HRN Division Rankings: Deep class of sprinters put on a show

While Thunder Snow and Mendelssohn received many of the headlines this past weekend, one could make the argument that the Dubai Golden Shaheen was the most exciting stakes race of the weekend -- anywhere. The sprint division has not featured this much quality and attention in years.

Mind Your Biscuits ran a remarkable race against the track bias to stun the field, and specifically the hard luck runner-up, X Y Jet. It has been a long time since fans have had to circle any major sprint race on the calendar as a must-see event, that has all changed now. Because of horses like Roy H, Mind Your Biscuits, X Y Jet, City of Lights and Imperial Hint, the dirt sprint division is as loaded as I have seen it going back at least 20 years.

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf has turned into the key race this spring as we move closer to the Kentucky Derby. Mendelssohn won the race, but he defeated several that day who could be in the gate with him. Flameaway, My Boy Jack and Snapper Sinclair were among his beaten foes. Mendelssohn has several things going for him that past UAE Derby winners did not. We know he can ship to the United States and win, and we know he can compete with some of our best. He defeated Reride by 21 lengths; this is a horse who just beat Runaway Ghost, who then came back in his next start to win the Grade 3 Sunland Derby. Mendelssohn did not crack my Top 5 just yet, but did move up in the rankings. He is a horse that should be taken very seriously in Louisville.

The hype revolving around Justify takes me back to 1989, and a horse some will remember. Houston was a $2.9 million yearling that was all the hype over the winter so much so that his trainer, D. Wayne Lukas, whispered to others after only three starts he “could be the best horse he's ever trained." Houston inexplicably was bet down as the 4-5 favorite in the Santa Anita Derby over more accomplished horses that included Sunday Silence. Houston finished fifth, and only won two more races in what turned out to be an 11-race career. I expect this weekend that Justify could very well go off as the favorite over much more accomplished horses such as the top 2-year-old from 2017, Bolt d’Oro, and stakes winner Instilled Regard. Some may agree with this, while others know better.

Moving East, we will see if Good Magic can try to win his second career race against a strong field at Keeneland in the Blue Grass Stakes. Look for Flameaway to make a good showing as he continues to move up the ladder in our rankings as our possible Kentucky Derby pick. Finally, in the Wood Memorial, Enticed will try to duplicate his Gotham win in his march towards to Kentucky.

Given that, here is an updated look at HRN's Division Rankings:

Older Dirt Males

1.  West Coast – Ran well in finishing second to Thunder Snow in the Dubai World Cup. Ten furlongs may not be his best distance. He will get some time off now and be back in the summer.

2.  Accelerate – The 2018 version of Accelerate is unbeaten in two starts this year, with the song of Awesome Again moving up in this division. The Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap is next.

3.  Good Samaritan – His 2018 debut was outstanding, as he easily won the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap. Turf or dirt, there are many options for this son of Harlan’s Holiday. The Grade 1 Stephen Foster in June is on the radar with a race before then in the plans.

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

5.  Sharp Azteca – Getting a break for now, he will point to the Met Mile.

Next 5: Collected, Mor Spirit, Pavel, Gunnevera, Mubtaahij .

Older Dirt Females

1.  Forever Unbridled – The Eclipse Award winner ended her career on a good note with a fifth-place finish in the Dubai World Cup. Next week we will have a new No. 1.

2.  Abel Tasman – She came close to catching Forever Unbridled in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. Scorched the track in her latest bullet work on March 24 and is nearing a return.

3.  Elate – The Alabama and Beldame winner will have plenty of races to shoot for at her home base of New York. Has two recorded works in 2018.

4.  Unique Bella  – Contrary to popular opinion, still has a ways to go to move up in this division. Her connections are targeting Oaklawn’s Grade 1 Apple Blossom as her next start, which would also mark her first race outside of California. A win there will certainly move her up these rankings.

5.  Vale Dori – Now on the work tab at Santa Anita, she was tough as nails in 2017 giving Stellar Wind all she could handle.

Next 5: Paradise Woods, Salty, Fault, Lockdown, Martini Glass.

3-Year-Old-Males

1.  Bolt d’Oro – Ran a superb race in the Grade 2 San Felipe in what was his first start in four months. Will move forward off that effort. The Santa Anita Derby is next this weekend where Instilled Regard and the newcomer, Justify, will be ready to test him.

2.  McKinzie – Will miss the Santa Anita Derby and the Kentucky Derby due to a hind leg issue. Regardless, he maintains this ranking until another steps up.

3.  Solomini – Will return to Arkansas for his final Derby prep. Look for him to improve off of his Rebel Stakes runner-up and validate his very real Kentucky Derby chances.

4.  Good Magic – Will try and make amends this weekend in the Blue Grass Stakes over what many thought was a subpar first start of the year at Gulfstream in early March. He faces a solid field and will need to run better to help his supporters feel more confident come Derby Day.

5.  Audible – Validated his Holy Bull win with a very impressive Florida Derby win albeit over suspect competition. He could go off as the Kentucky Derby favorite.

Next 5 (plus two): Mendelssohn, Flameaway, Instilled Regard, Enticed, Magnum Moon, Noble Indy, My Boy Jack.

3-Year-Old-Females

1.  Rushing Fall – Will make her 2018 debut this Sunday in the Grade 2 Appalachian at Keeneland.

2.  Monomoy Girl – Very impressive in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra at the Fair Grounds in her 2018 debut. Up next is the Ashland this weekend at Keeneland.

3.  Midnight Bisou – Two for two in 2018, and with Dream Tree now sidelined, she is the one to beat in the upcoming Santa Anita Oaks. Appears to be California’s best chance at the Kentucky Oaks.

4.  Caledonia Road – The 2-year-old champion suffered another setback, with the Kentucky Oaks now out of the question. Her next race plans are not set.

5.  Road to Victory – She is two for two and the winner of Grade 2 Golden Rod in late November, when she defeated Monomoy Girl, who came back in Feburary to win the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra. Has yet to record a work in 2018.

Next 5: Dream Tree, Blamed, Moonshine Memories, Fly So High, Chocolate Martini.

Turf Males

1.  World Approval – His 2018 debut was a signal to us that he may have trouble in the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile, and he did. It was his first loss since June of last year. But, he has earned his place here and will maintain his hold for at least another race.

2.  Itsinthepost – Won his third straight Grade 2 stakes in 2018. Only beaten five lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last fall, and now at 6 years old, this guy is in the best form of his career.

3.  Sadler’s Joy – Outside of the slow pace he was behind, no real excuses for his fourth-place finish in Gulfstream's Pan American. Like last year, this guy is at the mercy of the pace in his races.

4.  Beach Patrol – Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up will make his 2018 debut on the Kentucky Derby undercard in the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic.

5.  Oscar Performance – Was brilliant at times against his own age group in 2017. He should mature now at 4 years old and has a higher ceiling than most. Has yet to record a work in 2018.

Next 5: Bigger Picture, Heart to Heart, Oscar Nominated, Bullards Alley, Hi Happy.

Turf Females

1.  Off Limits – Caught behind an extremely slow pace in her 2018 debut at Tampa Bay Downs, beaten a little over a length. Gets a mulligan as before that she won five of six in 2017, which included the Grade 1 Matriarch to end her season. Will reappear next in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley on April 14 at Keeneland.

2.  War Flag – Only beaten by three lengths in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, she previously won the Grade 1 Flower Bowl. Was on the work tab at Payson Park in February, but nothing since.

3.  Hawksmoor – Runner-up to Off Limits in the Matriarch, she previously won two graded stakes at Belmont Park last spring. In training at Tampa Bay Downs readying for her 2018 debut.

4.  Cambodia - Third in the Filly & Mare Turf, she was on the board in eight of nine stakes starts in 2017. Back on the work tab at Tampa Bay Downs.

5.  Fourstar Crook – A winner of 10 of 15 starts, she passed her sternest test to date successfully in her win over Off Limits at Tampa Bay. Will have every chance to move up here.

Next 5: Dona Bruja, Grand Jete, Daddy’s Lil Darling, La Coronel, Roca Rojo.

Male Sprinters 

1.  Roy H – Had every chance in the stretch to pass X Y Jet but just could not muster enough late punch. The 2017 Eclipse Award winner is not taken down from this spot because of one loss. He’s 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. As honest as they come, another quality win like Dubai could move him up even higher. He will point to the Met Mile for his next start.

4.  Imperial Hint – Was dominant in his 2018 debut at Tampa Bay Downs in a listed stakes winning by five widening lengths under a hand ride. His loss to Roy H in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint is his only defeat since November of 2016.

4.  City of Light - Showed in the Grade 1 Triple Bend that his score in the Grade 1 Malibu was no fluke. As one of the few sprinters to win back-to-back top-level events, this son of Quality Road has climbed the rankings here very fast. The Met Mile is his long-term goal.

Next 5: Whitmore, American Anthem, Ransom the Moon, Coal Front, Classic Rock.

Female Sprinter 

1.  Selcourt – Has taken over the mantle as the clear leader of the female sprinter division with her third win in as many races in 2018. Her latest was a dismantling of the field in the Grade 1 Santa Monica as she left Paradise Woods and Skye Diamonds in her wake. The daughter of Tiz Wonderful could appear next on Derby day in the Humana Distaff.

2.  Skye Diamonds – Another race against Selcourt and another defeat. Will look to regroup and get back in the win column in her next start.

3.  Ami’s Mesa – The Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint runner-up has a tough 2018 debut this weekend facing our Nos. 4 and 5-ranked horses in this division.

4.  Finley’sluckycharm – Ran well when second in her 2018 debut, a 5 ½-furlong turf stakes at the Fair Grounds. Up next is the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland.

5.  American Gal – The 2017 Grade 1 Test Stakes winner will make this weekend’s Madison her 2018 debut.

Next 5:  Curlins Approval, Princess Karen, Marley’s Freedom, Miss Sunset