Division Rankings: Why Nadal's the No. 1 3-year-old contender

In a season where race choices are slim and the future is uncertain, it is more important than ever for connections with Eclipse Award aspirations to run their horses in top events the first half of the year.

After last weekend's split divisions of the Arkansas Derby (G1), Nadal became the first 3-year-old male to win three graded stakes this season and, in the process, assumes the No. 1 spot in these rankings.

Much of the pre-race discussion centered around Nadal's stablemate, Charlatan. But Nadal had already won the San Vicente (G2) around one turn at Santa Anita Park in February and then traveled to Arkansas in March to take the Rebel Stakes (G2) in his two-turn debut. In short, he had already proven as much as any 3-year-old in the land. He was a multiple graded stakes winner who showed he can take his game on the road.

In his division of the Arkansas Derby, Nadal left no doubt who was best as he relaxed nicely behind the pacesetter, Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Wells Bayou. After taking over from that rival in the stretch, it appeared that Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner King Guillermo would pose a threat until Nadal sprinted clear for a three-length win. The common theme from Division 2? Nadal faced off against several graded stakes winners.

It could be argued this was the best single performance put forth by any horse in the 3-year-old male division this season. It was also the best field assembled in 2020, better than what Tiz the Law defeated in the Florida Derby (G1). Hopefully the quality of the Arkansas Derby's second division isn't forgotten later this year when the Eclipse Award race heats up.

We have no idea what races will be run and when. It's certainly no given we'll have the traditional spacing between Triple Crown races. That's why I place a lot of weight on Nadal's latest win. He ran -- again -- while the connections of Tiz the Law sat out. For now, Nadal is the leader.

This is a unique year in which some Eclipse contenders may only have three or four starts for the season. Winning races now is imperative to help pad those resumes. Nadal has certainly done just that this spring.

With that, a look at this week's Division Rankings...

Older Dirt Males

1.  Maximum Security - Unless he fails some sort of post-race blood test, he deserves this No. 1 spot. To be fair, whatever tests they do run, I would hope they perform on all samples from Saudi Cup contenders as prize money is withheld. In the meantime, Maximum Security has started training with Bob Baffert at Santa Anita. 

2.  By My Standards – Three starts in 2020 are in the books for this son of Goldencents, and one thing is clear: He has matured into a Eclipse contender at age 4. Last weekend's win in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) came against the best group of older horses assembled for a race on U.S. soil this season.

3.  Tom's d'Etat – A winner of his last three, he is in the best form of his career now at age 7. His Oaklawn Mile Stakes win over Improbable and nine others was deceptively good. The decision to skip the Oaklawn Handicap has to be questioned, given the fact that with few tracks running there are limited stakes to choose from.

4.  Mucho Gusto – Much-improved from last season, his Saudi Cup trip was eventful. He likely would have finished third instead of fourth had his jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr., not been so concerned with Maximum Security for the entirety of the race. With COVID-19 leading to cancellation of the Dubai World Cup (G1), his plans were dashed.

5.  Warrior's Charge – Deserves to be placed in the top five based off of his Razorback (G3) win and his strong runner-up to By My Standards in the Oaklawn Handicap.

Next 5: Mr. Freeze, Tacitus, Code of Honor, Gift Box, Improbable.

Older Dirt Females

1.  Midnight Bisou – Runner-up in the Saudi Cup, she will target a summer return with the Breeders' Cup Distaff as her year-end goal and career finale. In the meantime, could she be elevated to a victory in the Saudi Cup? Stay tuned.

2.  Ce Ce – With two Grade 1 wins already in 2020, most recently in the Apple Blossom (G1), she is moving quickly now to challenge for the top spot. She is a serious Eclipse player in this division.

3.  Ollie's Candy - Ran a top race race in the Apple Blossom, as she did all the work on the front end while setting some quick fractions. She has finished behind Ce Ce in both of her starts this year, the other being the Beholder Mile (G1) at Santa Anita.

4.  Dunbar Road - The Alabama (G1) and Mother Goose (G2) winner of 2019 is back on the work tab and looking for somewhere to run.

5.  Point of Honor - Closed from 14th, where she was more than 23 lengths back, to run third in the Apple Blossom after getting squeezed back at the break. She has run well in both of her starts this season.

Next 5: Serengeti Empress, Guarana, Street Band, Go Google Yourself,  Pink Sands.

3-Year-Old-Males

1.  Nadal – Showed in the Arkansas Derby that he is the top 3-year-old in the land by defeating the best assembled group of sophomores so far in 2020. His three graded stakes wins lead his class, and he should only get better as he goes longer.

2.  Tiz the Law – Unseated this week from the top spot, he could fall further if he doesn't run again soon. With only two starts this year, I believe he is at or near the top of the division, but you have to run to win Eclipse awards.

3. Charlatan – Moves to the No. 3 spot slightly ahead of Authentic based on his six length win in the first division of the Arkansas Derby. I still don't know what to make of this son of Speightstown. The field was suspect at best for a Grade 1, but he got the job done under jockey Martin Garcia who did push Charlatan in the late stages with three left handed reminders. 

4.  Authentic – Unbeaten in three career starts, he was sensational last out in the San Felipe (G2), defeating a strong field that included the runner-up, Honor A. P., who was making his season debut. He should make his next start in the rescheduled Santa Anita Derby (G1) on June 6.

5.  King Guillermo - Impressed me with his runner-up finish in the Arkansas Derby behind Nadal, showing everyone that his 49-1 upset win in his previous start, the Tampa Bay Derby, was no fluke.

Next 5: Sole Volante, Ete Indien, Honor A.P, Independence Hall, Wells Bayou.

3-Year-Old-Females

1.  Donna Veloce – Big things were expected this year from the daughter of Uncle Mo, and she certainly delivered in her first start of 2020, winning the Santa Ysabel (G3). She is back on the sidelines now, however, due to a physical setback.

2.  Swiss Skydiver – Quite a jump here for the daughter of Daredevil, but she earned it. Last Friday's Fantasy Stakes (G3) win came over the deepest group this division has seen in a race this season, and I get the sense she is here to stay. She now has two straight graded stakes wins and her connections are seriously considering going to Europe and running on grass for her next start.

3.  Venetian Harbor – The runaway Las Virgenes (G2) winner tried her best in the Fantasy but was simply second best. Some 10 lengths clear of third place, this gal will should get more chances down the road to move up here.

4.  Finite – Disappointed as the odds-on favorite in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) when she was off the board, finishing fourth. This snapped a five-race winning streak. Previously ranked No. 1, she took a big drop but will have opportunities to move back up.

5.  Bonny South – The impressive winner of the Fair Grounds Oaks is now 3-for-4 in her career and taking it easy with no races on the calendar back east for the division. Stabled at Keeneland, she's back on the work tab.

Next 5: Tonalist's Shape, Wicked Whisper, British Idiom, Kimari, Frank's Rockette.

Turf Males

1.  Zulu Alpha - The Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) and Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2) winner tasted his first defeat of the season in the Pan American (G2) at Gulfstream when runner-up to Bemma's Boy. Still on top of this division for now, but I expect several others to contend for this Eclipse.

2.  Annals of Time - The Sword Dancer (G1) winner last year, he could be the one to beat in this division for 2019 Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar's connections if he stays healthy. Back on the work tab at Palm Meadows, but it may be tough to find a comeback race.

3.  United - Almost pulled off a shocking upset in the Breeders' Cup Turf, losing to Bricks and Mortar by a head. Then won the San Marcos (G2) to get his 2020 season underway. He'll have a spot to run assuming Santa Anita gets back running this month.

4.  River Boyne – It was time to move him up with no others standing out. He has put together two graded wins in a row, his last being the Kilroe Mile (G1).

5.  Arklow - Winner of the Joe Hirsch (G1) last fall at Belmont, he has appeared once this season, when he finished fifth to winner Zulu Alpha in the Pegasus World Cup Turf.

Next 5: Bowies Hero, Mo Forza, Bemma's Boy, Factor This, Sadler's Joy.

Turf Females

1.  Uni – Not much separates this one and Sistercharlie. With racing in New York and other locations not likely until late summer at the earliest, she has few options on where to return.

2.  Sistercharlie – Has lost only one race since June of 2018, in last November's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Connections have a campaign planned that could include a run against the boys in the Arlington Million (G1) in late summer. She's back on the work tab at Palm Meadows, gearing up for her 6-year-old campaign.

3.  Got Stormy – Ran her race against the boys last out but was just edged at the wire by Rover Boyne in the Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita. Some may have been disappointed with this effort, but I felt it was one of her better races.

4.  Starship Jubilee – She is stacking up victories, as she won her third race already this season in Tampa Bay Downs' Hillsborough (G2). If not for the trio of stars on top of this division, she would be the one people are talking about. Don't count her out.
5.  Magic Wand – Tried valiantly in her first dirt start in the Saudi Cup, but it wasn't to be as she checked in ninth. Previously, the globetrotting mare ran a big race in the Pegasus World Cup Turf, finishing second after surprisingly setting the pace.

Next 5:  Rushing Fall, Cambier Parc, Beau Recall, Juliet Foxtrot, Jolie Olimpica.

Male Sprinters

1.  Whitmore - He takes over the top spot here having topped the best field in the division, the Count Fleet Sprint (G3) at Oaklawn. And Whitmore did so handily. With two wins in three starts, he shows no signs of slowing down at age 7.

2.  Firenze Fire – Like Maximum Security, questions now surround this former Jason Servis trainee's future. Also like Maximum Security, he still occupies a top spot in his respective division. I still believe this horse is as good as he has run, but no one will know the real truth until he returns for new trainer Kelly Breen's barn.

3.  Mind Control - Started off 2020 with a win in the Toboggan Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct. And last out a few weeks ago, he looked beaten but put in a spectacular stretch run to win the Tom Fool (G3). 

4.  Flagstaff - Off the board only once in 12 career starts, he ran a bang-up second to Whitmore in the Count Fleet, rallying after a slow break. Previously in 2020, he won the San Carolos (G2) and finished runner-up in the Palos Verdes (G2) at Santa Anita.

5.  Shancelot - Previously trained by the now-indicted Jorge Navarro, he is with trainer Steve Asmussen now and will have questions to answer once he is back. 

Next 5: Imperial Hint, New York Central, Cistron, Captain Scotty, Vekoma.

Female Sprinters

1.  Hard Not to Love - Covfefe left a huge void at the top of this division. This Grade 1 heroine in 2019 returned a winner in the Santa Monica (G2) at Santa Anita and then tried to stretch out in the Beholder Mile at Santa Anita, where she was runner-up to Ce Ce. 

2.  Mia Mischief - Won the Carousel Stakes at Oaklawn in impressive fashion while beating a nice field that included Grade 1 winner Bellafina. Now unbeaten for her new owner, Stonestreet Stables, she could contend for the top spot in this division soon.

3.  Come Dancing – Was up the track in the Apple Blossom in her first start of 2020. While that was around two turns, look for this gal to be back sprinting the rest of the season. 

4.  Serengeti Empress - Never saw the lead in the Apple Blossom and faded to finish 11th. Although she hasn't sprinted yet this season, we know she can hang with the very best as she showed last August when runner-up to Covfefe in the Test at Saratoga. Stays ranked here in this division for now.

5.  Pink Sands - In a division lacking depth, she cracks the top five. Won her only start this year sprinting in the Inside Information (G2) at Gulfstream. 

Next 5: Special Relativity, Spiced Perfection, Kimari, Royal Charlotte, Break Even.