Division rankings: Eclatant returns with rivals in pursuit

This week, we shift our focus to the female sprinters and the current leader, Eclatant. Much like the male sprint division, which boasts an impressive mix of established veterans and emerging stars, the female sprint division is loaded with talent. Several of the horses ranked below would surprise no one if they landed Eclipse Award hardware by season's end.

For now, however, Eclatant holds the top spot in the division, and a closer look below explains why she remains there. She returns to action this weekend in the Grade 2 Chicago Stakes at Churchill Downs, where she will face no. 6-ranked Usha, her most accomplished rival in the field.

The pressure is on Eclatant to keep adding to her résumé. A deep group of challengers led by R Disaster, Ways and Means, Splendora and Grand Job are all lurking just behind her in the rankings, ready to capitalize on any misstep. Together, they form a formidable top five and underscore just how competitive this division has become.

Female sprinters

1. Eclatant. An impressive winner of the Madison (G1), earning her second graded-stakes victory and first at the top level. She now is 5-for-8 in her career.

2. R Disaster. Flattered the top one with a win in the Derby City Distaff (G1), beating several ranked below. Previously she was third to Eclatant in the Madison (G1) at Keeneland.

3. Splendora. Rebounded nicely in the Shawnee (G2) at Churchill Downs. She came into the Shawnee after finishing fourth as the favorite in the Derby City Distaff. The Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner also impressed in two starts earlier this season, including the Beholder Mile (G1). 

4. Ways and Means. In her first start in 11 months, she ran well, finishing runner-up to R Disaster in the Derby City Distaff. Then last out she won a stirring renewal of the Bed o' Roses (G2), defeating Grand Job by a nose. 

5. Grand Job. She added another solid runner-up finish to her résumé when second behind Ways and Means in the Bed o' Roses. Earlier this season, she also chased home Eclatant in the Madison, continuing a solid season against some of the division's top talent.

Next five: Usha, Grammy Girl, Mystic Lake, Immersive, Margarita Girl.

Eclatant has held the top spot in the female sprint division since her win in the Madison in April. Although some may argue that a few of the horses ranked below her have produced standout performances worthy of consideration for the no. 1 ranking, there has been little doubt in my mind that Eclatant deserves to remain on top.

If anything, the performances turned in by R Disaster and Ways and Means since the Madison have strengthened Eclatant's case as the leader of this division.

R Disaster, ranked second this week, finished third in the Madison, beaten six lengths by Eclatant. She returned to win the Derby City Distaff, defeating fellow division standouts Ways and Means, Usha and Splendora. Ways and Means then came right back to capture the Bed o' Roses, narrowly defeating Grand Job, who herself was beaten only a nose by Eclatant in the Madison. 

That result speaks volumes about the depth of this division. Grand Job, currently ranked fifth, is just two noses away from being a two-time Grade 1 winner this season and sitting atop this division herself.

As for this weekend, Usha appears to be Eclatant's most dangerous challenger. The Bob Baffert trainee enters off a victory in the Winning Colors (G3) and previously finished third in the Derby City Distaff. Having run well in both of her starts beneath the Twin Spires, she is a major threat.

Although Eclatant remains the leader of this division, the race this weekend isn't a walk in the park. In addition to Usha, she will have to contend with the accomplished veteran Zeitlos, who finished third in this race a year ago.

The division leader deserves her ranking, but she will have to earn it once again on Saturday.

Older dirt males

1. Nysos. His victory in the Met Mile (G1) was nothing short of sensational, showcasing the same brilliance, toughness and determination that have defined his remarkable comeback. With bigger targets and longer races on the horizon, there is little reason to doubt he will continue proving his class against the very best later this season.

2. Skippylongstocking. I’m keeping him in this spot despite his narrow defeat in the Alysheba (G2). More than anything, that performance reinforced the notion that he has taken a significant step forward this season. His dominant victory in the Essex Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn remains one of the stronger performances in the division this year, and when combined with his Pegasus World Cup (G1) triumph over White Abarrio, his body of work is still strong enough to justify this ranking.

3. White Abarrio. His Oaklawn Handicap (G2) win was somewhat of a surprise to many, but I have to give credit to this 7-year-old. He enhances his reputation with a win like this and is entrenched in this spot for now. He was second in the Pegasus World Cup in his only other start in 2026. He's pointed to the Stephen Foster (G1), where another win would move him to the top of the division.

4. Magnitude. This guy resides here because he is 2-for-2 this season and knocked off the best dirt horse in the world, Forever Young, in the Dubai World Cup (G1). Should be a player in this division moving forward. Could run next in the Stephen Foster, where a win there over several ranked here would certainly move him to the top.

5. Sovereignty. He returned from a 238-day layoff to finish a solid runner-up to White Abarrio in the Oaklawn Handicap. He should be better next out, when hopefully some of the others ranked here will run. Regardless, he is back on the bench for another 70-plus days as he waits for the Stephen Foster.

Next five: Journalism, Baeza, Touchuponastar, Corporate Power, Antiquarian.

Older dirt females

1. Nitrogen. Added distance proved to be exactly what she was looking for. Stretching out in the Ogden Phipps (G1), Nitrogen delivered a devastating performance, drawing off to win by 12 lengths and reclaiming the top spot in the division. Her previous two starts at Oaklawn raised questions after defeats as a heavy favorite, finishing second in the Apple Blossom (G1) and third in the Azeri (G2). Those setbacks now look like little more than temporary detours. With a commanding Grade 1 victory under her belt, Nitrogen has firmly re-established herself as the leader of the older dirt female division, and with a 2-for-4 record this season, she once again sits atop the rankings.

2. Claret Beret. Really sad to hear about her untimely passing, but she will be in these rankings for at least another few weeks. This gal was mainly known as a sprinter, but she stretched out nicely in her last two starts, posting big wins and getting her first top-level score in the Apple Blossom (G1).

3. Fully Subscribed. She was best of the rest in the Ogden Phipps, finishing a distant second behind the runaway winner Nitrogen while proving superior to the remainder of the field. Before that, she turned in a strong effort when narrowly defeated in the La Troienne (G1). Now 4 years old, she continues to build on a productive sophomore campaign that included victories in the Mother Goose (G2) and Comely (G3), showing she belongs among the top fillies and mares in the division.

4. Shred the Gnar. This division is in somewhat of disarray, so this gal moves all the way to this spot based on her La Troienne win last out. She was sixth in her only other start this season, the Royal Delta (G3) at Gulfstream, behind Claret Beret.

5. Majestic Oops. She sprinted last out in the Shawnee, finishing third to Splendora, but she has been stellar this year at age 6, winning two of her four starts. She won the Azeri earlier this season and in the process secured her first graded-stakes win in her 35th career start. She was also third in the Apple Blossom.

Next five: Om N Joy, Simply Joking, Bless the Broken, Perfect Shot, Regaled.

3-year-old males

1. Golden Tempo. Golden Tempo validated his position atop these rankings with a decisive win in the Belmont Stakes, leaving little room for debate regarding his status as the leader of this division. With wins in two legs of the Triple Crown, the Eclipse Award is now his, as it would take an extraordinary turn of events to slip away. The plan calls for a summer and fall campaign that includes the Jim Dandy (G2), Travers (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic. His affinity for 10 furlongs is undeniable, and although his speed figures lag behind the top older horses, he possesses the stamina, determination and upside that make him a legitimate threat later in the season. Perhaps most important, he is a completely different horse from the one we saw over the winter at Fair Grounds, having developed into one of the sport’s premier runners in a remarkably short period of time.

2. Renegade. For a brief moment turning for home in the Belmont Stakes, it looked as though Renegade might be on his way to a win. Instead, his rally flattened out in the final furlong and he settled for third. It was still a solid effort from the Kentucky Derby runner-up, but Golden Tempo once again proved a step too good when the real running began. With both colts expected this summer at Saratoga, a rematch later in the season appears likely.

3. Commandment. Commandment put his disappointing Kentucky Derby effort behind him with a strong rebound performance in the Belmont Stakes, where he made a determined stretch run but came up just short against Golden Tempo. The Florida Derby (G1) winner reminded everyone why he was regarded so highly earlier in the season. With several major targets still ahead, expect him to remain a major factor in the second half of the summer and into the fall.

4. Napoleon Solo. The Preakness Stakes victory is his only win in three starts this season, and outside of that performance against a historically weak field he has done little to strengthen his case among the division's elite. In his other two starts this year, he failed to hit the board and never seriously threatened the winner. Although the Preakness win earns him a place in the conversation, I'm still not entirely convinced he belongs among the top names in this division. He is expected to make his next start in the Haskell (G1), where he figures to attract plenty of support at the windows despite appearing likely to offer little betting value.

5. The Puma. A late scratch from the Kentucky Derby, he is expected back sooner rather than later. Before that setback, he captured the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and then came within a nose of defeating Commandment in the Florida Derby. Looking ahead, the Haskell looms as his next major objective.

Next five: Further Ado, Silent Tactic, Ocelli, So Happy, Crude Velocity.

3-year-old fillies

1. Counting Stars. Counting Stars took a major step forward in the Acorn (G1), delivering a standout performance to upset Always a Runner. The Fantasy (G2) winner already had shown her quality with a respectable third-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), but this was at a different level altogether. Drawing off to a facile three-length win, she proved she belongs among the best in the division.

2. Always a Runner. The Acorn did not go as expected given the high expectations she carried into the race, but the performance was hardly a poor one. Although she suffered the first defeat of her career, she finished a clear second and was two lengths clear of third-place finisher Meaning. The Kentucky Oaks winner had no answer for a surging Counting Stars in the Acorn, but one loss does little to diminish what she has accomplished this season. She remains one of the division's leading fillies, and I fully expect her to bounce back later this summer.

3. Meaning. Meaning turned in another strong performance in the Acorn, finishing a respectable third behind the division’s top two fillies. When paired with her runner-up effort in the Kentucky Oaks, she has firmly established herself among the top three fillies in the division. With the summer stakes races ahead, another showdown with Counting Stars and Always a Runner appears all but inevitable.

4. Explora. I thought she ran about as well as could reasonably be expected in the Kentucky Oaks, missing the show spot by the slimmest of margins. It was also the first time in eight career starts that she failed to finish in the top three.

5. Bella Ballerina. The Golden Rod (G2) winner at 2 prevailed in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) in her 3-year-old debut, running her record to 3-for-3. Then she was runner-up in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), but I still feel she could be one of the best in this division. Scratched from the Kentucky Oaks.

Next five: Zany, Life of Joy, On Time Girl, Mizumi, My Miss Mo.

Turf males

1. Deterministic. Deterministic further solidified his hold on the top spot in the division with a big win in the Manhattan (G1) on Belmont Stakes day. The win extended his streak to five consecutive graded-stakes wins dating back to May of last year. Until someone proves capable of knocking him off, he remains the clear leader of the this division.

2. Formidable Man. Made his 2026 debut a winning one with a facile win in the Shoemaker Mile (G1). He now has won a Grade 1 race in each of the past three racing seasons. Before the Shoemaker, he was runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Mile, so he rockets up to this spot. Last season he won three graded stakes.

3. One Stripe. Hasn't won this season but has placed in all three of his starts, which came in top-level Grade 1 events.

4. Test Score.  Won the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) in his first start of the season but then ran poorly in the Turf Classic (G1) on Derby day at Churchill Downs. Rebounded from that effort with a good second place in the Manhattan.

5. Burnham Square. Held on in a much closer than expected win last out in the Chorleywood Stakes at Churchill Downs. I suspect this will temper some of the hype surrounding this guy in part because his wins have been racked up against suspect competition. Previously he impressed in two graded-stakes starts on grass this season, the Elkhorn (G2) and the Louisville (G3). There are bigger targets mapped out for later this summer and fall. The Arlington Million (G1) is next.

Next five: Rhetorical, Zulu Kingdom, Far Bridge, Lagynos, Mondego.

Turf females

1. Lush Lips. Scratched from the Jenny Wiley (G1) because of her blood being "off," according to her connections, she opened 2026 with a win in the Honey Fox (G3) at Gulfstream Park and has three straight victories dating to last season. She is on the shelf for a while so will drop from this spot soon.

2. Destino d'Oro. She's 2-for-2 this season after her win in the Hillsborough (G2) at Tampa Bay Downs, which came on the heels of her Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2) score at Gulfstream. She too was a late scratch from the Jenny Wiley.

3. Expensive Queen. Three wins in a row now for this daughter of Lope de Vega to start 2026. Her dead-heat win in the Jenny Wiley was by far her biggest victory to date as it was her first in a graded stakes.

4. Classic Q. Stellar in her last two starts with wins in the Distaff Turf Mile (G2) at Churchill Downs and the Just a Game (G1) at Saratoga.

5. Portfolio Duration. Was runner-up to Classic Q in the Distaff Turf Mile and flattered that one with a win in the New York Stakes (G1) on Belmont weekend at Saratoga.

Next five: Kathynmarissa, Segesta, Thought Proccess, Imaginationlady, Rashmi.

Male sprinters

1. Book’em Danno. Another who validated his place atop the rankings, dispatching several of his closest challengers below with ease in the True North (G3) on Belmont weekend. A stop at Monmouth could be next on the agenda before he returns to Saratoga later this summer in pursuit of a successful defense of his Forego Stakes (G1) title.

2. T O Elvis. Dominated the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1), thankfully ending the hyperbole surrounding Knightsbridge, who was off the board. This guy is the real deal, and although he probably won't be back in the U.S. until the fall, he will stay in this spot for now.

3. Bentornato. The Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner had every chance but could hold off Danno in the True North, settling for second without any excuses. Notably, he already has matched his entire 2025 campaign with two starts this year, a positive sign for a horse whose talent has never been in question.

4. Imagination. Finished fourth in the True North, where he was no match for the top two. Before that he ran OK in the Churchill Downs Stakes, missing the show spot by a nose. Earlier this season he ran well as the favorite in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) to score a win for the U.S. 

5. Cornucopian. Like stablemate Splendora, he rebounded after a disappointing effort in the Churchill Downs Stakes by winning the Aristides (G3).

Next five: Englishman, Disruptor, Stronghold, Listenupchance, Crazy Mason.