HRN Division Rankings: Audible, Dream Tree make their debuts

Grade 1 winner Dream Tree ran her unbeaten record to 4-for-4 as she easily won the Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita, while the Todd Pletcher-trained Audible won his first stakes impressively in taking the Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream.

Those two, also now among the favorites for the 3-year-old spring classics, mark the biggest movers in this week’s HRN Division Rankings.

Older Dirt Males

1.  West Coast – The clear leader of this division now with Gun Runner retired. Dubai may be next.

2.  Sharp Azteca – Just didn’t fire in the Pegasus World Cup, but was only beaten three lengths for the show.  

3.  Gunnevera – He has put together a few admirable races in a row now. He will be given every chance this year to try and climb the ladder of this division.

4.  Seeking the Soul – The winner of the Grade 1 Clark in November was hung wide in the first turn of the Pegasus. He ran evenly in the stretch to finish fifth.

5.  Accelerate - Took the rail route to an impressive score in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes. Needs to do it again to move up here.

Next 5: Collected, Always Dreaming, Mor Spirit, Good Samaritan, Pavel

Older Dirt Females

1.  Forever Unbridled – Eclipse Award winner is now possible for a run in the Dubai World Cup.

2.  Abel Tasman – Came very close to catching Forever Unbridled in the Distaff. Recorded first breeze of 2018 last week, and a spring return is likely.

3.  Paradise Woods – Dual Grade 1 winner showed her class in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Should mature into a force at age 4.  

4.  Elate – The Alabama and Beldame winner will have plenty of races to shoot for at her home base of New York

5.  Vale Dori – 4 for 6 in 2017, her only losses being game runner-up finishes to Stellar Wind.

Next 5: Salty, Unique Bella, Mopotism, Lockdown, Blue Prize

3-Year-Old-Males

1.  Bolt d’Oro – Was upset in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Eclipse Awards by Good Magic. Not scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut until the March 10 San Felipe. 

2.  Solomini – Beat McKinzie and Instilled Regard in the Los Alamitos Futurity, and both came back to win graded stakes in their next starts.

3.  Instilled Regard – Shipped east for his 3-year-old debut and passed the test with flying colors as he easily won the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes at the Fair Grounds. 

4.  Good Magic – Only one win, but it was a big one in the Juvenile. Son of Curlin like Solomini, he has every right to improve at age three.

5.  McKinzie – Passed his first test at age three against a suspect bunch in the Grade 3 Sham at Santa Anita.

Next 5: Audible, Free Drop Billy, Catholic Boy, Avery Island, Strike Power

3-Year-Old-Females

1.  Rushing Fall – She's a turf specialist, but with an unbeaten record she belongs here.

2.  Moonshine Memories – I can forgive the one subpar race she had in the Juvenile Fillies while racing on the worst part of a track that had an extreme inside bias. She previously won two Grade 1 races, more than any in her class.

3.  Caledonia Road – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner won’t make her 3-year-old debut for a while due to an ankle injury.

4.  Dream Tree – Grade 1 winner made it 4 for 4 on Sunday. Could take the reins of a wide open division.

5.  Road to Victory – She's 2-for-2 and won her dirt debut in the Grade 2 Golden Road in late November.

Next 5: Take Charge Paula, Alluring Star, Midnight Bisou, Separationofpowers,  Monomoy Girl

Turf Males

1.  World Approval – I don’t see this guy slowing down in 2018. It will be a tall order for another to take over this top spot.

2.  Beach Patrol – Stepped his game up to a new level last summer and fall. Just missed in the Breeders' Cup Turf, could have a big year.

3.  Sadler’s Joy – Was only beaten a little over two lengths in the Turf and, like last year, will be closing in the stretch of several major turf races.

4.  Oscar Performance – Was brilliant at times against his own age group in 2017. He should mature now at age 4 and has a higher ceiling than most. 

5.  Itsinthepost – Two starts in 2018 and two Grade 2 wins, the latest being the San Marcos at Santa Anita.

Next 5: Bigger Picture, Oscar Nominated, Bullards Alley, Annals of Time, Mo Town

Turf Females

1.  Off Limits – She won 5-of-6 in 2017, which included the Grade 1 Matriarch to end her season. She starts 2018 off as the leader of a wide-open division.

2.  War Flag – Only beaten by three lengths in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, she previously won the Grade 1 Flower Bowl.

3.  Hawksmoor – Runner-up to Off Limits in the Matriarch, she previously won two grades stakes at Belmont Park last Spring.

4.  Cambodia -  Third in the Filly & Mare Turf, she was on the board in eight of her nine stakes starts in 2017.

5.  Grand Jete – Came close in two Grade I races last summer and fall. Ready to breakthrough in 2018.

Next 5: Daddy’s Lil Darling, La Coronel, Roca Rojo, Madame Stripes, Ultra Brat

Male Sprinters

1.  Roy H – Looked better than ever in his 2018 debut winning the Grade 2 Palos Verdes. Could have a special season by sprinting standards.

2.  Imperial Hint – Almost held off Roy H in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

3.  Mind Your Biscuits – Solid 2017 that included a win in Dubai and ended with strong efforts in the Breeders' Cup Sprint and Cigar Mile.

4.  American Anthem – Was third to Roy H in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship as a 3-year-old. Has solid wins in two other sprints and figures to improve now at age 4.

5.  X Y Jet – Seems to be back in form after two straight wins at Gulfstream.

Next 5: Great Stuff, Wilbo, Ransom the Moon, Coal Front, Whitmore

Female Sprinter 

1.  Unique Bella – Looked very good when last seen winning the Grade I La Brea at seven furlongs. Connections will try to stretch her out next. 

2.  Skye Diamonds – Fourth in the Filly & Mare Sprint, she will be back in 2018. 

3.  Selcourt – 2018 debut was a monster effort, and was off for 6 months before that.

4.  Ami’s Mesa – Just missed in the Filly & Mare sprint and won 3 graded stakes in a row before that. This mare will be back in 2018.

5.  Finley’sluckycharm – Quality sprinter had uncharacteristically poor run in the Breeders’ Cup, but won three graded stakes before that in 2016.

Next 5: Selcourt, Curlins Approval, Princess Karen, Swing and Sway, Lewis Bay