Division rankings: Lush Lips can clinch turf supremacy

This week, the spotlight shifts to the female turf division, more specifically, its current leader, Lush Lips.

With the retirement of She Feels Pretty, Lush Lips has taken the top spot in the division. The name may stand out, but so does the résumé. She heads into this weekend’s Grade 1 Jenny Wiley having not finished worse than second in any of her last nine starts.

A Grade 1 winner at 3, she has a prime opportunity to solidify her grip on the division with a win over a strong Jenny Wiley field, one that includes four of the top six ranked below.

Turf females

1. Lush Lips. She returns this weekend in the Jenny Wiley (G1) looking to cement her spot atop the division, taking on several rivals ranked below her here. She opened 2026 with a win in the Honey Fox (G3) at Gulfstream Park and has three straight victories dating back to last season.

2. Destino d'Oro. She's 2-for-2 this season after her latest 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. A win this weekend in the Jenny Wiley would move her to the top of the division.

3. Shisospicy. The Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner is on a five-race winning streak in the U.S. She was dominant in all three of her graded-stakes victories in 2025, which led to her winning the Eclipse vote as North America's top female sprinter. She will make her 2026 debut in the Unbridled Sidney (G2) on May 1 at Churchill Downs.

4. Segesta. Won the Matriarch (G1) last fall for her first top-level score, and before that she was runner-up in the First Lady (G1) at Keeneland. Will make her seasonal debut this weekend at Keeneland in the Jenny Wiley.

5. Sultana. Won her second graded stakes in a row last out in the Orchid (G3) at Gulfstream.

Next five: Dynamic Pricing, Thought Process, Rashmi, Speed Shopper, Laurelin.

No one can accuse Lush Lips of ducking the big stage. As a 3-year-old last season, she ran seven times at four tracks, from Florida to California, consistently showing up for the biggest turf races her division had to offer. By year’s end, she had secured a Grade 1 with a win in the Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Keeneland, then she closed out her campaign with another victory in the Mrs. Revere Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Big things were expected from this daughter of Ten Sovereigns in 2026, and the ever-reliable Lush Lips picked up right where she left off, opening her campaign with a win in the Honey Fox (G3) at Gulfstream in late February. Now she looks to add a second Grade 1 to her résumé in the Jenny Wiley, but this will be her toughest test yet.

Leading the opposition is Segesta, ranked no. 4 above, who makes her seasonal debut here. She closed out 2025 with a Grade 1 win in the Matriarch at Del Mar, coming off a narrow neck defeat in the First Lady (G1) at Keeneland. Trained by Chad Brown, Segesta figures to be ready and looms as a major threat.

Also in the mix is no. 2-ranked Destino D’Oro, winner of the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf. She’s reeled off three straight wins since finishing behind Lush Lips in last fall’s Queen Elizabeth, clearly elevating her game and establishing herself as a serious contender.

Dynamic Pricing is another to watch. She made plenty of noise in this division last year and flirted with the top spot after her Just a Game (G1) win. But she hasn’t been seen since finishing off the board in the First Lady last fall.

All told, eight of the 10 entered in the Jenny Wiley are graded-stakes winners. If Lush Lips keeps her streak alive against a field this deep, she’ll cement her place at the top of the division.

Older dirt males

1. Skippylongstocking. He’s taken a clear step forward with maturity. His last-out win in the Essex Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn was dominant, and if I were mapping things out, I’d take a swing in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) next. Off that effort, he belongs with the top tier right now, right alongside the likes of Sovereignty and Journalism. And don’t overlook the résumé, he captured the Pegasus World Cup, the biggest race this division has offered so far this season, and did it with authority over several rivals ranked below him here. For now, he sits squarely on top of the division.

2. Magnitude. Yes, this guy rockets all the way to the second spot here because he is 2-for-2 this season and just knocked off the best dirt horse in the world in the Dubai World Cup (G1). Should be a player in this division moving forward once back stateside.

3. Nysos. He showed me more in defeat in the Saudi Cup (G1) than he ever had in his wins. He dug in down the stretch and made Forever Young earn every bit of that one-length win. For those questioning his stamina, I’m not buying it, he was actually gaining late. The reigning Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner gets the top spot here for now, especially with no guarantee that several of those ranked below him will even make it to the races in 2026.

4. Sovereignty. He dismantled an overmatched field in the Travers (G1), further padding a résumé that already places him among the most accomplished Kentucky Derby winners since American Pharoah, but that says as much about the competition as it does about him, as the bar has been set remarkably low. In truth, one win after the Derby already surpasses what most recent winners have managed. At the time, the Travers felt like it could’ve been a curtain call, but that no longer seems to be the case. A seasonal debut in the Oaklawn Handicap on April 18 is now on the table. Still, for all the hype, he hasn’t raced track in over 223 days.

5. Journalism. He turned in a career-best effort in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, finishing fourth and beaten less than four lengths by the winner. Prior to that, he was runner-up to Fierceness in the Pacific Classic (G1). It was a strong 3-year-old campaign, one that suggested there’s still more to come. Now a 4-year-old, he’s back at Santa Anita has resumed training, with the Oaklawn Handicap mentioned as a possible return spot. I’ll believe it when I see it.

Next five: Touchuponastar, White Abarrio, Knightsbridge, Hit Show, Baeza.

Older dirt females

1. Nitrogen. Disappointing effort in the sloppy Azeri (G2) last out, but she holds the top spot for now. She was sharp in her seasonal debut in the Bayakoa (G3), so I’m willing to give her a pass for that one. She returns this weekend in the Apple Blossom (G1), where anything less than a win would be a disappointment.

2. Splendora. She makes her debut in these rankings off her Beholder Mile (G1) win. Long term, I’m not convinced she’ll factor in this division, as she’s more likely to be kept to one-turn races once the two-turn experiment proves unsuccessful.

3. Majestic Oops. The ninth-place finisher from last fall's Breeders' Cup Distaff has been stellar this year at age 6, winning both of her starts. She won the Azeri (G2) and in the process secured her first graded-stakes win in her 35th career start. She has a shot to get to the top of the division this weekend in the Apple Blossom.

4. Regaled. This gal was runner-up in her seasonal debut in the Azeri (G2). She was third in the Breeders' Cup Distaff last year and won the Delaware Handicap (G3). She too is entered in the Apple Blossom.

5. Good Cheer. She clearly was not the same filly who captured the Kentucky Oaks (G1), finishing off the board in the Cotillion and beaten by more than six lengths. Looks to get back on track in 2026 and is on the work tab.

Next five: Claret Beret, Fully Subscribed, Seismic Beauty, Grand Job, Perfect Shot.

3-year-old males

1. Commandment. He continues to impress, grinding out wins with consistency. His latest came in the Florida Derby (G1), where he narrowly edged The Puma. I’m still not entirely convinced 10 furlongs is his game, but he’s headed to the Kentucky Derby as the favorite. Now 3-for-3 this season.

2. Renegade. He looked the part in the Arkansas Derby (G1), drawing off to win by open lengths. Others have been hypnotized by the margin, but that’s not how I operate. The figure makers came back lighter on the number than on Commandment, and although I’m not fully aligned with that, it still doesn’t make him a standout at this stage. We’ve seen this script before, flashy final prep, inflated expectations, and it doesn’t always hold. Just ask Fierceness.

3. The Puma. He ran arguably the best race of this group all weekend. I love the fact his connections wheeled him back into the Florida Derby after his Tampa Bay Derby (G3) win. His nose loss in the Florida Derby will serve his supporters well as they will be rewarded with a good price on Kentucky Derby day. He is a major player in Louisville and was flattered by Further Ado's win in the Blue Grass (G1) as The Puma already beat him in the Tampa Bay Derby.

4. Further Ado. He jumps all the way up to fourth here, but no higher. The reason is simple. He already lost to The Puma, and the field Further Ado beat in the Blue Grass was among the weakest on paper in the race’s storied history. The figures assigned to that win were, to put it kindly, very generous. He clearly loves Keeneland, but he’s just 1-for-4 everywhere else. As far as short-priced Derby horses go, he’s at the top of my fade list.

5. Paladin. He ground out a victory in the Risen Star (G2) in just his third career start. The obvious comparison is Sierra Leone, who had the same number of starts at this stage and also ran in both the Remsen (G2) and the Risen Star. Now injured, he will miss the Kentucky Derby and will continue to drop in the coming weeks.

Next 10: So Happy, Silent Tactic, Potente, Class President, Emerging Market, Chief Wallabee, Golden Tempo, Albus, Incredibolt, Nearly.

3-year-old fillies

1. Zany. She didn’t win the Ashland (G1), but her backers had to come away encouraged for several reasons, especially with longer distances ahead. That runner-up effort should set her up perfectly for the Kentucky Oaks (G1), where she looks like the one to beat. Before the Ashland, she captured her seasonal debut in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay, and as a 2-year-old she was a dominant winner of the Demoiselle (G2).

2. Meaning. She picked up another win, this time in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2), though I’m not sold on the strength of the competition she has faced. She was impressive earlier this season in the Las Virgenes in her debut, and as a 2-year-old she finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Now 3-for-4 in her career, she did get a boost when Explora came back to win the Honeybee (G3). Still, she figures to be one of the major players in the Kentucky Oaks.

3. Percy's Bar. Certainly impressed in her seasonal debut win in the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland, defeating Zany with a perfect trip. She ended 2-year-old season with a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, which came after she crossed the wire first in the Alcibiades (G1) last fall only to be DQ'd. Hasn't been off the board in six career starts.

4. Explora. Impressed last out in the Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn for her second win in 2026. Her only loss was to Meaning in her previous start in the Las Virgenes. Also headed to the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

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.

Next five: Life of Joy, Always a Runner, Prom Queen, Counting Stars, Bottle of Rouge.

Turf males

1. Deterministic. He returns this weekend in the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) at Keeneland, where he’ll face the toughest field of his career. Last season, he had three straight graded-stakes wins, capped by back-to-back Grade 1 scores. Most recently, he dominated the Fourstardave (G1) at Saratoga after taking the rain-shortened 1 1/8-mile Manhattan (G1) the day after the Belmont Stakes. He finished 3-for-4 in 2025. His spot here is certainly as risk this weekend.

2. Notable Speech. Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile winner kicks off his U.S. campaign in a loaded Maker’s Mark Mile after making 11 of his 14 career starts overseas. He went 0-for-4 abroad last season, then came to North America and capitalized on what were, historically speaking, below-par fields in both the Woodbine Mile (G1) and the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Needless to say, I don’t view him as a lock this weekend.

3. Rhetorical. Finished 4-for-5 in 2025. His only loss was a fourth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Mile, which came one race after his win in the Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland. One of the horses to beat this weekend in the Makers' Mile, his seasonal debut.

4. Test Score. Won the Pegasus Turf (G1) in his first start as a 4-year-old, and he was a three-time graded-stakes winner on the grass as a 3-year-old.

5. Grand Sonata. This veteran 7-year-old won his first race since 2024 when taking the Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2) in his first start of 2026. Last season he was runner-up in three graded stakes.

Next five: Far Bridge, Tiz Dashing, Gold Phoenix, Lagynos, One Stripe.

Male sprinters

1. Book’em Danno. Was beaten in his seasonal debut in the Carter (G2) at Aqueduct but holds onto the top spot. He’s expected to head to Churchill next for the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) on Kentucky Derby weekend.

2. Bentornato. The Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner tasted defeat in his first start of 2026 last out in Dubai. Last season he ran only twice. He'll train at Churchill with a goal of starting in the True North (G3) at Saratoga on June 6.

3. Imagination. Ran well as the favorite in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) to score a win for the U.S. He finished last season with a strong runner-up effort in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) winner made only three starts in 2025, but each was competitive. This guy will be a force to be reckoned with in this division this season. Could run next on Derby weekend in the Churchill Downs Stakes.

4. Cornucopian. Won the San Carlos (G3) last out for his first stakes win, but he still has a way to go to be in the top three here. He too is expected for a very strong Churchill Downs Stakes next out.

5. Bishops Bay. As expected he wasn't a factor in the Saudi Cup (G1), but he did win the Cigar Mile (G2) previously. He's more of miler and stuck between divisions, but he has a better chance in 2026 to be a player in this division rather than the older dirt male division. 

Next five: Banishing, Saudi Crown, Point Dume, Tejano Twist, Bold Journey.

Female sprinters

1. Splendora. The Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner has impressed in two starts since, including the Beholder Mile (G1) last out. Her connections probably will try to stretch her out even more, but the belief here is she will be back sprinting.

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

3. Grand Job. Runner-up to Eclatant in the Madison, and prior to that she captured the Inside Information (G2) in late January for her first graded-stakes victory.

4. Usha. Won the La Brea (G1) in her final start as a 3-year-old. Could be a major player in this division, but will continue to drop with inactivity.

5. Shisospicy. The Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner is on a five-race winning streak in the U.S. She was dominant in all three of her graded-stakes victories in 2025, which led to her winning the Eclipse vote as North America's top female.

Next five: Ways and Means, Hope Road, R Disaster, Grammy Girl, Immersive.