Division Rankings: Male sprint category is up for grabs

The male sprint division figures to have a whole new look this season with Jackie's Warrior now retired. After all, he occupied the No. 1 spot every week in 2022 in my rankings.

And with some of the expected top names in this division such as Elite Power and Gunite spending time overseas in the coming months in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, another horse could pad his early-season resume running in the states.

Before I take a brief look at what is always one my favorite divisions in racing, let's take a look at this week's updated Division Rankings.

Older dirt males

1. Art Collector. Big winner of the Pegasus World Cup (G1), he is age 6 now and looks to be in career form. Has quietly put together a nice record of 11 wins from 21 starts. Connections will not ship him overseas for either the Saudi or Dubai cups. That's good news for his fans as he can stay stateside and build an Eclipse-worthy resume. Since he has won a Grade 1 event already this season, he resides on top for now.

2. Taiba. Ran a good race in the Breeders' Classic to finish third and then wrapped up 2022 with a facile win sprinting in the Malibu (G1) at Santa Anita. We could be in store for a big season from this guy. The Saudi Cup (G1) will be his next start, and he will the favorite.
3. Cody's Wish. Came on late at the end of last season, winning the Forego (G1) at Saratoga and the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile by a nose over Cyberknife.

4. Country Grammer. The Dubai World Cup (G1) winner from last season finished 2022 on a high note, winning the San Antonio (G2) in late December. He will go next in the Saudi Cup, where he was runner-up last year.

5. Defunded. Winner of graded stakes in two of his last three starts, he was runner-up to Art Collector in the Pegasus.
Next 5: Zandon, Rich Strike, Charge It, Stilleto Boy, Proxy.

Older dirt females

1. Clairiere. She was third in that Breeders' Cup Distaff blanket finish, losing by two noses. Back in training at Oaklawn, she will run in the coming weeks. Remember, this gal led this division most of last summer.

2. Nest. Overmatched in the Breeders' Cup Distaff when off the board, finishing fourth. But she won a trio of Grade 1 events in 2022 and was crowned with the Eclipse as the top 3-year-old filly.

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

4. Secret Oath. Looked good turning for home in the Breeders' Cup Distaff but ran out of gas to finish fifth, beaten more than five lengths for the win. Back in training and will run at Oaklawn in the Azeri (G2) on March 11.
5. 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. Next 5: Society, Pauline's Pearl, Midnight Memories, Matareya, Interstatedaydream.
3-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. Will make his 3-year-old debut at Gulfstream in the Fountain of Youth (G1) on March 4.
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. Sort of forgotten right now. 3. Arabian Knight. He was dominant last out in the slop at Oaklawn to win the Southwest (G3).

4. Blazing Sevens. Fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, he finished third in the Hopeful (G1) 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: National Treasure, Reincarnate, Newgate, Instant Coffee, Verifying.

3-year-old females

1. Wonder Wheel. Made her 3-year-old debut last weekend in Tampa Bay in the listed Suncoast Stakes and didn't run poorly when finishing a close runner-up to 38-1 long-shot winner Dreaming of Snow. Still, the result was disappointing no matter how you slice it. Super impressive last season at age 2, capping off her championship season in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies after closing strong to win going away.
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) in September. Should start her season at Gulfstream soon, perhaps in the Davona Dale (G2). 3. Hoosier Philly. The Golden Rod (G2) winner is unbeaten in three starts and will make her 3-year-old debut at Fair Grounds this weekend in the Rachel Alexandra (G2). 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. 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.
Next 5: Faiza, Dreaming of Snow, The Aly's Look, Red Carpet Ready, Pride of the Nile.

Turf males

1. Atone. The Pegasus World Cup Turf winner (G1) is good enough to vault all the way to this spot for now.

2. Ivar. Ran well last year but has only one win to show for it. Was runner-up to Atone in the Pegasus World Cup Turf.

3. Count Again. This guy racked up two Grade 1 wins this season before he went on the shelf. Finally back in training after a long break.

4. Santin. Won two Grade 1 races in 2022, and that's good enough to place him here for now.

5. Hong Kong Harry. Was 5-for-6 last season with three graded-stakes wins. Figures to contend in this division in 2023 and will run next in the Kilroe Mile (G1) at Santa Anita in early March.

Next 5: Annapolis, Shirl's Speight, Highland Chief, Casa Creed, Beyond Brilliant.

Turf females

1. War Like Goddess. Robbed of an Eclipse in 2021, she came very close in 2022 again but Regal Glory was the deserved winner. Back again in 2023, could the third time be the charm? An Eclipse contender again.

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.

3. Bleecker Street. Suffered the first loss of her career last time out in the Diana (G1) last summer after starting her career 7-for-7. She put in her run from the back but had too much to do when finishing third. Back in training now and eying a spring comeback.

4. Queen Goddess. The Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G3) winner looks to be a serious contender this year in this division. She has won four graded stakes.

5. Lady Speightspeare. Ran against the boys in the Pegasus World Cup Turf and finished fourth. Prior to that she was third in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Next 5: Spendarella, Caravel, Shantisara, Gina Romantica, McKulick.

Male sprinters

1. Elite Power. The Breeders' Cup Sprint winner had never won a stakes until four weeks before his big win. Will return in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3) next Saturday in Saudi Arabia. Connections state that after that race he will be given a break again to point for a late-season campaign. So I don't expect this guy to run more than four times in 2023.

2. Cody's Wish. Came on late at the end of last season, winning the Forego at Saratoga and narrowly winning the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile by a nose over Cyberknife.

3. Gunite. Superb winner of his first 2023 start, the King Cotton Stakes at Oaklawn. Last year he won four stakes races. He too will run in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint.

4. American Theorem. Off the board in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, but he was very good out west in 2022.

5. C Z Rocket. This guy is now age 9, but he was runner-up to Elite Power in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Returns this weekend ini an allowance at Oaklawn.

Next 5: Laurel River, Repo Rocks, Endorsed, Sibelius, Following Sea.

As it stands now, the No. 1 ranking male sprinter in these rankings has defaulted to the Eclipse winner, Elite Power. I write defaulted because Elite Power has won a grand total of two stakes races. Yes, Elite Power upset the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last fall, and that apparently was enough for 108 of the 243 Eclipse voters to net him the divisional award. But for me, Elite Power still has much to prove, and with only one start penciled in for Elite Power in the first half of 2023, the door is wide open for others to move up and possibly take the lead in this division.

Another sprinter I like a lot, the No. 3 ranked Gunite, already has started once this year, winning the King Cotton with fast speed figures. Gunite is a horse I felt could have won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last fall had he run there instead of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, where he finished fourth. But like Elite Power, Gunite is headed to Saudi Arabia for his next start in February. After that race we may not see Gunite for awhile either. 

The veteran C Z Rocket at the ripe old age of 9 is ranked No. 5 right now. He was runner-up to Elite Power in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and he returns this weekend in an allowance at Oaklawn. But 9-year-olds don’t win Eclipse awards very often unless they are named John Henry.

So where is this division headed over the next few months? Some names out there, such as Sibelius, Following Sea and American Theorem, could make noise in the coming months. But more likely it could come from a horse we have yet to hear from. Perhaps a 3-year-old such as Havnameltdown could bubble up in this division later this year.

On the flip side, given the Eclipse vote from last season, it might not matter what any sprinter does for most of the racing season. Just be in top form in October. Win your prep for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and then the Breeder’s Cup Sprint itself. That was enough for voters in 2022.