Division rankings: Sierra Leone aims to silence remaining critics

This weekend, Sierra Leone, last year’s Eclipse Award-winning 3-year-old, makes his long-awaited return. That's a rare feat in itself, as no 3-year-old male Eclipse champ has graced the track at 4 since Maximum Security in 2020. 

But Sierra Leone isn’t just making a comeback. He’s stepping into a storm of skepticism. Some argue his Breeders’ Cup Classic win was a gift, the result of a meltdown up front that played perfectly into his late-charging style. I’d argue that Sierra Leone is the most polarizing horse in training right now. Half the crowd sees a deserving champion, the other half sees a beneficiary of perfect circumstances.

For now, he holds firm at No. 3 in my older dirt male rankings, but a strong comeback win could launch him right back near the top, which is exactly where he started the season. 

More on Sierra Leone below, but whether you’re a fan or a doubter, his return will either silence some of the skeptics or give them even more to talk about.

Older dirt males

1. White Abarrio. After a year away from the top spot, he’s reclaimed his crown in style with a commanding victory in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup. Forgoing Saudi Dubai riches, he’ll stay stateside this season, with the Ghostzapper (G3) at Gulfstream on March 29 as his next race.

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.

3. Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone delivered a commanding performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, dispatching Fierceness and Forever Young. Last year’s 3-year-old male Eclipse winner, he went toe-to-toe with Fierceness in four battles and emerged even. Now, he returns in the New Orleans Classic (G2) at Fair Grounds, ready to reclaim his throne from White Abarrio.

4. 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. Likely sidelined until spring, with no guarantee he returns to the track. In fact, I would be surprised if he did.

5. Hit Show. No excuses for his third-place finish in the Big 'Cap, where he was beaten by more than 12 lengths. He's simply a notch below the top tier of this division right now. He's entered in the Dubai World Cup (G1) on April 5.

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

If not for that nose loss in the Kentucky Derby, Sierra Leone would have waltzed to a horse-of-the-year title. On paper, four wins in nine career starts might not scream dominance, but numbers don’t tell the whole story. In his entire career, only five horses have ever finished ahead of him. He shows up every time, fires every shot and delivers every effort. That's a claim few from his class, aside from Forever Young, can honestly make. 

Sierra Leone wasn’t some lucky long shot who picked up the scraps in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He was one of the favorites for a reason. He already had proven he could overcome a slow pace and still win in previous races. In the Classic, he got a fast early pace and did what good horses do, he took advantage. 

Funny how no one cried foul when Fierceness waltzed near an easy lead in the Jim Dandy (G2), saving enough in the tank to hold off Sierra Leone’s usual late charge. He won because he played the hand he was dealt, just like Sierra Leone did in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. 

Now we turn the page, and while Fierceness' return to the races is questionable at best, Sierra Leone is back in action at a familiar battleground, Fair Grounds. Last year, he mowed down 11 rivals from ninth place in the Risen Star (G2), shrugging off a sluggish pace to get the job done. 

This weekend there are no excuses. The New Orleans Classic (G2) is the same nine furlongs, but it's against a field where only one has ever won a graded stakes. That one? Hall of Fame, fresh off a Mineshaft (G3) win but a horse Sierra Leone dusted last year. 

If Sierra Leone does what he always does, he’ll notch his fifth career win and set himself up for another big season, one where he just might snag the hardware that eluded him last year, horse of the year.

Older dirt females

1. Thorpedo Anna. She made her 2025 debut rolling to a win in the Azeri (G2). She had to shake off a pesky Free Like a Girl, who was winless in 11 graded-stakes tries, but the outcome really wasn't in doubt. Next up is the Apple Blossom (G1) at Oaklawn.

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. No word yet on her next move, but a showdown with Thorpedo Anna in the Apple Blossom would be one to circle on the calendar.

3. Richi. The import from Chile has been nothing short of 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 already 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. Candied. She was third in the Breeders' Cup Distaff and the Spinster (G1) after Grade 1 runner-up finishes to Thorpedo Anna in the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama. She's consistently close, but her only win from six starts last season came in the Lady's Secret at Monmouth.

Next five: Power Squeeze, Sugar Fish, Randomized, Free Like a Girl, Just FYI

3-year-old males

1. Citizen Bull. Citizen Bull came out of hibernation like a freight train, flattening the Robert B. Lewis (G3) in his 3-year-old debut. The reigning Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and 2-year-old champ stays here at the top, brushing off the usual recency bias that tempts rankings to shift with the latest buzz. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of fresh performances, but until Citizen Bull stumbles or steps aside, this throne is his. His next likely test? The Santa Anita Derby (G1), where he'll have to remind everyone why he's still king of the hill.

2. Journalism. His seasonal debut in the San Felipe (G2) was so impressive that I briefly considered vaulting him to the top spot. Now 3-for-4 in his career, he’s on a rapid ascent and likely will make his next start in the Santa Anita Derby, where a showdown with Citizen Bull awaits.

3. Barnes. Turned in a strong effort in the San Felipe but ran into a better horse in Journalism. Still, he was more than nine lengths clear of third-place finisher Rodriguez, proving his class. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, he did it on three wheels, losing his left front shoe mid-race but never losing his stride.

4. Sovereignty. The Fountain of Youth (G2) was his second graded-stakes win in a row. It feels like we are still scratching the surface with this guy, and the Florida Derby (G1) is next.

5. Coal Battle. This guys just keeps winning, this time in the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn. He is unbeaten in five dirt-track starts, but obviously the 10 panels of the Kentucky Derby will be a question given his pedigree. Likely will start next in the Arkansas Derby (G1) or Blue Grass (G1).

Next 7: Burnham Square, Chancer McPatrick, Disco Time, Owen Almighty, River Thames, Sandman, Flood Zone

3-year-old fillies

1. Good Cheer. Faced only three others in her season debut in the recent Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds but won as expected by more than six lengths. Will make her next start in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) this weekend.

2. Immersive. Aside from Thorpedo Anna’s Distaff, no one on the dirt impressed more than this gal at the Breeders’ Cup. Like Thorpedo, she was a lock for the Eclipse. With a 4-for-4 record and three Grade 1s under her belt, she’s off to great start to her career. On the shelf for a while and will drop from this spot soon.

3. Quietside. This gal placed in two Grade 1 races last year at age 2 and was sort of forgotten at the windows in the Honeybee (G3), scoring the win at 10-1 odds. Has yet to finish off the board in six starts.

4. Tenma. She beat only two others last out in a six-length win in the Las Virgenes (G3), and before that she scored a win in the Starlet (G2) in her final start at age 2.

5. Non Compliant. Unbeaten in two starts, she made easy work of her first graded-stakes test in the Oak Leaf (G2) at Santa Anita, cruising past five rivals for the win. As a daughter of Tiz the Law, she already has pedigree on her side. Missed the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Next five: Muhimma, Scottish Lassie, Quickick, Eclatant, Nitrogen

Turf males

1. Spirit of St Louis. Solid win in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1), where he won his first graded stakes. Now a winner of 10 of his 14 starts, this guy should be a major player in this division for the remainder of 2025. Returns this weekend in the Muniz Memorial presented by Horse Racing Nation (G2) at Fair Grounds.

2. Johannes. Kept his hot streak going with a win in the San Gabriel (G2) last 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.

3. 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.

4. Far Bridge. He finished ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, beaten by five lengths, but had a strong two-race win streak prior, scoring in the Joe Hirsch (G1) and Sword Dancer (G1). Back in 2025.

5. Integration. Very good runner-up finish to the top one in the Pegasus Turf, where he came up a neck short. Will start next in Dubai.

Next five: Nation's Pride, Formidable Man, Dashman, Redistricting, Mi Hermano Ramon

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. If she doesn't run this month she drops out of these rankings.

2. Be Your Best. Captured the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G2) for her third straight graded-stakes victory, proving she’s in the best form of her 18-race career. With three of her five career wins coming in her last three starts, she’s on a roll now.

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.

4. Raqiya. Fifth in the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf, she won the Goldikova (G3) prior to that in her first start in this country.

5. Ag Bullet. Third last out in the Matriarch, and before that she was third in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

Next five: Lady Claypoole, Special Wan, Liguria, Beach Bomb, Nanda Dea

Male sprinters

1. Straight No Chaser. The reigning Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion kicked off 2025 in style, taking the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) in Saudi Arabia. Next stop: Dubai for the Golden Shaheen (G1) in April.

2. 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 will be back in 2025.

3. Raging Torrent. Scored a strong victory in the Malibu last time out, marking his first Grade 1 win. Finished 4-for-7 last season, and his connections are eyeing the Godolphin Mile (G2) in early April

4. Book'em Danno. Made his 2025 debut a winning one as he scored in a race at Colonial Downs, beating just two others. Connections have wisely chosen to skip Dubai and keep him in the U.S. for the remainder of the season.

5. 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.

Next five: Bentornato, Nakatomi, Mufasa, Federal Judge, Booth

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. Her connections are now keeping her focused on sprints, with the Madison (G1) at Keeneland in April as her next target.

2. Mystic Lake. Won the Inside Information (G2) in her seasonal debut and last year won five sprint stakes.

3. 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.

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

5. 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.

Next five: Ways and Means, Scylla, Pleasant, Emery, Spirit Wind