Division rankings: Grass stars gear up for Shoemaker Mile

With the excitement of the Triple Crown races on hold for a couple of weeks, it's time to turn our attention to what used to be one of the best weekends on the racing calendar: Memorial Day weekend.

Remember the old days when the Met Mile on Memorial Day was the highlight of the racing calendar? Unfortunately, those days are long gone. But we still have several graded stakes events lined up this weekend. The highlight has to be the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on Monday, featuring nearly half of the top 10 ranked Turf Male horses.

Before I take a closer look at what impact the Shoemaker will have on that division, let's take a look at this week's updated division rankings.

Older dirt males

1. Señor Buscador. Despite finishing third in the Dubai World Cup (G1) in his most recent outing, Señor Buscador retains his no. 1 spot. His record this year thus far as been good, winning the Saudi Cup (G1) before his Dubai appearance. He kicked off the season with a close second-place finish to National Treasure in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) in January. The focus now will be on preparing for the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar in late August, potentially making a start in the San Diego Handicap (G2) in late July as a prep.

2. National Treasure. He finished fourth in the Saudi Cup, but he put in a commendable performance and fell short by just under two lengths. Holding steady at the no. 2 spot, the winner of the Pegasus World Cup once again has demonstrated his maturity in his recent races. Back in the U.S, look for him to return in the summer months.

3. First Mission. Started his season with a ninth-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup but has been impressive in two starts since, winning the Essex (G3) at Oaklawn and the Alysheba (G2) at Churchill Downs.

4. White Abarrio. No excuses when off the board in the Saudi Cup, and one has to wonder whether running overseas with his trainer under a microscope had anything to do with it. The Breeders' Cup Classic winner from last season will run the rest of the year in the U.S., where he will try to get back to the dramatic form reversal we witnessed over his three starts before the Saudi Cup. His connections have outlined plans for three more races this season. The next target is the Met Mile (G1), followed by appearances in the Whitney (G1) and the Breeders' Cup Classic.

5. Saudi Crown. Struggling to find his stride in the Godolphin Mile (G2), he finished a disappointing 12th. The inability to secure an early lead seemed to be his downfall. Before the setback in Dubai, he came close to victory in the Saudi Cup, fading in the late stages to secure a respectable third place, falling short by 3/4 of a length. Looking ahead, the Met Mile in June is being considered for his next race.

Next 5: Skippylongstocking, Newgate, Kingsbarns, Next, Red Route One

Older dirt females

1. Idiomatic. Looked better than ever in her return, winning the La Troienne (G1) at Churchill Downs by a little over three lengths. She has won nine of her last 10 starts. Will go next in the Ogden Phipps (G1) on Belmont Stakes day.

2. Sweet Azteca. Won her first graded stakes last out in the Beholder Mile (G1). She is 3-for-4 in her short career.

3. Adare Manor. Made a rare appearance outside of her home state of California and won the Apple Blossom (G1) at Oaklawn impressively by more than five lengths. She appears to have moved forward off of a runner-up effort to Sweet Azteca in the Beholder Mile in her prior race. She is indeed a major player in this division and is actually running in races while other expected contenders continue to sit on the bench. Gets a chance to move back up this weekend in the Santa Margarita (G2) at Santa Anita.

4. Pretty Mischievous. The 3-year-old female Eclipse winner from 2023, this gal also returned in the La Troienne and ran a decent third, five lengths back of idiomatic. Will run next on Belmont day in the Ogden Phipps (G1).

5. Randomized. Was upset her in 2024 debut, finishing runner-up in the Ruffian (G2) at Aqueduct. Last fall she was runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Distaff as a 3-year-old.

Next 5: Free like a Bird, Coffee in Bed, Desert Dawn, Bellamore, Super Shine

3-year-old males

1. Mystik Dan. This guy ran very well when runner-up in the Preakness and moves up based off of that effort to claim this top spot. He showed up and ran while others sat on the sidelines, and running in races matters in these rankings. The Kentucky Derby winner likely will run in the Belmont. If he wins the Belmont, he will have the Eclipse sewn up. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
2. Sierra Leone. Falls to this spot because, well, he didn't run in the Preakness. He was runner-up in the Kentucky Derby and won his other two graded stakes starts this season. He likely will be favored in the Belmont over 10 furlongs at Saratoga.

3. Seize the Grey. Facile winner of the Preakness, he has really taken several steps forward in his last two starts, both wins. Before the Preakness he scored in the Pat Day Mile (G2). Will run next in the Belmont, where another win would move him to the top of the division and, as with Mystik Dan, likely make him nearly impossible to catch for the Eclipse.

4. Forever Young. With one start in this country, this guy is ranked here even though he was likely the best horse who ran in the Kentucky Derby. Now 5-for-6 on his career, he globetrotted his way to Kentucky with wins this year in two countries already. I think it is a long shot we see him stateside again, but the Breeders' Cup is still a possibility.

5. Muth. Dominated the Arkansas Derby (G1) last out and is now 2-for-2 on the season as he impressed to win going away in the San Vicente (G2) in January. Last season at age 2 he was second best in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and won the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita. Scratched from the Preakness because of a fever.
Next 5: Catching Freedom, Fierceness, Honor Marie, Just a Touch, Resilience

3-year-old females

1. Thorpedo Anna. Dominated a deep Kentucky Oaks (G1) and proved she is the real deal. Now 4-for-5 on her career, she might take on the boys in her next start.

2. Just F Y I. Ran well to be runner-up in the Kentucky Oaks after only one race in 2024. She has shown she matured from age 2 and is a real contender in this division moving forward.
3. Tarifa. Up the track in the Kentucky Oaks, but perhaps she disliked the off track. Still, with two graded-stakes wins this season, Tarifa stays in the top five here.

4. Nothing Like You. Dominated the Santa Anita Oaks (G2), winning by more than seven lengths and leaving Kinza in her wake. Was that an aberration? Possibly. Still, a nice effort.

5. Kinza. No excuses when runner-up to Nothing Like you last out in the Santa Anita Oaks. In her prior three starts she was dominant, posting two graded-stakes wins this season.

Next 5: Regulatory Risk, Leslie's Rose, Power Squeeze, Tamara, Jody's Pride

Turf males

1. Master of The Seas. We finally have a solid leader of this division after he won the Maker's Mark Mile (G1) last out in dominating fashion. He now has three Grade 1 scores from his last four starts in North America. But the problem is he won't run again until August, so he will fall from this spot. For now, he is up top, but I'm disappointed the connections will bench him for four months and wait untill the Aug. 10 Fourstardave (G1) for his next start.

2. Program Trading. Returned in the Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs on Derby weekend and won by a head over Naval Power. Last year he won the Hollywood Derby (G1) in his last start in December. Could be the best in this division.

3. Naval Power. This guy is 6-for-9 in his career, and this year he just missed when runner-up in two Grade 1 events stateside, the last being the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs. Won a Group 2 event in Dubai earlier this season.

4. Du Jour. Overpowered the Kilroe Mile (G1) field last out for his first Grade 1 win. Before that he was off the board in the Breeder's Cup Mile and won one graded stakes in 2023. Runs this weekend in the Shoemaker Mile.

5. I'm Very Busy. Disappointed in the Turf Classic at Churchill, finishing seventh, beaten by a little over six lengths. Before that effort he won the Muniz (G2) at Fair Grounds. In his other start this season he was runner-up in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1).

Next 5: Silver Knott, Easter, Johannes, Gold Phoenix, Missed the Cut

Turf females

1. English Rose. It's early in this division with no clear standout, and this gal resides on top for now after her runner-up in the Jenny Wiley (G1), where she finished ahead of several ranked below. She has run two other times this season, both overseas, wining a Group 2 stakes and finishing runner-up in another. The Just a Game (G1) on Belmont day is next.

2. Didia. The winner of the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G2) in January, she won two graded stakes last season and was 10th in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. She finished third in the Jenny Wiley.

3. Gina Romantica. Sort of a disappointment in the Jenny Wiley, she finished seventh, beaten by more than seven lengths in her first start of 2024. Last season she made only four starts but scored a big win in the First Lady (G1) and then finished a very good fourth in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

4. Beaute Cachee. In the best form of her career now at age 5, this Chad Brown-trained daughter of Literato scored her first Grade 1 win in the Jenny Wiley at odds of 25-1. The Jenny Wiley was her first start of 2024. Her last start of 2023 was a third-place finish in the Matriarch (G1) at 18-1 odds.

5. Ruby Nell. Third in the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2) in January, she won last out in the Buena Vista (G2) at Santa Anita.

Next 5: Chili Flag, McKulick, Neecie Marie, Whitebeam, Surge Capacity

Male sprinters

1. Skelly. Dominated the listed Lake Hamilton last out for his ninth win in his last 10 starts. He will point to the Saratoga meet, where he likely will make two starts.

2. The Chosen Vron. Won his fourth straight since his Breeders' Cup Sprint loss last fall. His record is remarkable, winning 17 of his 22 career starts. Tops out west in this division, the only question for this guy in 2024 will be whether he can hang with the very best in this division. Runs Saturday in the Thor's Echo Stakes at Santa Anita.

3. Gun Pilot. Scored his first stakes win last out in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1), defeating a few ranked below.

4. Post Time. Disappointed in the Westchester (G3) finishing second, and I believe his rider waited too long to make his run. Had won eight of his nine career starts before the Westchester.

4. Nakatomi. Third last out in Dubai in the Golden Shaheen (G1), he was third in last fall's Breeders' Cup Sprint. Major player in this division.

5. Sibelius. Didn't run well in his defense of his Golden Shaheen (G1) win last out as he faded to finish 11th. Before that effort he won the Feb. 10 Pelican Stakes at Tampa, defeating Nakatomi.

Next 5: Bo Cruz, Super Chow, Hoist the Gold, Tejano Twist, Big City Lights

Female sprinters

1. Vahva. Got revenge on Alva Starr in the Derby City Distaff (G1), where she posted a facile two-length win. Previously she was runner-up to Alva Starr in the Madison (G1) at Keeneland in her first start of 2024.

2. Alva Starr. Runner-up to Vahva in the Derby City, she should get another shot at her rival this summer at Saratoga.

3. Flying Connection. Third to the top two in the Derby City, she has won six listed stakes and placed in her last two grade 1 starts.

4. Three Witches. The Breeders' Cup Filly & mare Sprint third-place runner from last season started this season off right with a win in the Santa Monica (G2) at Santa Anita but then disappointed last out in he Derby City, finishing seventh.

5. Society. This gal was fourth in last fall's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and is back on the work tab. She won two stakes last year and should be a major player in this division.

Next 5: Red Carpet Ready, Shidabhuti, Apple Picker, Honor D Lady, Sterling Silver

Is Du Jour ready to contend for an Eclipse?

The Shoemaker Mile came up big this year. Du Jour, the recent winner of the Kilroe Mile, is set to run and will face last year’s Shoemaker Mile winner, Exaulted, who is making his first start since last September’s Del Mar Mile (G2). Others in my rankings who are expected to compete are Easter and Johannes.

Easter had his three-race winning streak snapped when he finished runner-up to Du Jour in the Kilroe Mile, and Johannes is coming off a victory in the American Stakes (G3) in April. Ruby Nell, the graded stakes-winning filly and runner-up in the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf, also is being considered, along with several other solid turf horses.

Overall, the Shoemaker Mile should offer valuable insight into whether Du Jour has made significant progress and has become a strong contender for an Eclipse Award. Having shown flashes of brilliance, Du Jour finally secured his first Grade 1 win in the Kilroe Mile. A win this weekend would propel him to the top of the division. Trained by Bob Baffert, a trainer not typically associated with top grass stars, Du Jour has the potential to contend this year in this division.

Exaulted, who won four of his five starts last season and lost only to Du Jour in the Del Mar Mile (G2), is not currently ranked because of his absence this season. But a victory Monday likely would move him into the top five.

Despite the post-Preakness hangover, the Shoemaker Mile, along with the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) and Santa Margarita (G2) at Santa Anita, provides us an opportunity to spotlight other divisions.