HRN Division Rankings: Mitole, McKinzie on collision course

Lost in the Kentucky Derby controversy last weekend were some great performances that took place over the weekend at Churchill Downs.

Chief among those performances was the tour de force effort that McKinzie put forth in Friday's Alysheba Stakes (G2). Rounding the far turn, McKinzie looked as if he was struggling and started to drop back.

Jockey Mike Smith called an audible. Smith guided the son of Street Sense off the rail and to the outside, where he rallied back into contention and moved powerfully into the stretch, drawing away to win in near-record time.

“All of a sudden he just filled up with air and I was like man, I needed some room bad at that point because I was going to run over somebody," Smith said. "He was telling me to do it so I listened to him and you'd be surprised when you listen to them, things seem to pay off."

With this effort, McKinzie moved back into the No. 1 spot in the Older Dirt Male division.

On Saturday, another performance that caught my eye was submitted by Mitole. Going into the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1), some questioned if the son of Eskendereya could rate off other speedsters in a race with Promises Fulfilled and Bobby’s Wicked One intent on grabbing the early lead. Mitole had led at every point of call in his previous four races, all wins.

Mitole answered the question with a definitive yes. He rated in third early on, moved three wide on the turn, and then powered home in the stretch to win going away by 3 ½ lengths. The victory on Saturday was his sixth straight.

For the connections of Mitole, this was affirmation of their long standing belief in the colt, with trainer Steve Asmussen saying “he is for real. Everyone has always been beaming about his potential and he met his potential today and is now a Grade 1 winner.

Mitole moved up two spots this week to take over the No. 1 ranking in the ridiculously deep Male Sprint division.

Next time, McKinzie will shorten up and Mitole will stretch out as the two target the Met Mile (G1) on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

Not to be forgotten is another top sprinter, World of Trouble. He went back to the grass and overpowered the field in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2) to win by 3 3/4 lengths.

What sets World of Trouble apart from the others is his remarkable versatility. Turf or dirt, on a wet or dry track, it doesn’t matter to this guy. He runs big.

For the son of Kantharos, the win was his fourth straight, and sixth from his last seven starts. His lone loss in that stretch was the narrow neck defeat to reigning Eclipse Award winner Stormy Liberal in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. World of Trouble moves up to No. 2 in the rankings.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Kentucky Derby results. I will keep it short and simply state that the disqualification of Maximum Security was clearly the correct call. If a horse does something to a competitor that costs that competitor a better placing, then it is a foul. If you don’t take Maximum Security down, there’s no sense in having riding rules. What happened on Saturday was a foul. Period.

The real story of the race should be the remarkable War of Will. We should all be thanking War of Will for somehow staying up, and in the process, saving the sport from what would have been a catastrophe on national TV. He was most affected by the mishap and it unquestionably cost him a better placing.

I also believe that had this not happened, he would have likely finished in the Top 3, and maybe even have contended with Maximum Security for the win.

Given that, here's a look at all of this week's division rankings.

Older Dirt Males

1.  McKinzie – After two narrow losses to start the year, he broke through in a big way in the Alysheba Stakes.

2.  Thunder Snow – Became the first to win two Dubai World Cups, and he'll likely come to the United States for a later summer/fall campaign. We could see him back in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

3.  Gift Box – The Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner has turned into a star since his transfer to Southern California.

4.  Coal Front – Winner of three in a row, including the Godolphin Mile (G2) in Dubai. He has put it all together this year and could appear next in the Met Mile.

5. Core Beliefs – Made his first start of 2019 a winning one in the New Orleans Handicap (G2).

Next 5: Seeking the Soul, Quip, Prince Lucky, Gunnevera, Audible.

Older Dirt Females

1.  Midnight Bisou – Deserves this spot after already winning three graded stakes in 2019, most recently the Apple Blossom (G1).

2.  Monomoy Girl – While recovering from a mild colic scare, her 2019 debut is on hold.

3.  Elate – No real excuse when third in the Apple Blossom. The Bill Mott-trained mare will regroup for her next start going a longer distance, perhaps in Churchill Downs' Fleur de Lis (G2).

4.  She’s a Julie – Now 2 for 2 this season with a big win last weekend in the La Troienne Stakes (G1) over Blue Prize and Secret Spice.

5.  Blue Prize – Ran OK when third in the La Troienne in her first start this year.

Next 5: Secret Spice, Wow Cat, Paradise Woods, Come Dancing, Escape Clause.

3-Year-Old-Males

1.  Maximum Security – Regardless of the Kentucky Derby DQ, this colt showed me a lot with a gritty and stellar effort in crossing the wire first.

2.  Omaha Beach – Had some bad luck with the throat issues causing him to scratch out out of the Kentucky Derby as the favorite but will be a fresh horse for the summer and fall races.

3.  Game Winner – Was wide and bumped throughout, but came from nearly 20 lengths back to cross the wire in sixth, only be beaten by 3 3/4 lengths in the Derby.

4.  Tacitus – Came running in the stretch, but fell short when crossing the Kentucky Derby wire in fourth place. We'll look for him in the Belmont.

5.  Country House – Looked like he could go on to win the Derby outright on the turn for home but lost a bit a steam nearing the wire.

Next 5: Code of Honor, Improbable, War of Will, Roadster, Vekoma.

3-Year-Old-Females

1.  Serengeti Empress – Showed in the Kentucky Oaks that her bleeding episode in her pervious race was behind her. When she gets the lead she is very tough to beat.

2.  Bellafina – Her fifth-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks was disappointing for her connections. Nine furlongs may be a bit too far for the daughter of Quality Road. She will cut back to one turn for her next start.

3.  Liora – Was the only filly who really got close to Serengeti Empress, and the move to add blinkers has clearly made a difference.

4.  Lady Apple – The Fantasy Stakes (G2) winner gave a good account of herself in the Kentucky Oaks with her third-place finish.  

5.  Champagne Anyone – The Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) winner was just edged for the show spot in the Kentucky Oaks.

Next 5: Jaywalk, Out for a Spin, Enaya Alrabb, Chasing Yesterday, Chocolate Kisses.

Turf Males

1.  Bricks and Mortar – Another late move and another win, this time in the Old Forester Turf Classic (G1). The beat keeps on rolling for this clear leader of the division.

2.  Stormy Liberal – Ran well to finish third in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) in Dubai. Will now follow a similar schedule as last year with the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint three-peat a long-range goal.

3.  Delta Prince – Nice win in the Maker’s 46 Mile Stakes (G1) in his last start.

4.  Qurbaan – Ran a winning race in the Turf Classic at Churchill only to be edged at the wire by a half-length by Bricks and Mortar.

5.  Catapult – Almost got there in the Kilroe Mile (G1) at Santa Anita but was beat in a tight photo by the former claimer Ohio in his first start since the Pegasus.

Next 5: Glorious Empire, Zula Alpha, Catholic Boy, Imprimis, Bigger Picture.

Turf Females

1.  Vasilika – Dominant winner of the Royal Heroine Stakes (G2) last out, marking her 11th victory in her last 12 starts. Expect to see her next on May 27 in Santa Anita's Gamely (G1), a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup.

2.  Sistercharlie – It’s mid-April, and she hasn’t run yet. Her resume would normally be enough to keep her on top, but Vasilika has done too much to be ignored. The champ posting a workout Tuesday.

3.  Rushing Fall – Made her first appearance in a race this year a winning one in the Jenny Wiley (G1). Is now 7-for-8 lifetime.

4.  Rymska – Second to Rushing Fall in her last start, won the Hillsborough Stakes (G2) in her previous start.

5.  Uni – She capped off an abbreviated unbeaten 2018 campaign with a win in the Matriarch (G1) over a strong field. Will stay in training for 2019

Next 5: Santa Monica, Hawksmoor, Competitionofideas, Daddy Is a Legend, Precieuse.

Male Sprinters

1.  Mitole – It will take an extraordinary effort to defeat this one, who's Met Mile-bound.

2.  World of Trouble – Would love to see this guy go against Mitole and the others this summer.

3.  Roy H – He had to be scratched out of the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) due to a minor foot issue that showed quick improvement. Will focus on a return trip to the Breeders’ Cup.

4.  X Y Jet – After two near misses and multiple knee surgeries, he put it all together to finally win the Dubai Golden Sheen, looking like a force on the front end.

5.  Whitmore – Had too much to do when trying to close into Mitole in the Churchill Downs Stakes.

Next 5: Bobby’s Wicked One, Promised Fulfilled, Imperial Hint, Coal Front, Imprimis.

Female Sprinters

1.  Marley’s Freedom – Still holds this spot despite her runner-up finish in the Humana Distaff (G1).

2.  Dream Pauline – Easily took care of business in her first start this year, the Hurricane Bertie (G3). Champion Shamrock Rose was among those left her in wake.

3.  Mia Mischief – Won her first Grade 1 race in the Humana Distaff.

4.  Spiced Perfection – The Madison (G1) winner finished fourth in last weekend’s Humana Distaff.

5.  Selcourt - May not be as good as in the past, but on her best day sprinting is still near the top of this division.

Next 5: Spiced Perfection, Break Even, Amy’s Challenge, Shamrock Rose, Mopotism.