HRN Division Rankings: The sprinters are amid a renaissance

While most attention this time of year falls to the 3-year-old males, racing's “glamour” division, 2018's male sprinters deserve some recognition. The group has always been one of my favorites in racing, and this year's seems as deep as ever, with that thought reaffirmed last weekend.

The reasons for the drop off in recent years are obvious. Some of the would-be Breeders' Cup Sprint participants chose to go in newer Dirt Mile, and the top female sprinters went in the Filly & Mare Sprint. Some of the best editions of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint were back in the 80s and 90s. Those races would't have been the same without horses that these days would likely point to another race on the card.

This year we are lucky to witness to some outstanding sprinters all at the top of their game, and mostly looking at the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, not the Dirt Mile. In examining at the sprint division past years, I can confidently say that the division this year has not been this loaded for at least 20-25 years. Call it a sprinter "renaissance" if you will.

Imperial Hint was the latest to make a bold statement when he won Saratoga's Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt last Saturday with devastating ease. It is very rare that you see a sprinter win a top-level race under wraps as easily as he did. Even with that win, and his stellar resume, I could only move him up to third in his division. That's how deep it is.

Out West, defending Breeders’ Cup and Eclipse Award winner Roy H suffered his second straight loss when finishing second to Ransom the Moon in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar. While this was his first start since Dubai, he didn’t show the same spark as in his previous races. With the win, Ransom the Moon won his second Grade 1 race, the other being last year’s Bing Crosby. He's into the Top 10 now.

Promises Fulfilled makes his debut in the rankings this week as well after he scored a gritty win in the Grade 3 Amsterdam at Saratoga. As good as his victory was, he has a long way to go to catch up to his older rivals.

Given all that, here's 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 Pacific Classic as my top-ranked horse.

2.  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.

3.  Pavel – After a strong recent work, the connections have decided on the Pacific Classic for the Stephen Foster winner. If he can beat Accelerate, and win his second straight Grade 1, he could take over the lead.

4.  Diversify – Was impressive in the Grade 2 Suburban, but we already knew he could win in New York. The question with this guy is, can he win in Kentucky on the first Saturday in November? My short answer is no. Saturday's Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga is next.

5.  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, Bee Jersey, Catalina Cruiser, Backyard Heaven, Army Mule.

Older Dirt Females

1.  Abel Tasman – The Grade 1 Ogden Phipps winner essentially ducked Unique Bella this past weekend, preferring to wait until the more lucrative Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga in late August.

2.  Unique Bella – Held on in the Clement Hirsch for a half-length win over La Force. 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 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 – Grade 1 winner was injured while training. Was three for three on the season, her racing future is up in the air. 

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

3-Year-Old-Males

Good Magic did what he was supposed to do Sunday in beating a relatively weak Haskell field. At Saratoga, Hofburg may have been the most impressive winner as he drew off in the Curlin Stakes, while Tenfold kept it together to prevail in a uninspiring edition of the Jim Dandy.

The Travers will look to spice things up as the filly, Wonder Gadot, will be entered. Also expected are Gronkowski and Catholic Boy.

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 favorite.

3.  Hofburg – Was the most impressive 3-year-old male stakes winner this past weekend. Have a feeling that this guy could end up supplanting Good Magic as the No. 2-ranked horse in the division in the 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 favorites for 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.

2.  Midnight Bisou – Has the unfortunate luck of being born the same year as Monomoy Girl. Second best in this division right now, her next race plans are undecided.

3.  Wonder Gadot – Was super in the second jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Prince of Wales Stakes. She's expected to face off against the males again in her next race, the 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. The Alabama at Saratoga is next up.

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

This division is about as scrambled as it has been in years with no definitive leader. The only horse who has won multiple Grade 1 races this year is Heart to Heart, and based off of that, he slides into the top spot by default.

Brian Lynch stablemate Oscar Performance is primed to take over the position should he win the Arlington Million on August 11.

1.  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.

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

3.  Oscar Performance – Was very impressive in his 2018 debut, winning the Grade 3 Poker Stakes over an extremely fast Belmont Turf course. Could be the Arlington Million favorite.

4.  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.

5.  Yoshida – Gave it his all at Royal Ascot. Came up short when finishing fifth, but beaten only 1 1/4 lengths. He's pointing to the Fourstardave.

Next 5: Sadler’s Joy, Spring Quality, Divisidero, Channel Maker, Almanaar

Turf Females

1.  Sistercharlie – Relentless in her Grade 1 Diana win. Is a neck and a head away from being unbeaten in this country, and pads her lead in this division. The Grade 1 Beverly D. at Arlington is next up.

2.  A Raving Beauty – Had lots of traffic trouble in the Diana as she finished a close third. She could be the best in this division before the year is over and will appreciate even more distance.

3.  Fourstar Crook – Had just enough to hold off Sistercharlie in the New York on Belmont Day.

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. She will go next in the Beverly D.

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


Male Sprinters

1.  Roy H – I know it was his first start since Dubai, but he did not look the same to me in the Bing Crosby. Maybe this was an aberration. Has a tenuous hold on the top spot.

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 Vanderbilt win. It speaks volumes of this division that he is only ranked third.

4.  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.

5.  City of Light – Don’t forget this guy has won his last two sprints, both Grade 1. Will get back to one-turn racing in his next start after dabbling in some route races, which included a win in the Oaklawn Handicap. The Forego at Saratoga is up next.

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 Ballerina is her next major target.

3.  Marley’s Freedom – Since her loss to Selcourt, she has won three in a row.

4. Finley'sluckycharm – Got back to her winning ways last week in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss. The Grade 1 Ballerina is next.

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, Stormy Embrace.