Division rankings: Overseas invaders shake up Jenny Wiley

A quarter of the way into 2025, and at long last, the turf ladies get their Grade 1 moment in the spotlight. The Grade 1 Jenny Wiley takes center stage this weekend at Keeneland, and although two of my top three ranked fillies are in the gate, they’ll need to bring their A game and then some.

Why? Because three international wild cards are crashing the party, including Excellent Truth, a Group 1-placed runner last July who never has started stateside but will go favored. The locals have home turf, but the visitors brought serious credentials.

First up, here’s a look at the female turf rankings led by She Feels Pretty, who hasn’t run in 2025 but is back on the work tab and inching closer to a return.

Turf females

1. She Feels Pretty. Starts the season on top here after capping off her 3-year-old season with back-to-back Grade 1 wins in the Queen Elizabeth at Keeneland and the American Oaks at Santa Anita. She will start dropping from this spot soon for lack of action but is back on the work tab.

2. Be Your Best. She made it three straight graded wins with a strong score in the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G2). She's in the best form of her career now with 18 starts under her belt. That momentum will be put to the test this weekend in the Jenny Wiley, where a pair of classy overseas shippers await.

3. Sacred Wish. Turned in a strong runner-up effort in the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf, falling a neck short to Be Your Best. Last season’s Matriarch (G1) winner has been a consistent player, hitting the board in three other graded stakes in 2024. She too returns this weekend in the Jenny Wiley.

4. Saffron Moon. Has won both of her starts this season, the Endeavour (G3) and Hillsborough (G2) at Tampa.

5. Beach Bomb. She’s also 2-for-2 this season, picking up back-to-back Grade 3 wins in the Very One and Orchid at Gulfstream, quietly building a solid case of her own.

Next five: AG Bullet, Lady Claypoole, Special Wan, Liguria, Nanda Dea

The 2025 female turf division is sporting a fresh coat of paint. Three of last year’s No. 1-ranked runners have retired, and the other two, Anisette and Moira, have taken their talents down under. Both resurfaced last week in the Doncaster Mile (G1) in Australia, where Anisette finished a forgettable 20th in a 20-horse field, and Moira, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner and Eclipse champ, fared only slightly better in 14th, beaten just over five lengths.

She Feels Pretty holds the top spot on the strength of her back-to-back Grade 1 wins to close out 2024, but she has yet to make her 2025 debut. Although she’s back in training and getting close, odds are we’ll have a new No. 1 after this weekend’s Jenny Wiley, where several contenders have a golden opportunity to take over the throne.

Be Your Best is ranked no. 2 and is in the best form of her 18-race career. She has won three in a row, and last time out she scored her biggest win to date in the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G2). A win in the Jenny Wiley will push her to the top of the division.

Sacred Wish carved out a solid résumé on dirt in 2023, placing in big spots like the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1). But once her connections gave her a taste of turf in the fall of that season, she found her true calling. She has placed in her last graded stakes, including a breakthrough win in the Matriarch (G1) at Del Mar last December. She kicked off 2025 with a solid runner-up finish to Be Your Best in the Pegasus.

The likely favorite in the Jenny Wiley will be Excellent Truth, now under the care of Chad Brown after campaigning in France. Excellent Truth hasn’t run since last July, when she came charging down the straight falling just a length short. If she brings anything close to that form stateside, she’ll be tough to deny.

Choisya enters the Jenny Wiley as a serious threat, making her U.S. debut after stacking back-to-back Group 2 wins in Dubai. She is in the best form of her career. She’s joined by fellow European shipper Jabaara, a multiple stakes winner in England and runner-up in last summer’s Falmouth (G1) at Newmarket.

The Jenny Wiley has become the unofficial spring summit for the female turf division, a race with the potential to shake up the rankings in a big way. With Be Your Best and Sacred Wish firing on all cylinders and a formidable overseas trio led by Excellent Truth joining the fray, we’ll know by Saturday evening who’s holding the cards, for now at least.

Older dirt males

1. White Abarrio. Scored another win, this time in the Ghostzapper (G3) at Gulfstream. The Pegasus World Cup (G1) winner will run next in the Met Mile (G1) on Belmont Stakes day.

2. Locked. Unleashing a tour de force in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1), he secured his first Grade 1 win since his juvenile days. Though he started the year playing second fiddle to White Abarrio in the Pegasus, his Big 'Cap domination proved he might deserve another crack. Will run next in the Alysheba (G2) on Kentucky Oaks day at Churchill Downs.

3. Sierra Leone. Ran the worst race of his career in his seasonal debut in the New Orleans Classic (G2). No excuses, but he doesn't drop in these rankings and deserves one mulligan given the equity he has built on his résumé.

4. Hit Show. His win in the Dubai World Cup (G1) last weekend might have been a surprise to some, but not here. If he can bring that form back to the U.S., he will be a major player in this division.

5. Fierceness. He ran a strong second in the Breeders' Cup Classic, backing up two earlier Grade 1 wins that sparked Eclipse debate with Sierra Leone. Sidelined since, he apparently is pointed to a start on Kentucky Derby weekend at Aqueduct in the Westchester (G3).

Next five: Express Train, Mindframe, Hall of Fame, Just a Touch, Touchupsonastar

Older dirt females

1. Thorpedo Anna. Thorpedo Anna kicked off 2025 the same way she ended last year, rolling past a soft bunch, this time in the Azeri (G2) at Oaklawn. Sure, she had to put away the persistent Free Like a Girl, winless in 11 graded stakes, but the result was never in question. Now she heads to the Apple Blossom (G1), where, in true form, she catches another break by landing in what might be one of the weakest editions of the race in recent memory.

2. Cavalieri. This filly means business. At 4-for-4 and only getting faster, she’s proving to be a real force in the division. Disappointed she didn't make the trip to Oaklawn for the Apple Blossom.

3. Richi. The import from Chile has been impressive in her four U.S. starts since June. She finished second to Cavalieri last time out, but she set the pace and ran a game race. Don't box her in as just a sprinter. She has proven her stamina with a Group 1 win at 10 furlongs in Chile. Wherever she heads next, she'll be a tough one to catch.

4. Raging Sea. Runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, she delivered as expected. Her 2024 highlight was upsetting Idiomatic in the Personal Ensign (G1). She starts this season far back of the leader and is now back on the work tab.

5. Power Squeeze. She ran surprisingly well last time out, finishing second to White Abarrio, hanging in tough with the big boy. No one in this division has tackled tougher company in 2025, having already squared off against males twice. 

Next five: Candied, Sugar Fish, Randomized, Free Like a Girl, Just F Y I

3-year-old males

1. Journalism. He did exactly what he needed to do in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), showing grit and class as he reeled in the game newcomer Baeza late. It was a performance worthy of a Kentucky Derby favorite. Although it may not have been a lights-out win, it was professional, and he’s clearly trending the right way. He’ll head to Louisville with momentum and plenty of buzz, though a few of the contenders ranked below him aren't as far behind him and I was once thought.

2. Sovereignty. He fell short in the Florida Derby (G1), but his late run ensured he lost no momentum on the road to Churchill. Tappan Street had his measure that day, but with a stakes win already under the twin spires, he’ll be a major player when it matters most.

3. Sandman. He finally found his stride, breaking through with his first stakes win in the Arkansas Derby (G1) thanks to a pace that set him up perfectly. But for all his experience with eight starts under his belt, he still looked a bit green in the stretch.

4. Burnham Square. The good news? He returned to the winner’s circle with a Blue Grass (G1) victory. The bad news? They crawled home late, and the way he finished did little to convince me that 10 furlongs is in his wheelhouse. That said, his body of work this season earns him a spot this high. Whether he stays there come Derby Day is another story.

5. Tappan Street. The Florida Derby winner in just his third career start, he was runner-up to Burnham Square in the Holy Bull (G3) one race prior.

Next 7: Rodriguez, Tiztastic, Baeza, Coal Battle, Grande, Final Gambit, Citizen Bull

3-year-old fillies

1. Good Cheer. She’s now 6-for-6 in her career after her win in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2). With three Grade 2 stakes victories under her belt, she’ll be aiming for her first Grade 1 win in the Kentucky Oaks next.

2. Quietside. She delivered a thrilling victory in the Fantasy (G2), outdueling Simply Joking in what could be the race of the year so far. After her impressive Honeybee (G3) win two races ago, she’ll now head to the Kentucky Oaks as the second choice behind Good Cheer.

3. Simply Joking. She put up a fierce fight in the Fantasy, going toe-to-toe with Quietside for nearly the entire race. That runner-up finish was her first blemish in three starts.

4. La Cara. Facile winner of the Ashland (G1), this gal finished runner-up in the Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream before that.

5. Five G. Second in the Honeybee (G3) two starts back to Quietside, she scored her first graded-stakes win last out in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2).

Next five: Tenma, Muhimma, Ballerina d'Oro, Eclatant, Nitrogen

Turf males

1. Far Bridge. He kicked off 2025 with a hard-fought neck victory in the Pan American (G2) at Gulfstream, a win that propels him to the top of a division desperately craving order. With two Grade 1 wins last year, he could run next on Kentucky Derby weekend in the Turf Classic (G1).

2. Spirit of St Louis. Finished fourth, beaten by less than two lengths, last out in the Muniz Memorial presented by Horse Racing Nation (G2) at Fair Grounds. It was a disappointing effort, and it sent this division into further disarray. He does have that win in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1), where he won his first graded stakes. A winner of 10 of 15 starts, this was only his second off-the-board finish.

3. Johannes. Kept his hot streak going with a win in the San Gabriel (G2) in December, capping off a stellar 2024 campaign with five graded-stakes victories from six starts. His only loss came as a runner-up to More Than Looks in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Unfortunately, he's sidelined with an injury and will drop from the rankings in the coming weeks.

4. Carl Spackler. He finished sixth in the Breeders' Cup Mile, just over two lengths back, but had a solid season last year with two Grade 1 wins. Makes his seasonal debut in the Makers Mark Mile (G1) this weekend.

5. Integration. Very good runner-up finish to the top one in the Pegasus Turf, where he came up a neck short. Is also entered in the Makers Mark Mile this weekend.

Next five: Nation's Pride, Formidable Man, Dashman, Atitlan, Corruption.

Male sprinters

1. Straight No Chaser. The reigning Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion disappointed in Dubai, finishing eighth in the Golden Shaheen (G1). Before that he kicked off 2025 in style, taking the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) in Saudi Arabia.

2. Raging Torrent. Scored a big win in the Godolphin Mile (G2) at Meydan and before that he scored a win in the Malibu (G1) last December.

3. Book'em Danno. Made his 2025 debut a winning one as he scored in a race at Colonial Downs, beating just two others. Connections wisely chose to skip Dubai and keep him in the U.S. for the remainder of the season. Could see him in stakes action on Kentucky Derby weekend.

4. Big City Lights. This guy won his first start of of 2025 in California Cup Sprint at Santa Anita in a romp, and before that he romped in the Cary Grant Stakes at Del Mar. Placed in three graded-stakes races last season but appears to be a step above that form now.

5. Mullikin. Finished second in the Cigar Mile (G2) behind Locked after a third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. He earned his first Grade 1 win in the Forego and first graded win in the Nerud (G2). The 4-year-old colt is 5-for-10 in his career and is back working for a possible stakes start on Kentucky Derby weekend.

Next five: Nakatomi, Bentornato, Mufasa, Federal Judge, Extra Anejo

Female sprinters

1. Kopion. Back-to-back dominant wins in the La Brea (G1) and Santa Monica (G2), both with speed figures no one in this division was able to muster last year. She’s the one to beat in this division. Although she missed the Beholder Mile (G1), it might turn out to be a blessing in disguise. 

2. Nic's Style. This Florida-bred is 7-for-8 in her career, her only loss a runner-up to Ways and Means last year in the Gallant Bloom (G2). She won the Hurricane Bertie (G3) last out for her fourth win in a row. A serious player in this division.

3. Hope Road. Second best to the top one in the Santa Monica last out, she won two stakes last season.

4. Richi. Ran well when stretching out last time against Cavalieri and before that ran well against Kopion. Won the Las Flores (G3) sprinting in her first start of 2025.

5. Emery. Has run first or second in five straight major races in this division, all graded stakes. Was runner-up in the Madison (G1) last out

Next five: Positano Sunset, Mystic Lake, Pleasant, Spirit Wind, Ways and Means