HRN Division Rankings: Catholic Boy finally gets his due

Before last weekend, we last saw Catholic Boy and Analyze It battling in the stretch of Belmont Park's Pennine Ridge Stakes. Catholic Boy's victory was dismissed a bit because Analyze It was knocked in the face by another rider's whip and was considered short on fitness.

But when they went at it again in Saturday’s Belmont Derby, Catholic Boy was surprisingly sent off as the 5-1 fourth choice. The result was much the same.

This time, Catholic Boy should get much more respect off of another win over his rival. Again, Catholic Boy came back in the stretch after being headed by Analyze It in the stretch. It was a remarkable win, and rare to see in that fashion two straight races.

Meeting No. 3 between these two will likely have to wait, as Catholic Boy is under consideration now for the Travers Stakes on dirt.

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

Older Dirt Males

Diversify made a bold statement in the Suburban Handicap (G2) with a powerful, open-length win in a fast time over a track playing extremely fast. In a division that lacks depth, Diversify has to be placed near the top for now. Moving forward, I don’t believe he is a viable contender for the Breeders’ Cup Classic or an Eclipse Award. He is just an ordinary horse outside of New York, and he beat second stringers in the Suburban.

1.  Accelerate – He dominated a good field in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita while posting a 111 Beyer Speed Figure. Ten furlongs appears to be his best distance, and the Grade 1 Pacific Classic in August will be next.

2.  City of Light – The distance finally appeared to have caught up with this guy in his third-place finish in the Gold Cup. Still, he was only beaten 5 1/2 lengths.

3.  Pavel – Finally rewarded his die-hard fans who knew he had the talent to go deep in this division with a Stephen Foster win. Pavel will be given every chance in the coming months to challenge Accelerate for an Eclipse.

4.  Diversify – Very impressive in the Suburban and at New York tracks in general. He has been just ordinary outside of New York, however. The Woodward is next.

4.  West Coast – Still winless on the year, he's getting some time after a runner-up Dubai World Cup finish. Will point to a late summer and fall campaign.

Next 5: Mind Your Biscuits, Army Mule, Bee Jersey, Hoppertunity, Backyard Heaven.

Older Dirt Females

The defection of Abel Tasman from this weekend’s Delaware Handicap (G2) led to a larger field, with Elate set to challenge eight in her 2018 debut. Rival Unbridled Mo won the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park two starts ago, upsetting Unique Bella by 2 1/4 lengths, and then followed that up with a third-place finish, beaten nine lengths by Abel Tasman in the Ogden Phipps (G1).

1.  Abel Tasman – Reclaimed this spot with a huge win in the Phipps, and will likely be racing East of the Mississippi for the remainder of the season.

2.  Unique Bella – Working for her next scheduled start in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes on July 29 at Del Mar.

3.  Salty – Finally was able to defeat her rival, Abel Tasman, in the La Troienne back on Derby weekend. Missed the Ogden Phipps due to injury.

4.  Fault – Injured while training to run in the Phipps. After successful surgery, trainer Phil D’Amato said she could resume her racing career in the future, if her owners decide to do that. 

5.  Elate – This weekend’s Delaware Oaks will mark her 2018 debut. Could join the top two as the major players in this division.

Next 5: Unbridled Mo, Blue Prize, Paradise Woods, Martini Glass, La Force.

3-Year-Old-Males

It appears that the UAE Derby was indeed a mirage with a huge track bias aiding Mendelssohn in his win. He got the excuse of a sloppy track in the Kentucky Derby. The Dwyer Stakes (G3) offered little reason for defeat other than Mendelssohn wasn't good enough on the day.

You have to hand it to Firenze Fire. He isn’t among the very best horses of his generation, but he shows up in every race. Since his debut in June of 2017, Firenze Fire has made 10 more starts and has raced in every month but three. The Dwyer win was his third graded stakes win.

1.  Justify – The Triple Crown winner will be “checked out,” according to his connections, as they have said the colt has “some filling in his left front ankle”. I would be stunned if he ever races again after opening his career 6-for-6 in a span of 112 days.

2.  Good Magic – The reigning 2-year-old champion will next target the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational, trainer Chad Brown said.

3.  Audible – The Florida Derby winner has been taken out of training and won't run again until closer to the end of the year.

4.  Gronkowski – Surprised nearly everyone with his strong run in the Belmont. He could return July 28 in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy, but after missing consecutive works, the Aug. 25 Travers is more likely.

5.  Vino Rosso – Wood Memorial winner gave it his all in the Belmont but could only finish fourth. The Jim Dandy is his next likely target. 

Next 5: McKinzie, Bravazo, Hofburg, Core Beliefs, Catholic Boy.  

3-Year-Old-Females

Not much action in this division this past week, but I would remiss if I didn’t mention the exploits of Athena, the 3-year-old filly who won the Belmont Oaks in a time faster than Catholic Boy in the Belmont Derby.

She beat the best the U.S. had to offer after having raced just six days before in a Group 1 in Ireland, and that came just 10 days after her previous start at Royal Ascot. Very refreshing to see connections run their horse when she is right and healthy rather than worry about races months down the road.

1.  Monomoy Girl – Disposed of two Grade 1 winners with ease in Belmont's Acorn. Will have two more starts before the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, likely the Coaching Club American Oaks and then the Cotillion.

2.  Midnight Bisou – Was dominant in the Mother Goose, as she easily defeated Road to Victory and My Miss Lilly. Will go next in the Alabama at Saratoga, where she could meet the vastly improved Wonder Gadot.

3.  Wonder Gadot – Was a completely different filly with blinkers on, and at 10 furlong distance as she powered home to an easy Queen's Plate victory. The Top 3 have separated themselves here from the others.

4.  Road to Victory – Previously unbeaten, this filly was no match for Midnight Bisou in the Mother Goose but was running second off a lengthy layoff.

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, Red Ruby, Talk Veuve to Me, My Miss Lilly.

Turf Males

1.  Hi Happy – Ran a very good third in the Manhattan with a trip that was probably not to his liking. The most consistent so far in this division in 2018. 

2.  Heart to Heart – His attempt at three straight Grade 1 wins fell just short in the Shoemaker Mile on the West Coast. Will run next in the Grade 1 Fourstardave at Saratoga on August 11.

3.  Beach Patrol – Finished last of 13 in the Manhattan, but was beaten less than five lengths. Feel like that was an aberration, and expect better in his next start.

4.  Oscar Performance – Was very impressive in his 2018 debut winning the Grade 3 Poker Stakes over an extremely fast Belmont Turf course. Will go next in the Grade 1 Arlington Million on August 11.

5.  Yoshida – Gave it his all at Royal Ascot. Came up short when finishing fifth, but beaten only 1 1/4 lengths. He's possible for the Arlington Million, too.

Next 5: Itsinthepost, Sadler’s Joy, Spring Quality, Funtastic, Divisidero.

Turf Females

1.  Sistercharlie – Still deserves to be in this spot despite the narrow defeat in the Grade 2 New York Stakes.

2.  Fourstar Crook – Had just enough to hold off Sistercharlie in the New York.

3.  A Raving Beauty – The German-bred is the real deal. Won her first Grade 1 in impressive fashion in the Just a Game Stakes, and she's now 2-for-2 in the U.S.

4.  Rushing Fall – Suffered her first loss in her last start on Derby weekend. She goes next July 20 as Saratoga's meet opens with the Lake George.

5.  Proctor’s Ledge – Validated her upset win at Churchill Downs with a nice run that barely missed in the Just a Game Stakes.

Next 5: Daddys Lil Darling, Dona Bruja, Lull, Off Limits, Santa Monica.

Male Sprinters

Limousine Liberal and Whitmore were only separated by a neck at the finish in the Belmont Sprint Championship. Coming off a third-place finish in the Met Mile, Limousine Liberal moves up a spot this week. He has not been off the board since the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in 2016, a string of 11 starts.

1.  Roy H – Back in training after his Dubai loss. Look for him to reappear at Del Mar in the July 28 Bing Crosby, a Grade 1.

2.  X Y Jet – Easily took care of business in the Smile Sprint, his first start since Dubai. A real threat for the top spot here in the coming weeks.

3.  Mind Your Biscuits – Ran a huge race in the Met Mile to miss by a nose. He's likely to stretch out in his next start.

4.  Imperial Hint – Last year’s Breeders’ Cup runner-up got his much-needed win in the True North. Now 10 for 16 on his career, he could appear next at Saratoga in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap.

5.  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.

Next 5: Limousine Liberal, Whitmore, Army Mule, American Anthem, Mitole.

Female Sprinters 

Marley’s Freedom is hot right now. She won her third in a row this past weekend defeating Skye Diamonds in the Great Lady M. Remember, however, that Selcourt defeated Marly’s Freedom easily last March.

1.  Selcourt – The clear leader of the female sprinter division until someone beats her, but even then, she could still maintain the top spot. She is back in training and could run at Del Mar.

2.  Lewis Bay – Has quietly been moving up the ranks with solid races. The Honorable Miss Handicap on July 25 will be her next start, with the Ballerina later in the summer her major goal.

3.  American Gal – Never really showed any interest after breaking poorly in the Bed o' Roses when last of five. Still one of the top female sprinters around.

4.  Marley’s Freedom – Since her lost to Selcourt she has won 3 in a row.

5.  Finley’sluckycharm – The Humana Distaff marked her first loss at Churchill down after six straight wins there. She too will return in the Honorable Miss.

Next 5: Skye Diamonds, Ivy Bell, Ami’s Mesa, Miss Sunset, Stormy Embrace.