Maximum Security retains top spot in Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings

Grade 1 Pacific Classic winner Maximum Security retains the top spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings over Kentucky Derby morning-line favorite Tiz the Law, Tom’s d’Etat and Improbable, as the top four positions remained unchanged.

The 2020 Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings are a weekly poll of the top 10 horses in contention for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The 1¼-mile Classic, scheduled to be run on Nov. 7 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., is the climactic race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings are determined by a panel of leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers and members of the Breeders’ Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. Rankings will be announced each week through Oct. 13. A list of voting members can be found here.

The 4-year-old Maximum Security (210 votes), owned by Gary and Mary West, Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith, holds a three-vote advantage over Sackatoga Stable’s Tiz the Law (207 votes). Trained by Bob Baffert, Maximum Security won the Pacific Classic by three lengths over Sharp Samurai to improve his record to 3-for-3 this year, which includes wins in the inaugural Saudi Cup and the San Diego Handicap (G2).

Unbeaten in four starts this year, Tiz the Law, trained by Barclay Tagg, drew post 17 for Saturday’s 146th Kentucky Derby and was installed as the 3-5 morning-line favorite.

GMB Racing’s 7-year-old Tom’s d’Etat (186 votes), who won the Stephen Foster (G2) at Churchill Downs, remains in third place in the Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings. Tom’s d’Etat is followed in fourth place by WinStar Farm, CHC Inc. and SF Racing’s Improbable (156 votes), winner of Saratoga’s Whitney (G1).

Allied Racing Stable’s By My Standards (94 votes), winner of the New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2) and the Oaklawn Handicap (G2), rises from seventh to fifth place.

Bruce Lunsford’s Art Collector (84 votes) was scratched from the Kentucky Derby on Tuesday morning due to a minor foot issue. Trained by Tom Drury Jr., Art Collector, the Ellis Park Derby and Blue Grass Stakes (G2) winner, drops one position to sixth place.

W.S. Farish’s 4-year-old Code of Honor (78 votes), winner of the Westchester Stakes (G3) and recently fourth in the Whitney, slides from sixth to seventh place.

Juddmonte Farms’ 4-year-old Tacitus, winner of the Suburban (G2) at Belmont Park, remains in eighth place with 63 votes.

CRK Stable’s 3-year-old Honor A. P. (59 votes) improved from 10th to ninth place. Trained by John Shirreffs, Honor A. P. is the 5-1 morning-line second choice for the Kentucky Derby, breaking from post 16.

Bloom Racing Stables, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing’s 5-year-old mare Midnight Bisou (52 votes), winner of the Fleur de Lis (G2), drops from an eighth-place tie to 10th place.

Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings –  Sept. 1, 2020*

*Note – The Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

In the Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings, each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.