Divisional Rankings: ZATT's Super Six

Below you will find the best American racing has to offer through the first five months of 2016, as I see it. Before you give me the business, please note that to be included on these lists, a horse must have started at least once this year, making horses like Runhappy, Flintshire, and Dortmund temporarily ineligible.

3yo Males

1) Nyquist – Artist formerly known as an unbeaten Kentucky Derby champ ran into a Preakness buzz saw.

2) Exaggerator – Preakness winner is now nipping at the heels of the top ranked son of a Mo.

3) Gun Runner – Consistent as they come, he won two graded stakes before his third at Churchill Downs.

4) Mohaymen – Bounced back nicely in Louisville after the Florida Derby debacle.

5) Suddenbreakingnews – Southwest winner was closing like a runaway freight train in the Derby.

6) Cherry Wine – Sloppy Preakness runner-up performance earns him some love.

3yo Females

1) Songbird – The mice are playing while the champ is away, but … she’ll be back in the winner’s circle soon enough.

2) Cathryn Sophia – Kentucky Oaks pip place her number two with a bullet.

3) Go Maggie Go – Four races in the past two months add up to quite a beginning to her career.

4) Carina Mia – It’s a shame that she did not get a chance in the Oaks, because she was sitting on ready.

5) Catch a Glimpse – Tepin junior is on a major roll on the sod.

6) Rachel’s Valentina – As my pal Andy Scoggin likes to say … draw a line through it (the Kentucky Oaks).

Older Dirt Males

1) California Chrome - 12 Million Dollar Man has earned the top spot overall with his World (Cup) domination.

2) Effinex - New York-bred showed what he could do sans hives in the Oaklawn Handicap.

3) Frosted - Dubai World Cup fifth was a disappointment, but his class will tell this summer in New York.

4) Melatonin - Big Cap was no fluke for speedy son of Kodiak Kowboy.

5) Mshawish - Faded in Dubai, but Gulfstream Park wins keep him in the top five.

6) Hoppertunity – A win machine he is not, but at hitting the board, he is money in the bank.

Older Dirt Females

1) Beholder – Eventually she will show signs of age, but … probably not this year.

2) Curalina – Her return win in Kentucky was major league good.

3) Stopchargingmaria – All she does is win, or at least win most of the time.

4) Sheer Drama – Last was not her best, but the time before that she fought off Maria.

5) Forever Unbridled – Watch out for this one, she continues to get better for Dallas Stewart.

6) Cavorting – Stretched to a flat mile in absolute style in her Ruffian romp.

Turf Horses

1) Tepin – Nice that we are sending over our very best … Bon Voyage to Royal Ascot!

2) Divisidero – Dug down deep to get the Grade 1 victory at Churchill Downs.

3) Wake Forest – I think there will be more of what we saw in the Man O’ War from this guy.

4) Ironicus – Return was excellent part one.

5) Ring Weekend - Return was excellent part two.

6) Miss Temple City – Another female that can flat out run; she is also Ascot bound.

Sprinters

1) X Y Jet – Was the best the first part of the year, but now he’s on the shelf.

2) Kobe’s Back – Late kick can be devastating at times.

3) Calculator – Consistent, but needs a breakthrough kind of win.

4) Catalina Red – I have a feeling that the Churchill Downs Sprint was no fluke.

5) Wild Dude – Did in a talented Subtle Indian in the Kona Gold.

6) Subtle Indian – Beaten on Saturday, but did he really need to go so fast early?