HRN Division Rankings: Robert Bruce to the top on turf

Robert Bruce came to the United States from his native Chile with very high expectations. He won all six of his starts back home, the last four of which were at the Group 1 level. After his United States debut resulted in a win last May in the Grade 3 Fort Marcy, it appeared we had a star on our hands.

Robert Bruce's troubled trip and sixth-place finish, while beaten just two lengths in the Grade 1 Manhattan back in June tempered the enthusiasm a bit. But the son of Fast Company put to rest any remaining doubts about his quality as he scored an emphatic win in last Saturday's Arlington Million.

Although it was only a half-length score, the result was never in doubt once he got rolling in the straight.

With the win, Robert Bruce takes over the top spot here in his division, Turf Males. And he will likely hold that position for a while, perhaps up until the Breeders' Cup Turf. Expect to see him run again Sept. 29 at Belmont Park in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.

On the female side, give Sistercharlie credit. She got it done again in a deep renewal of the Beverly D. This horse, another from the Chad Brown barn, left no doubt as to who the top female turf horse in the country is at this point. Fourstar Crook battled on gamely to the wire but was second best.

These two have run against each other three times this year, finishing one-two each time, with Sistercharlie getting the better of her rival in two of the three. At the start of this year, this division lacked identity, but now it is one of the strongest in racing with A Raving Beauty and Santa Monica still in the mix as well.

Elsewhere, previously top-ranked male turf star Heart to Heart inexplicably never saw the lead in the Grade 1 Fourstardave at Saratoga and finished last of six. Yoshida didn’t fare much better, as he ran fifth. Voodoo Song notched his first Grade 1 win and cracked this week's rankings.

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

Older Dirt Males

1.  Accelerate – The only one in this division with two Grade 1 wins this year, he will go next in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic this weekend as my top-ranked horse. 

2.  Diversify – Took advantage of the track condition as the controlling pace maker in the Whitney for his second career Grade 1 win. Still not convinced he can repeat this form outside of New York, but he merits this spot for now. Will run next in the Jockey Club Gold Cup this fall at Belmont.

3.  Pavel – Will face off against the top-ranked Accelerate in the Pacific Classic. Another Grade 1 win would move this guy closer to number one.

4.  Mind Your Biscuits – Ran a very good race in the Whitney considering the circumstances, as he validated the confidence his connections had in stretching him out. Still would like to see him back sprinting.

5.  City of Light – The Oaklawn Handicap winner also owns wins in two Grade 1 sprint races, the Malibu Stakes last December and the Triple Bend last Mach. He will cut back to a sprint distance for his next start, the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga.

Next 4: West Coast, Bee Jersey, Catalina Cruiser, Army Mule.

Older Dirt Females

1.  Abel Tasman – Will run likely run next in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga on Travers day. Her hold on this spot is tenuous given a light schedule so far.

2.  Unique Bella – Held on in the Clement Hirsch for a half-length win over La Force, though she did lose a shoe in the early going. Will have to run much better in the eventual showdown in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff against the toughest competition she has ever faced.

3.  Elate – The dominant Delaware Handicap winner could 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. She too is a Personal Ensign contender.

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 – The Grade 1 winner was injured while training. She was 3-for-3 on the season, and her racing future is up in the air as she'll be offered at auction in November.

Next 5: Blue Prize, Unbridled Mo, Martini Glass, La Force, Ivy Bell.

3-Year-Old-Males

1.  Justify – Now retired, he will win the Eclipse as the top 3-year-old male, but the Horse of the Year is by no means a lock with Monomoy Girl on a tear right now.

2.  Good Magic – Ran like a 1-2 favorite should run in the Haskell. He won convincingly and could be the Travers Stakes favorite.

3.  Hofburg – Have a feeling that this guy could end up supplanting Good Magic as the No. 2-ranked horse in the division following Travers.

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

5.  Vino Rosso – It took a while, but he closed well in the Jim Dandy to finish third, and he will be among the top choices in the Travers. Still feel he is a cut below the top ones.

Next 5: Bravazo, Tenfold, McKinzie, Catholic Boy, Gronkowski.  


3-Year-Old-Females

1.  Monomoy Girl – There are very real scenarios out there for her to garner Horse of the Year support with four straight Grade 1s under her belt already.

2.  Midnight Bisou – Has the unfortunate luck of being born the same year as Monomoy Girl. Second best in this division right now, her connections have decided on this weekend’s Alabama as her next start.

3.  Wonder Gadot – Was super in the second jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Prince of Wales Stakes. Can make a strong statement for her class in the upcoming Travers.

4.  Red Ruby – Her last effort in the Delaware Oaks was very good, but she is still a cut below the Top 3 until able to face them. Will miss the Alabama due to a setback.

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. Back in training now and nearing a return.

Next 5: Talk Veuve to Me, Road to Victory, Eskimo Kisses, My Miss Lilly, Chocolate Martini.

Turf Males

1.  Robert Bruce – Was much the best in the Arlington Million and will now chart a path to the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

2.  Almanaar – The Arlington Million runner-up was game in defeat, and perhaps was a bit short for the race having only run once in 18 months going in. Should move more forward off that effort.

3.  Hi Happy – So much for consistency, as he tossed in a clunker of a race in the Grade 2 Bowling Green over a soft inner turf course. Will get a chance to redeem himself.

4.  Heart to Heart – He didn't show up Saturday, but that was over "good" turf, and he has done enough this year to stay in the Top 5.

5.  Spring Quality – Has had two starts in 2018, both against Robert Bruce, and he has split them. While the Manhattan winner was a race day scratch from the Arlington Million and will appear next in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer on Travers day.

Next 5: Sadler’s Joy, Yoshida, Divisidero, Channel Maker, Beach Patrol,


Turf Females

1.  Sistercharlie – Cemented her hold on this spot with a determined Beverly D. win.

2.  Fourstar Crook – The tough luck loser in the Beverly D. has been beaten twice this season by her rival.

3.  A Raving Beauty – Had lots of traffic trouble in Saratoga's Grade 1 Diana as she finished a close third. Would like another crack at the top one.

4.  Proctor’s Ledge – Also had traffic issues in the Diana when finishing fifth, beaten three lengths

5.  Ultra Brat – Her last two starts have been very good. She was a hard-luck Diana loser when Sistercharlie changed leads late and surged at the wire.

Next 5:  Daddys Lil Darling, Santa Monica, Off Limits, Inflexibility, Rushing Fall.

Male Sprinters

1.  Roy H – Has built up enough equity to hold onto this spot for another week at least. His next race will be the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs on Oct. 6.

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.  Imperial Hint – “Wow” is the only word to describe his Grade 1 Vanderbilt win. It speaks volumes of this division in that he is only ranked third.

4.  Mind Your Biscuits – Ran big again in the Whitney, and likely will not be sprinting again this year as his connections re considering another route race as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

5.  City of Light – Will go back to sprinting in the Forego at Saratoga on August 25.

Next 5: Limousine Liberal, Whitmore, Army Mule, Ransom the Moon, Fulfilled.

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 Grade 1 Ballerina on Travers day is her next major target.

3.  Marley’s Freedom – Since her loss to Selcourt, she has won three in a row and will go East for her next start in the Ballerina.

4.  Finley'sluckycharm – Got back to her winning ways in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss. The Ballerina is next for her, too.

5.  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.

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