Breeders’ Cup Rankings - ZATT’s Top 10 (10/24)
1) American Pharoah - Looks to be all geared up for his last hurrah.
2) Beholder - A special mare that could be this good.
3) Tonalist - Might be coming up to his best run of the year.
4) Frosted - Can the good looking grey step outside of the shadows?
5) Honor Code - Needs a strong pace to set up his table.
6) Keen Ice - Hard to rate him this low, but the top 6 are really good.
7) Smooth Roller - Just saw him in person; he’s a beast.
8) Gleneagles - Classy, but this all seems like too much.
9) Effinex - A longshot capable of outrunning his odds
10) Hard Aces - This ain’t the Gold Cup.
1) Golden Horn - The best turf horse in all the world.
2) The Pizza Man - If the top one falters, he could step right in.
3) Found - Classy filly did not have the best of trips in the Arc.
4) Big Blue Kitten - Hard to knock his excellent 2015 form.
5) Twilight Eclipse - Ran huge, but unlucky in the Turf Classic.
6) Slumber - Manhattan winner could surprise.
7) Big John B - Californian will likely get little respect.
8) Red Rifle - Better than he showed last time.
9) Ordak Dan - The Argentinian is a real wild card.
10) Da Big Hoss - In fine fettle right now.
1) Private Zone - Better than ever, needs to be ready for huge test.
2) Runhappy - His sprinting talent is no joke.
3) Kobe’s Back - If the top two duel, he could be flying late.
4) Salutos Amigos - Finishing up the Vosburgh well gives hope.
5) Masochistic - A bigger talent than he showed in his last.
6) Ivan Fallunovalot - Beware the smaller track star.
7) Barbados - 3yo may be ready to fire his best shot.
8) Wild Dude - Hard knocking type should not be discounted.
9) Favorite Tale - More speed to burn.
10) Big Macher - Collected a nice Bounty by the sea.
1) Tepin - Repeat of last could well be enough.
2) Esoterique - Euro mare is tough as nails.
3) Tourist - One of my favorite longshots of the Cup.
4) Karakontie - Last year’s hero is rounding into form.
5) Make Believe - Fabre youngster is a huge threat.
6) Time Test - English 3yo is very consistent.
7) Grand Arch - Shadwell winner coming in on career best form.
8) Impassable - Another female with a real shot to win this.
9) Mshawish - At his best, he has a shot.
10) Mondialiste - Burst through in the Woodbine Mile.
1) Sheer Drama - Lukewarm top choice has a nice running style.
2) Wedding Toast - Big performances, but can she do at Keeneland?
3) I’m a Chatterbox - For my money, she is the best 3yo filly.
4) Got Lucky - Late running kick is better than ever.
5) Untapable - Defending champ is capable of repeating.
6) Stopchargingmaria - Freshened since uncharacteristic fourth.
7) Stellar Wind - Don’t be surprised if the California filly is this good.
8) Curalina - One little step forward and she could win the whole thing.
9) Frivolous - Has pulled the upset a few times before.
10) Yahilwa - Tough mare ran a big Spinster.
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
1) Legatissimo - 3yo filly looks like the class of the field.
2) Dacita - Chilean import closed like a freight train at Saratoga.
3) Stephanie’s Kitten - Experienced BC runner is still dangerous.
4) Impassable - If they choose this race, she’s a big threat.
5) Secret Gesture - Talented filly suffered a tough DQ in Chicago.
6) Miss France - Classy filly is due for a win.
7) Watsdachances - Consistent rallier got put up in the Beverly D.
8) Sentiero Italia - QE II performance was not her best.
9) Queen’s Jewel - Needed last; improvement would be no surprise.
10) Talmada - Closed strongly in the E.P. Taylor.
1) Exaggerator - Should be ready to move forward after Futurity run.
2) Brody’s Cause - Late run the last two has been a thing of beauty.
3) Unbridled Outlaw - His trip in the Iroquois was two nightmares in one.
4) Swipe - Getting closer to Nyquist with each start.
5) Nyquist - The most accomplished horse in the field is vulnerable.
6) Greenpointcrusader - Champagne victory was visually impressive.
7) Cocked And Loaded - Nothing wrong with his win in the Iroquois.
8) Ralis - Big Hopeful win followed by a Champagne no show.
9) Conquest Big E - Impressive looking maiden winner.
10) Riker - Canadian colt perfect in four starts gets class test.
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
1) Artemis Agrotera - Talented filly runs big fresh for Hushion.
2) Stonetastic - The speed of the speed will have to stretch it to 7f.
3) Cavorting - 3yo filly might be the one to beat.
4) Wavell Avenue - Getting this good for Chad Brown.
5) Taris - Better than she showed in her last.
6) Judy the Beauty - Last year’s champ must be respected.
7) Dame Dorothy - Flay’s filly tough at seven furlongs.
8) Super Majesty - A nose shy of an unbeaten mark.
9) Fioretti - Pulled off a nice TCA surprise.
10) Kiss to Remember - Wolfson filly is a longshot possibility.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
1) Songbird - I think she may be the best 2yo of either gender.
2) Rachel’s Valentina - Rachel’s daughter is the top competition.
3) Land Over Sea - Late running filly might get a good setup.
4) Tap to It - Strong effort in the Grade 1 Spinaway.
5) Nickname - Frizette win was sloppy, but nice.
6) Dothraki Queen - May not have loved the Alcibiades track condition.
7) Bold Quality - Looks like a solid runner for Kelly Breen.
8) Nemoralia - Euro import could make some noise if they go dirt.
9) Me Can Do It - Improvement expected for the Romans charge.
10) Forever Darling - Someone has be the tenth choice.
1) Wicked Strong - Should be closing fast in this spot.
2) Liam’s Map - The one to beat, but might be vulnerable to extra speed.
3) Red Vine - Very consistent runner since the switch to dirt.
4) Appealing Tale - Quality speed to battle the chalk.
5) Lea - I think is the better spot for him.
6) Bradester - Nice winning streak broken by Valid.
7) Valid - Solid, solid veteran campaigner.
8) Tapiture - Super game in the Ack Ack.
9) Mshawish - Probably turf bound, but he has some dirt breeding.
10) Mr. Z - Been a long, tough year for this sophomore.
1) Ready for Rye - Talented sophomore looks best on the grass.
2) Undrafted - Big respect for the winner at Royal Ascot.
3) Pure Sensation - Sprint specialist is in tip-top form.
4) Lady Shipman - Don’t underestimate her because of the Ageless loss.
5) Ageless - If healthy, she is a big threat.
6) No Silent - Beware the consistent California shipper.
7) Mongolian Saturday - More speed for the fire.
8) Green Mask - Likes Keeneland; could be a real sleeper.
9) Bobby’s Kitten - No reason to believe the defender can’t improve.
10) Obviously - Would add an interesting option to the mix.
1) Airoforce - Bourbon win points him out.
2) Cymric - Another talented turfer for the John Gosden barn.
3) Camelot Kitten - Closing like a rocket in his first two starts.
4) Birchwood - Strong record in England and Ireland.
5) Ray’s the Bar - Looked very good in defeat in the Pilgrim.
6) Conquest Daddyo - Came home strong in the Summer Stakes.
7) Waterloo Bridge - Irish son of Zoffany should be able to stretch out.
8) Isotherm - Pulled a Pilgrim upset in a wild scramble to the wire.
9) Hollywood Don - Consistent Californian might be better on turf.
10) Azar - Also ran a solid race in that Pilgrim.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
1) Catch a Glimpse - Very impressive north of the border.
2) Harmonize - Wide run in the Jessamine was big time.
3) Illuminate - Hannon filly looks to be all class.
4) Tin Type Gal - Another good turfer for Graham Motion.
5) Thrilled - Daughter of Uncle Mo just missed in the Miss Grillo.
6) Alice Springs - Irish-bred daughter of Galileo is on the improve.
7) Sapphire Kitten - Nothing wrong with her first two.
8) Pricedtoperfection - Maiden win was visually impressive.
9) Last Waltz - Interesting import for the Chad Brown barn.
10) Mirage - Needs better luck than U.S. debut.