HRN Division Rankings: Accelerate's the real deal in 2018

In an older males division that needed some clarity, Accelerate delivered last Saturday with a powerful win the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita. Moving to the No. 1 spot this week, Accelerate has clearly taken it to a new level in 2018, appearing to be a stronger and faster colt.

The Pacific Classic and Breeders’ Cup Classic are the next two major targets.

Accelerate will try to win the Pacific Classic to become only the third horse to sweep California’s major Grade 1 races for older males on the dirt in the same season. Game on Dude, in 2013, and Lava Man, in 2006, are the only others to have won the Santa Anita Handicap, Gold Cup, and Pacific Classic in the same year but did so when the Gold Cup was held at Hollywood Park. 

Older Dirt Males

Other major news for this division is that Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Battle of Midway is back into training after a brief retirement. He impregnated just five of 60 mares to which he was bred due to subfertility. 

1.  Accelerate – He dominated a good field in the Gold Cup running while posting a 11 Beyer. Surprisingly, 10 furlongs appears to be his best distance, making him one of the early favorites for the Breeders’ Cup Classic this fall.

2.  City of Light – The distance finally appears to have caught up with this guy with his third-place finish in the Gold Cup. Still, he was only beaten 5 ½ lengths.

3.  West Coast – Still winless on the year, he's getting some time after a runner-up Dubai World Cup finish.

4.  Backyard Heaven – In his first stakes start, he passed the test with flying colors defeating Good Samaritan in Churchill Downs' Alysheba.

5.  Good Samaritan – No real excuse when beaten by more than five lengths by Backyard Heaven.

Next 5: Sharp Azteca, Collected, Army Mule, Dr.Dorr, Irish War Cry.

Older Dirt Females

This division will be in the spotlight in the next couple of weeks, as several of these will clash in either the Grade 1 Beholder Mile out west at Santa Anita, or the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park.

Unique Bella will stay at her home base of Santa Anita to take on Paradise Woods, Fault and Vale Dori in the Beholder Mile. Out East at Belmont Park a week later on June 9, Abel Tasman will face off against Unbridled Mo, Ivy Bell, Salty and American Gal, among others.

Elate isn’t ready for the Ogden Phipps, but she will likely make her 2018 debut in the Grade 2, $200,000 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs on June 16. The Delaware Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on July 14 will serve as a backup if she isn’t ready on June 16.

1.  Abel Tasman – A real test awaits in New York on the Belmont undercard.

2.  Unique Bella – Still searching for her first win outside of her home base of California and her first Grade 1 win around two turns. She too will be tested in her next start against a strong field.

3.  Salty – Finally was able to defeat her rival, Abel Tasman, in the Grade 1 La Troienne.

4.  Fault – The former turf star has found a new home on the dirt, with the Adoration her second straight graded stakes win since moving to the main track.

5.  Paradise Woods – Should be more effective around two turns next in the stacked Beholder Mile.

Next 5: Elate, Unbridled Mo, Vale Dori, Martini Glass, Lockdown.

3-Year-Old-Males

The major news of the week happened off the racetrack with the decision to remove Audible from consideration for the Belmont Stakes. Audible will receive a break from racing and point to the major summer stakes races. Since that decision a few days ago, Audible has now been taken out of training to get a full physical.

Outside of the upcoming Belmont Stakes, which is monopolizing the news, Bolt d’Oro will try make a bold statement for his classmates as he takes on older horses in the Met Mile on the Belmont undercard. He will be a semi-longshot in what is shaping up as a strong and fast field. An on the board finish means success, in my opinion. 

1.  Justify – The Belmont presents an entirely new set of obstacles.

2.  Good Magic – Contrary to popular opinion, and that of trainer Chad Brown, the ride Jose Ortiz gave the son of Curlin was brilliant in the Preakness. He tried his hardest but just wasn’t good enough. Will be rested for a summer campaign.

3.  Audible – The big three here have separated themselves from the rest of the pack.

4.  Bolt d’Oro – The connections have made the bold decision to take him to the Met Mile for his next start. It will be a tough test against a stacked older male field

5.  Magnum Moon – Never had a chance in the Derby as he was banged around and jostled early, middle, and late. The track condition did not help, either. A return to dry conditions will serve him well in his next start.

Next 5: Vino Rosso, McKinzie, Bravazo, Hofburg, My Boy Jack.

3-Year-Old-Females

This division is gearing up for its race of the year so far in 2018 as Monomoy Girl, Midnight Bisou, Caledonia Road and Moonshine Memories are all set to clash in the Grade 1 Acorn on Belmont Day.

It is a fascinating race that will see Monomoy Girl tested like never before, facing off against the top two in her class from 2017 in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies & Eclipse Award winner Caledonia Road, and dual Grade 1 winner Moonshine Memories. Toss in Midnight Bisou, the beaten favorite in the Kentucky Oaks, and we have ourselves quite a race.

1.  Monomoy Girl – Showed the heart of a champion in turning away rival Wonder Gadot in the stretch of the Kentucky Oaks. The Grade 1 Acorn is as deep as its ever been.

2.  Midnight Bisou – Came with her run in the stretch as the Oaks favorite but it was not enough, as she had to settle for third, beaten little more than four lengths.

3.  Caledonia Road – Impressive in her seasonal debut at Belmont with an easy win outside of stakes company. Will try and recapture the lead in this division in the Acorn.

4.  Wonder Gadot – The added distance is just what this filly needed as she gave Monomoy Girl all she could handle in the Oaks. Would like to see her finish off her races with a win instead of settling for second. The Queen’s Plate appears to be next.

5.  Dream Tree – This unbeaten filly topped Midnight Bisou twice last year and was primed for a rematch this year before she went to the sidelines.

Next 5: Eskimo Kisses, Mia Mischief, My Miss Lilly, Blamed, Moonshine Memories.

Turf Males

Heart to Heart almost made it three straight Grade 1 wins in a row on Saturday in the Grade 1 Shoemaker, falling a a neck short to Hunt. Hunt was making his season debut after winning three Grade 2 races in 2017. The next major race for this division will take place on the Belmont undercard as Beach Patrol will take on the Hi Happy.

1.  World Approval – His next race is expected to be the Wise Dan at Churchill. His hold on this spot is in jeopardy.

2.  Heart to Heart – His attempt at three straight Grade 1 wins fell just short in the Shoemaker Mile.

3.  Beach Patrol – Ran well in his seasonal debut, beaten less than a length at a distance that may not be his best. Look for him to appear next on Belmont day in the Grade 1 Manhattan.

4.  Hi Happy – The former star from Argentina has finally acclimated to U.S. racing having won his first Grade 1 event in this country. With two graded stakes wins in a row, he is building confidence, the Grade 1 Manhattan on June 9 is next..

5.  Yoshida – The talent has always been there for this Japanese-bred, and the win over Beach Patrol may be the start of something new. A trip to Royal Ascot is next.

Next 5: Itsinthepost, Oscar Performance, Synchrony, Hunt, Analyze It.

  
Turf Females

The big race for this division this past week was the Grade 1 Gamely at Santa Anita. Even money favorite Hawksmoor disappointed as she finished fifth. It was Sophie P, off at odds of 14-1, to win her first stakes in the U.S. as she edged Madame Dancealot in the tightest of photos. Hawksmoor fell out of the top 10 while Sophie P moved into the top 10.

1.  Sistercharlie – Was a major player overseas last year placing in a Group 1 and then shipping here to just miss in last June’s Belmont Oaks. In her first start since that effort, she delivered a facile victory in Keeneland's Jenny Wiley.

2.  Fourstar Crook – Validated her last win with a nice runner-up effort to the top one here. Is the real deal, and will tough to beat moving forward.

3.  Off Limits – Ran better in her second start this year but had to settle for the show spot in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley with no real excuse.

4.  Rushing Fall – Suffered her first loss, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort as she battled with Daddy is a Legend for much of the Grade 3 Edgewood, put that one away in the stretch, only to have Toinette sweep on by at the wire to win by a neck.

5.  Dona Bruja – Started 2018 off in fine fashion, took a step back in her last start.

Next 5: Cambodia, La Coronel, Holy Helena, Sophie P, Proctor’s Ledge.

Male Sprinters

The male sprint division is the strongest and deepest we have seen in years. Mind Your Biscuits will attempt the Met Mile in his next start while X Y Jet and Roy H are still resting after their race in Dubai. Mind Your Biscuits is now owned by Yoshida’s Shadai Farm of Japan as he will stand for stud there at the conclusion of his racing career.

1.  Roy H – Had every chance in the stretch to pass X Y Jet but just could not muster enough late punch in the Dubai Golden Shaheen. The 2017 Eclipse Award winner is not taken down from this spot because of one loss. He has earned his place here for at least another race.

2.  X Y Jet – Ran a superb race in Dubai after being headed for the lead at the outset. He looked home free with 200 yards to go but was again nailed on the wire in Dubai, much like he was two years ago.

3.  Mind Your Biscuits – Pulled off a remarkable win against the track bias in defeating a superstar field that included our Top 2. The Met Mile is next.

4.  City of Light – Tried his hardest in the Gold Cup, but the distance may have proven to be too much. Still one of the top sprinters in the U.S.

5.  Army Mule – Impressed in the Grade 1 Carter, and could be a future star, but news that he's sidelined means this position is only temporary.

Next 5: Limousine Liberal, Imperial Hint, Whitmore, American Anthem, Coal Front.

Female Sprinter 

This division's biggest race this past week was the Grade 3 Desert Stormer at Santa Anita. Marley’s Freedom was dominant in her seven-length win, and she moves back into the top 10. She was second earlier this year to the top-ranked Selcourt. 

1.  Selcourt – The clear leader of the female sprinter division will miss a possible start in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile, but holds her spot here for now.

2.  American Gal – Was very impressive in the Humana Distaff defeating an outstanding field rather easily. Up next could be an attempt at longer in Grade 1 Ogden Phipps against an outstanding field.

3.  Finley’sluckycharm – The Humana Distaff marked her first loss at Churchill down after six straight wins there.

4.  Skye Diamonds – Didn’t run well at all in the Humana Distaff but also may not have cared for the track condition. She's still among the best in this division.

5.  Ami’s Mesa – The Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint runner-up had a tough 2018 debut in the Madison and was only beaten a little over a length. Has every right to improve next out.

Next 5: Ivy Bell, Lewis Bay, Marley’s Freedom, Miss Sunset, Curlin's Approval.