runner-up effort to Bella Sofia last week in the Bed o' Roses (G2). That was a four-horse field with little pace. As a horse who likes to come off the pace, she was compromised. But in bigger races later this season there won't be four-horse fields with that pace scenario. Previously, 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.

2. Just One Time. The beaten favorite in the Derby City, she finished third with no excuses. Previously this season she won the Madison (G1) at Keeneland and the Inside Information (G2) at Gulfstream.

3. Bella Sofia. Won last week's Bed o' Roses going wire-to-wire. Previous to that she made her first start of the year in the Vagrancy (G3) a winning one.

4. Edgeway. Ran the worst race of her 12-race career last out in the Derby City Distaff, finishing sixth, beaten over seven lengths. Before that she won the Las Flores (G3) at Santa Anita.

5. Ce Ce. Last season's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner was beaten by Merneith in her first start of 2022, the Santa Monica (G2) at Santa Anita. Two starts back she stretched out to win the Azeri (G2) at 1 1/16 miles but failed against Letruska in the Apple Blossom at that same distance.

Next 5: Bell's the One, Four Graces, Kimari, Glass Ceiling, Frank's Rockette.

In her first two starts this season at age 4, Clairiere’s ascension toward the top of her division was apparent. She was clearly a better racehorse now than she was last year at age 3. But really, the arrow started pointing upward with her off-the-board finish in last fall’s Breeders Cup Distaff.

Last season Clairiere was solid. She started her season in February with a win in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) and ended it in the Breeders’ Cup in November. In between, Clairiere raced in six graded stakes. She was one in her division who showed up for pretty much every major race her division had to offer.

All told, Clairiere won two of her eight starts last season, the Rachel Alexandra and the Cotillon (G1) in September, and she placed in four other graded stakes. Part of the reason she didn’t have more wins was her rival, Malathaat. Those two faced each other four times last season, with Malathaat getting the better of Clairiere each time.

Clairiere started to show last fall that maybe she turned the corner. She broke through with that Cotillion win, and then, for a brief moment, she looked like she was going to win the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Floated seven wide turning for home, Clairiere hung just a bit in the stretch to come up a half-length short when finishing fourth.

It was a performance that showed she was very close to taking that next step.

With her Ogden Phipps win last weekend over her rival Malathaat, Clairiere finally broke through. How long can she stay on top? I really don’t know. Malathaat should be tougher when they go longer, and Letruska will be tough under the right pace scenario. Toss in Search Results, who ran a stellar race when third, and this division is surely one of the more exciting we have this season.

As for Letruska, her race was disappointing. Search Results went with her from the start, and those two put 10 lengths between themselves and the rest of the field. But Search Results had enough in the tank to save third while Letruska faded to last. I get it. Jockey Jose Ortiz preserved his mare and didn’t push her after those early fractions, easing her to the finish.

It’s interesting, the opinion is that Letruska needs the lead to win – I don't agree. Letruska has shown she can run well when not on the lead. She nearly caught Shedaresthedevil last year in a race at Oaklawn when conceding the lead and stalking a few lengths back.

Letruska will be back, and it wouldn’t surprise me if these three (Malathaat, Clairiere and Letruska) traded wins for the rest of the season with the Eclipse coming down to the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland.

But for now, we have new name at the top of this division: Clairiere.