HRN Division Rankings: Elate elevates off Del Cap victory

Elate was the big mover this past week in HRN's Division Rankings, as she was much the best winning the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap by 3 1/4 lengths. The win was all the more impressive because it came at the 10-furlong distance off an eight-month layoff.

Although Elate made her first start of the season so late in the season, she isn’t that far behind the two leaders of the Older Dirt Female division. Abel Tasman has one win in two starts, and she didn’t make her 2018 debut until May. Unique Bella has two wins in three starts this season but has only run twice since February.

Although Abel Tasman and Elate could face one another soon, don’t expect to see all three together in the starting gate until the Breeders’’ Cup Distaff this fall, when the Eclipse Award will most likely be on the line.

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

Older Dirt Males
 
The Pacific Classic is starting to take shape with Accelerate, West Coast and defending champ Collected all possible. Pavel, City of Light, Mind Your Biscuits and Backyard Heaven are all pointing for the Whitney at Saratoga later this summer.

1.  Accelerate – The clear leader of the division right now has never been better. He is 3-for-4 on the season with two Grade 1 wins. Ten furlongs appears to be his best distance, and he should tune up for the Pacific Classic in Saturday's San Diego (G2) at Del Mar.

2.  City of Light – Never worse than second in eight career starts, he is 2-for-3 on the season, with wins in the Grade 1 Triple Bend and the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap. He's coming off of a third-place finish to Accelerate in the Gold Cup.

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. Look for him to appear next in the Whitney, unless trainer Doug O'Neill later decides to stay West for the Paficic Classic.

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, but ran second in the Pegasus and Dubai world cups. He's back to the Bob Baffert barn after a freshening and will point to a late summer and fall campaign.

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

Older Dirt Females

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.  Elate – Will be a major threat to the Top 2. Look for her to have an abbreviated campaign, much like eventual Distaff winner Forever Unbridled last year.

4.  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.

5.  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.

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


3-Year-Old-Males

Add Bravazo to the list of probables for the Haskell, which will be headlined by Good Magic.

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 remains on target and working consistently for the Haskell.

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 will miss the July 28 Jim Dandy after missing consecutive works, with the Aug. 25 Travers the next spot we may see him.

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

The big news in this division is that Midnight Bisou will now take on Monomoy Girl in Sunday's Coaching Club American Oaks. The Oaks has been on Monomoy Girl's schedule since her win in the Acorn on Belmont Stakes day, marking her third straight Grade 1 win. With these recent developments, Midnight Bisou at least has the opportunity to catch her rival in the division going head to head.

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, with Parx's Sept. 22 Cotillion likely following Sunday's Oaks.

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 CCA Oaks in attempt to try and narrow the gap between her and Monomoy Girl in the Eclipse race.

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. Will go next in the second jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown, next week's Prince of Wales Stakes.

4.  Red Ruby – Her last effort in the Delaware Oaks was very good, but she's still a cut below the Top 3 until able to face them.

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: Talk Veuve to Me, Road to Victory, Eskimo Kisses, 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 this weekend 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

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 will attempt to stretch out in the Whitney for 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 

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 loss to Selcourt, she has won three 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.