HRN Division Rankings: Where to place Good Magic after a loss?

Good Magic garnered all of the headlines as we headed into last weekend but it was Promises Fulfilled, a son of 2011 Preakness winner Shackleford, who stole show with strong wire-to-wire win over Strike Power in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth. Good Magic had no excuses as he finished third, beaten 4 1/2 lengths. With the win, Promises Fulfilled broke into our top 10 while Good Magic, who was ranked third, only fell one sport to fourth in the latest HRN Division Rankings.

One of the most impressive winners of the weekend was Sadler’s Joy in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida on the grass. The son of Kitten’s Joy was 13 lengths back early on and overcame a slow place to win going away. This was his first start since he was beaten a little over two lengths for the win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, he looks ready to contend for an Eclipse Award in 2018.

Moving west to Santa Anita, the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel was supposed to mark the third meeting between Dream Tree and Midnight Bisou, but Dream Tree scratched due to the off track. That left Midnight Bisou as the 3-10 favorite and she didn’t disappoint, winning by 2 1/4 lengths. These two are expected to meet in the Santa Anita Oaks, where Midnight Bisou will try to defeat Dream Tree for the first time. 

This weekend will surely lead to some major movement as our No. 1-ranked 3-year-old male, Bolt d’Oro, is slated to make his 2018 debut against McKinzie in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes.

Older Dirt Males

1.  West Coast – The clear leader of this division now with Gun Runner retired. He's working consistently for the March 31 Dubai World Cup.

2.  Sharp Azteca – Just didn’t fire in the Pegasus World Cup, but was only beaten three lengths for the show. Did miss a recent work, but that shouldn't keep him from a Dubai trip for the Godolphin Mile.

3.  Gunnevera – He too will go in the Dubai World Cup, and a win could move him to the top spot here.

4.  Seeking the Soul – The winner of the Grade 1 Clark Handicap in November was pushed wide in the first turn of the Pegasus. He ran evenly in the stretch to finish fifth.

5.  Accelerate - Took the rail route to an impressive score in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes. Needs to do it again to move up here.

Next 5: Collected, Always Dreaming, Mor Spirit, Good Samaritan, Pavel.

Older Dirt Females

1.  Forever Unbridled – Working toward an expected next start in the Dubai World Cup against the males. She departs Florida and heads to Dubai on March 20.

2.  Abel Tasman – Came close to catching Forever Unbridled in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. She's back on the work tab for a spring return.

3.  Paradise Woods – The Grade 2 Santa Monica at Santa Anita on March 24 is set to be her 2018 debut.

4.  Elate – The Alabama and Beldame winner will have plenty of races to shoot for at her home base in New York.

5.  Unique Bella  – Contrary to popular opinion, still has a ways to go to pass the top four in this division. Will get her chance in the coming months.

Next 5: Vale Dori, Salty, Mopotism, Lockdown, Blue Prize.

3-Year-Old-Males

1.  Bolt d’Oro – The feeling here is that the gap between this guy and the rest may be bigger than most realize. He surprisingly was overlooked for an Eclipse Award at age 2 and will start his campaign this weekend in the San Felipe.

2.  Solomini – Beat McKinzie and Instilled Regard to the wire in the Los Alamitos Futurity, and both came back to win graded stakes in their next starts.

3.  McKinzie – Passed his first test this year against a suspect bunch in the Grade 3 Sham at Santa Anita. He will get a huge test this weekend against Bolt d’Oro.

4.  Good Magic – He only drops a spot this week in the rankings, mainly because his third-place run was not a surprise. Will probably fall out of the Top 5 before his next race, the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes, where he should improve in his second start of the season. Will need a strong run there to move back up.

5.  Instilled Regard – Disappointed as the favorite in the Grade 2 Risen Star, as he could not make up any ground in the stretch when fourth. While many jumped off the bandwagon, we will not do so just yet. He'll get another chance to show that he is better than that.

Next 5 (plus two): Audible, Free Drop Billy, Avery Island, Catholic Boy, Vino Rosso, Promises Fulfilled, Sporting Chance.

3-Year-Old-Females

1.  Rushing Fall – She's a turf specialist, but with an unbeaten record she belongs here. We'll see her back at the races once Keeneland opens.

2.  Caledonia Road – The Juvenile Fillies winner won’t make her 3-year-old debut for a while due to an ankle injury. She cannot skip a beat if she is to make the Kentucky Oaks. She may drop from this spot in the coming weeks.

3.  Road to Victory – She's 2-for-2 and the winner of Grade 2 Golden Rod in late November where she defeated Monomoy Girl, who came back to win her 2018 debut in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes. Back in training with an eye on the Kentucky Oaks.

4.  Monomoy Girl – Very impressive in the Rachel Alexandra at the Fair Grounds in her 2018 debut. Up next is Keeneland's Grade 1 Ashland.

5.  Dream Tree – Beat Midnight Bisou in back to back races, but was scratched last weekend and will train up to the Santa Anita Oaks where she will face her rival again.

Next 5: Midnight Bisou, Moonshine Memories, Fly So High, Alluring Star, Wonder Gadot.

Turf Males

1.  World Approval – Had to work in his 2018 debut in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes. He should appear in this weekend's Grade 1 Kilroe Mile.

2.  Sadler’s Joy – His race on Saturday was superb, and he may have reached another level now at age 5. A real contender this year for the top spot.

3.  Beach Patrol – Stepped his game up to a new level last summer and fall. Just missed in the Breeders' Cup Turf and could have a big year.

4.  Oscar Performance – Was brilliant at times against his own age group in 2017. He should mature now at age 4 and has a higher ceiling than most. 

5.  Itsinthepost – Two starts in 2018 and two Grade 2 wins, the latest being the San Marcos at Santa Anita.

Next 5: Bigger Picture, Heart to Heart, Oscar Nominated, Bullards Alley, Mo Town.

Turf Females

1.  Off Limits – She won 5-of-6 in 2017, which included the Grade 1 Matriarch to end her season. She starts 2018 off as the leader of a wide-open division.

2.  War Flag – Only beaten by three lengths in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, she previously won the Grade 1 Flower Bowl.

3.  Hawksmoor – Runner-up to Off Limits in the Matriarch, she previously won two graded stakes at Belmont Park last spring.

4.  Cambodia -  Third in the Filly & Mare Turf, she was on the board in 8 of 9 stakes starts in 2017.

5.  Grand Jete – Came close in two Grade 1 races last summer and fall. Ready to break through in 2018.

Next 5: Dona Bruja, Daddy’s Lil Darling, La Coronel, Roca Rojo, Elysea's World.

Male Sprinters

1.  Roy H – Looked better than ever in his 2018 debut winning the Grade 2 Palos Verdes. This weekend's Triple Bend at Santa Anita is next as a prep for a sprint showdown in Dubai where X Y Jet and Mind Your Biscuits will be waiting.

2.  X Y Jet – Since his return to racing last December after a 13-month layoff for surgery to remove a knee chip, X Y Jet has led at every point of call. With his third win in a row, he is primed for a return trip to Dubai for his next start, and a possible showdown with Roy H.

3.  Imperial Hint – Almost held off Roy H in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint

4.  Mind Your Biscuits – Dropped his 2018 debut by a head at Gulfstream. Plan is to defend his Golden Shaheen title in Dubai with a possible prep in the March 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint.

5.  American Anthem – Was third to Roy H in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship as a 3-year-old. Has solid wins in two other sprints and figures to improve now at age 4

Next 5: Great Stuff, Wilbo, Ransom the Moon, Coal Front, Whitmore.

Female Sprinter 

1.  Unique Bella – Will remain in this spot even though her connections will try her going longer for at least a couple more starts.

2.  Selcourt – Did all the work on Saturday in beating Skye Diamonds in the Las Flores. She has arrived as one of the nation’s top female sprinters after only five career starts.

3.  Skye Diamonds – Ran her heart out in her 2018 debut but ran into a buzz saw in Selcourt. 

4.  Ami’s Mesa – Just missed in the Filly & Mare sprint and won three graded stakes in a row before that. This mare will be back in 2018.

5.  Finley’sluckycharm – Ran well when second in her 2018 debut, a 5 ½-furlong turf stakes at the Fair Grounds. Up next is the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland.

Next 5:  American Gal, Curlins Approval, Princess Karen, Lewis Bay, Ms Locust Point.