Division rankings: Sovereignty skips Preakness; no * needed

Count me among what’s likely a much bigger silent majority than anyone realizes — those who exhaled in relief when news broke that Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty would skip the Preakness.

The impressive Kentucky Derby winner will instead wait for the Belmont in June—though calling it "The Belmont" this year and last feels a like a stretch. Run at 12 furlongs since 1925 and dubbed “The Test of the Champion,” the race has only had its distance altered twice: in 2020 for COVID and again last year due to construction at Belmont Park. Now it’s 10 furlongs at Saratoga, and let’s be honest, the legendary final leg of the Triple Crown has been benched for another year due to that construction. And with it, for all intents and purposes, so has the Triple Crown itself. 

By skipping the Preakness, the connections of Sovereignty may have unknowingly done us all a favor — sidestepping what would’ve been a storm of controversy and the uncomfortable ownership questions no one wants to touch had he won in Baltimore and marched into Saratoga chasing a Triple Crown with an asterisk the size of the Grandstand. 

The Preakness has always been my favorite race of the Triple Crown, and that won’t change no matter who shows up this year. 

But before we break down that Derby finish, and the annual crusade of trying to “fix” the Triple Crown by spacing it into irrelevance, check out my updated 3-year-old male rankings. 

Not much has changed this week, just a flip at the top with last week’s one-two swapping spots. As for Nos. 3 and 4? They didn’t do anything to deserve a big drop.

3-year-old males

1. Sovereignty. Super impressive in Louisville, will now wait five weeks for the Belmont Stakes. 

2. Journalism. Ran a winning race in the Kentucky Derby but was second best. Could be back for the Preakness. 

3. Baeza. Drew into the Derby field just days before the race and made the most of it, finishing a strong third and missing second by only a neck. He’ll now train up to the Belmont.

4. Burnham Square. Had a horrible trip in the Kentucky Derby but still managed to finish a better than it looked sixth. Previous to that he win the Blue Grass (G1).

5. Sandman. Finished seventh in Louisville, and it wasn’t a bad effort. He’ll skip the Preakness and is likely headed to the Belmont instead. Before the Derby, he notched his first stakes win in the Arkansas Derby (G1), capitalizing on a pace scenario that was favorable.

Next 7: Tappan Street, Rodriguez, Final Gambit, Tiztastic, Coal Battle, American Promise, Final Gambit, Grande.

The Triple Crown was never supposed to be easy — that’s the whole point. Three races in five weeks at varying distances is what sets it apart, what makes the feat legendary, and why so few horses have pulled it off. We put those rare champions on a pedestal for a reason. The solution isn’t to lower the bar. 

Some will rush to point out that Sir Barton, the first Triple Crown winner, won it when the Belmont wasn’t yet 12 furlongs. Fair, but it was still 11, and still the longest of the three. More important, there wasn’t even a "Triple Crown" back then. The Derby, Preakness, and Belmont weren’t linked until 1930, when Gallant Fox won all three, not in the usual order, and not in five weeks, but in four. Every other Triple Crown winner since? They conquered the full 12 furlongs and in five weeks or less. No asterisk required. 

Messing with the Triple Crown is a surefire way to kill off the last thing this sport still gets right. It’s one of the few traditions that still captures mainstream attention beyond the racing bubble. If a Derby winner’s connections want to pass on the challenge, that’s their prerogative. The rest of us just move on to next year. 

There is a narrative out there that Derby winners are suddenly ducking the Preakness? Let’s pump the brakes on that bit of “fake news”. Only one healthy Kentucky Derby winner this century — Rich Strike — actually skipped the Preakness. Medina Spirit was still the official winner when the 2021 Preakness was run and he showed up. Country House? He was sidelined with a virus after inheriting the Derby via Maximum Security’s DQ. 

Ironically, when we almost had four Triple Crown winners in the '70s, the worry wasn’t that it was too hard. It was that it had become too easy, and the mystique was fading. 

Put another way — bear with me with this analogy — it’s a bit like the Apollo space program. Everyone was glued to the screen for the first moon landings, but by the time Apollo 13 launched, the novelty had faded so much that networks didn’t even bother to broadcast it live. The awe wore off because the impossible had started to look routine. The same danger looms if we water down the Triple Crown, making greatness feel common, and people stop paying attention.

Thankfully, a 37-year drought reminded everyone just how rare — and how valuable — true greatness really is. 

Nowadays, a top horse needs six weeks, a spa day, and emotional support just to run. But do they really? I’m not convinced of that. 

None of this is on Sovereignty, of course. The Kentucky Derby — slop and all — played out with the key contenders showing up, and the two betting favorites battled in a stirring stretch drive. Sovereignty got the better of Journalism and earns the top spot in the rankings, but just barely. If Journalism comes right back in the Preakness and wins, he inches back closer to the top.

As for the third-place Baeza, plenty of people came away thinking he was the most impressive. His flying third reminded me of Risen Star in 1988, when he also finished a closing third in the Derby before winning the next two legs. Baeza is skipping the Preakness and pointing to the Belmont, where he will be a formidable contender. 

So no, there won’t be a Triple Crown chase this year, and that’s just fine. The tradition remains intact, for now. And if we have to wait another decade — or two — for the real thing? So be it.

Greatness is supposed to be rare. Let’s stop trying to cheapen it.

Older dirt males

1. White Abarrio. Added the Ghostzapper (G3) at Gulfstream to his resume, weeks after his Pegasus World Cup (G1) triumph. Up next: the Met Mile (G1) on Belmont Stakes day.

2. Fierceness. Finally returned to the races and it was worth the wait. He scored a popular win in the Alysheba (G1) run at 8.5 furlongs. Could run next in the Met Mile on Belmont day.

3. Hit Show. His win in the Dubai World Cup (G1) 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.

4. First Mission. Turned in the race of his life in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2), handling a tough crew of Grade 2 and Grade 3 vets. He’s still chasing that elusive Grade 1 win, but with only 12 starts under his belt two starts into his 5-year-old season, there’s still time and now, momentum. The Stephen Foster (G1) in late June at Churchill Downs is next.

5. Locked. Turned in the worst performance of his career in the Alysheba, finishing a distant fourth and beaten over six lengths. That effort was in sharp contrast to his previous outing, a dominant win in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1).

Next five: Sierra Leone, Most Wanted, Mindframe, Banishing, Touchupsonastar.

Older dirt females

1. Thorpedo Anna. Can’t say I was shocked to see her finish off the board in the La Troienne (G1) — the warning signs were already there in her first two starts this year. She just hasn’t looked like the same filly from last season. No word yet on where she’ll show up next, but here’s hoping she can right the ship. For now, she still has the top spot.

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 or to Churchill for the La Troienne.

3. Richi. She steamrolled the Santa Maria (G2) at Santa Anita, opening up by more than four lengths and giving a nice boost to Cavalieri, who beat her the race before. This Chilean import has done nothing but impress since arriving stateside. She has five solid efforts since June, and don’t forget that Group 1 win at 10 furlongs back home. She’s got stamina, class and momentum. A serious player in this division.

4. Raging Sea. The good news? She won the La Troienne (G1) in her seasonal debut. The bad news? From a speed figure standpoint, it was one of the slowest Grade 1 wins by an older dirt female in decades.

5. Power Squeeze. She ran surprisingly well last time out in the Ghostzapper (G3), finishing second to White Abarrio and 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: Gin Gin, Randomized, Free Like a Girl, Sugar Fish, Taxed.

3-year-old fillies

1. Good Cheer. Dominant winner of the Kentucky Oaks, she is now an eye catching 7-for-7 in her career. She will head to the Acorn (G1) on Belmont weekend to try and make it eight wins in a row.

2. Quietside. Didn’t look like she cared for the slop in the Kentucky Oaks, fading to sixth. Prior to that, she delivered a gutsy win in the Fantasy (G2), outdueling Simply Joking in a thrilling stretch battle. Still think she is a top three filly in this division.

3. Tenma. Ran better than I expected in the Kentucky Oaks when attending a quick pace but faltering late to finish fourth. Previously she scored in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2).

4. La Cara. She may not have handled the wet track in the Kentucky Oaks, finishing a distant ninth, but I’m not ready to drop her just yet. Her win in the Ashland (G1) and runner-up effort in the Davona Dale (G2) still carry weight, so she holds onto a top-five spot, for now.

5. Drexel Hill. The Kentucky Oaks runner-up was coming off of a listed stakes win in the Busher at Aqueduct. 

Next five: Five G, Nitrogen, Simply Joking, Muhimma, Look Forward.

Turf males

1. Carl Spackler. Returned this season with authority, romping in the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) at Keeneland and reminding everyone why he’s a force on turf. With Grade 1 wins in three of his last four starts, he rockets to the top of the division.

2. Spirit of St Louis. Scored a popular win in the Turf Classic (G1) on Kentucky Derby day, giving him two Grade 1 wins already this season. 

3. Far Bridge. He kicked off 2025 with a hard-fought neck victory in the Pan American (G2) at Gulfstream, a win that propelled him to the top of a division desperately craving order. With two Grade 1 wins last year, he will probably wait until Belmont Stakes weekend and the Manhattan (G1) to run next.

4. 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. Back in training now, and I'm hoping to see him back at the races soon.

5. Think Big. This turf sprinter has won the two biggest turf sprint stakes in the U.S. this season, the Shakertown (G2) at Keeneland and the Turf Sprint (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Next five: Formidable Man, Integration, Dashman, Atitlan, Utah Beach.

Turf females

1. She Feels Pretty. Kicked off her 2025 campaign in style with an easy win in the Modesty (G3) at Churchill on Kentucky Oaks day. She ended her stellar 3-year-old season with back-to-back Grade 1 victories in the Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland and the American Oaks at Santa Anita. She picks up right where she left off, reclaiming the top spot in the division.

1. Choisya. Hard to say she was truly best in the Jenny Wiley (G1), considering the interference with runner-up Excellent Truth. After an objection and steward’s review, she stayed up, and that's a call I wouldn’t have made. Still, she’s 3-for-3 this season. But unless she returns to race in the U.S., that spot won’t last long.

3. Excellent Truth. She was clearly best in the Jenny Wiley but had to settle for second behind Choisya in her seasonal debut. If she doesn’t resurface on U.S. soil soon, expect her to slide down these rankings in the coming weeks.

4. Kehoe Beach. Ran a career best race in the Jenny Wiley, where she finished a good third in her seasonal debut. Big things are expected from this daughter of Omaha Beach in 2025.

5. Saffron Moon. Didn't run that bad in the Modesty, finishing third beaten around three lengths by She Feels Pretty. Previously she won the Endeavour (G3) and Hillsborough (G2) at Tampa.

Next five: Gimme a Nother, Beach Bomb, Sacred Wish, Ag Bullet, Lady Claypoole.

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 with a win in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) in Saudi Arabia. Targeting the Bing Crosby (G1) at Del Mar in late July for his next start.

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. He faced Straight No Chaser in the Breeders' Cup Sprint last fall and finished well back.

3. Mindframe. I’m going to go ahead and slot him into this division—because, let’s be honest, his only stakes win came sprinting. And last time out, he beat a tough field in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1), so he’s earned his spot here.

4. Book'em Danno. Suffered a brutal beat, losing by two heads and a neck to finish fourth in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1). But he showed he belongs with the division's elite, and that’s enough to keep his spot in the rankings intact

5. Mullikin. He too ran a bang up race in the Churchill Downs Stakes, losing by a little more than a length when fifth. 

Next five: Big City Lights, Nakatomi, Booth, Bentornato, Mufasa.

Female sprinters

1. Kopion. Made a mockery of her 8-1 morning line in the Derby City Distaff (G1), storming home with authority and leaving no doubt who rules this division. That’s three graded stakes wins in a row, each faster than anything we’ve seen from any division this season 

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 once again to the division leader in the Derby City Distaff (G1) for her second straight runner-up finish. But this time she outran several other top members of this division, cementing her place in this top five.

4. Richi. Turned in a facile win last out while stretching out in the Santa Maria (G2), showing she’s just as effective going longer. Earlier in the season, she was runner-up to Cavalieri in the Beholder Mile (G1) and third behind Kopion in the Santa Monica (G2), after kicking off her campaign with a win sprinting in the Las Flores (G3). 

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 and will join the party and run in the Derby City Distaff.

Next five: Ways and Means, Positano Sunset, Scylla, Pleasant, Spirit Wind.