Mystic Guide, Knicks Go lead list of 2021's top earning horses

Mystic Guide made only three starts in 2021, but he will finish the year atop the earnings list thanks largely to one big score.

The 4-year-old Ghostzapper colt won the Group 1 Dubai World Cup on March 27, pocketing the winner’s share of a $12 million purse. His $7.4 million earned in 2021 is slightly more than the $7.32 million collected by second-place Knicks Go, the likely Horse of the Year.

To be considered for this list, a horse had to make at least one start this season on North American soil. For those who did, earnings from the Dubai World Cup and Saudi Cup cards also counted toward their totals.

Here is a look at the 10 horses that topped the earnings list in 2021.

1. Mystic Guide, $7.4 million

2021 results: Razorback Handicap (G3), Oaklawn Park, 1st; Dubai World Cup (G1), Meydan Racecourse, 1st; Suburban Stakes (G2), Belmont Park, 2nd

The Godolphin homebred notched his owner-breeder’s ninth Dubai World Cup score in March, driving on to a 3 3/4-length win against international rivals. After a three-month layoff, Mystic Guide returned to the track as the odds-on favorite in the Suburban but was upset by Max Player. A subsequent surgery to remove a knee chip robbed the colt of his second half of the season. He is working again for trainer Michael Stidham at Fair Grounds with the primary goal of winning a U.S. Grade 1 event in 2022.

2. Knicks Go, $7.32 million

2021 results: Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), Gulfstream Park, 1st; Saudi Cup (G1), King Abdulaziz Racecourse, 4th; Metropolitan Handicap (G1), Belmont Park, 4th; Cornhusker Handicap (G3), Prairie Meadows, 1st; Whitney Stakes (G1), Saratoga, 1st; Lukas Classic Stakes (G3), Churchill Downs, 1st; Breeders’ Cup Classic, Del Mar, 1st

The 5-year-old son of Paynter is in line for Horse of the Year honors after racking up three Grade 1 victories, including a gate-to-wire score in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Knicks Go went off in the Classic as the co-second choice behind stablemate Essential Quality but left no doubt with a 2 3/4-length triumph over runner-up Medina Spirit. Trainer Brad Cox gets to run the soon-to-be-champion once more, Jan. 29 at Gulfstream as he aims for a repeat in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational. He then will start his breeding career at Taylor Made Stallions.

3. Medina Spirit, $3.52 million

2021 results: Sham Stakes (G3), Santa Anita, 2nd; Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), Santa Anita, 1st; San Felipe Stakes (G2), Santa Anita, 2nd; Santa Anita Derby (G1), Santa Anita, 2nd; Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1st; Preakness Stakes (G1), Pimlico, 3rd; Shared Belief Stakes, Del Mar, 1st; Awesome Again Stakes (G1), Santa Anita, 1st; Breeders’ Cup Classic, Del Mar, 2nd

The 3-year-old Protonico colt was at the center of the racing conversation in 2021. Medina Spirit climbed from modestly bred $1,000 auction purchase to Kentucky Derby hero, only to have his Derby score jeopardized by a failed post-race test. Despite that cloud hanging over him, he returned in the second half of 2021 with three strong efforts, including in the Breeders’ Cup Classic where he finished ahead of all rivals not named Knicks Go. The Bob Baffert trainee was targeting the 2022 Saudi Cup (G1) when he died suddenly at Santa Anita after a Dec. 6 workout.

4. Essential Quality, $3.42 million

2021 results: Southwest Stakes (G3), Oaklawn Park, 1st; Blue Grass Stakes (G2), Keeneland, 1st; Kentucky Derby (G1), Churchill Downs, 4th; Belmont Stakes, Belmont Park, 1st; Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), Saratoga, 1st; Travers Stakes (G1), Saratoga, 1st; Breeders’ Cup Classic, Del Mar, 3rd

The 3-year-old Tapit colt joined Tiz the Law (2020), Summer Bird (2009), Birdstone (2004), and Point Given (2001) as 21st-century runners to pull off the Belmont-Travers double. Essential Quality developed a penchant for prevailing in stretch duels, whether against Hot Rod Charlie in the Belmont or Midnight Bourbon in the Travers. The Brad Cox trainee went off in the Breeders’ Cup Classic as a 9-5 favorite but did not get his desired pace setup as stablemate Knicks Go was let loose on the lead to win gate-to-wire. Essential Quality will stand in 2022 at Darley Stallions for $75,000.

5. Yibir, $2.62 million

2021 results (North American races only): Jockey Club Derby Invitational, Belmont Park, 1st; Breeders’ Cup Turf, Del Mar, 1st

Godolphin’s North American success in 2021 went beyond dirt stars Essential Quality, Maxfield and Mystic Guide. The international operation scored three Breeders’ Cup wins over the lawn at Del Mar thanks to Modern Games (Juvenile Turf), Space Blues (Mile) and Yibir. The latter went off at 9-1 odds and ran 13th of 14 early in the Turf before circling the field around the final turn and beating Broome by a half-length. Charlie Appleby trains the 3-year-old Dubawi gelding.

6. Hot Rod Charlie, $2.13 million

2021 results: Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), Santa Anita, 3rd; Louisiana Derby (G2), Fair Grounds, 1st; Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 3rd; Belmont Stakes, Belmont Park, 2nd; Haskell Stakes (G1), Monmouth Park, 7th; Pennsylvania Derby (G1), Parx, 1st; Breeders’ Cup Classic, Del Mar, 4th; San Antonio Stakes (G2), Santa Anita, 2nd

A photo-finish loss Sunday at Santa Anita punctuated an eventful campaign for the 3-year-old Oxbow colt. Hot Rod Charlie faced Grade 1 competition five times and never crossed the wire farther back than fourth, though he was disqualified from a Haskell victory for interference. He became a fan favorite after his classic Belmont battle with Essential Quality and was voted winner of the 2021 Vox Populi Award for most popular North American runner. Trainer Doug O’Neill told Daily Racing Form that Hot Rod Charlie will target the 2022 Dubai World Cup (G1).

7. Letruska, $1.95 million

2021 results: Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3), Sam Houston, 1st; Azeri Stakes (G2), Oaklawn Park, 2nd; Apple Blossom Handicap (G1), Oaklawn Park, 1st; Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1), Belmont Park, 1st; Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2), Churchill Downs, 1st; Personal Ensign Stakes (G1), Saratoga, 1st; Spinster Stakes (G1), Keeneland, 1st; Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Del Mar, 10th

The 5-year-old Super Saver mare started eight times in 2021 and chalked up wins at six racetracks, four in Grade 1 flight. If nothing else, Letruska made it more expensive for her rivals to race in the Breeders’ Cup, as she won four of the Distaff division’s “win and you’re in” events. She was done in by a hot pace in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, leading briefly before fading to 10th. Trainer Fausto Gutierrez said Letruska will race again as a 6-year-old in 2022.

8. Silver State, $1.69 million

2021 results: Fifth Season Stakes, Oaklawn Park, 1st; Essex Handicap, Oaklawn Park, 1st; Oaklawn Handicap (G2), Oaklawn Park, 1st; Metropolitan Handicap (G1), Belmont Park, 1st; Whitney Stakes (G1), Saratoga, 3rd; Parx Dirt Mile Stakes, Parx, 2nd; Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, Del Mar, 5th

The 4-year-old Hard Spun colt strung together a six-race winning streak from October 2020-June 2021, culminating in his Met Mile score. Silver State went off at Belmont at 6-1 odds despite his five straight wins entering the race. He was jostled at the start before settling third of six, rallying on the inside to take command, then holding off late-running By My Standards. Trained by Steve Asmussen, he will stand in 2022 at Claiborne Farm.

9. Space Blues, $1.64 million

2021 results (North American, Dubai World Cup card, Saudi Cup card races only): STC 1351 Turf Sprint Cup, King Abdulaziz Racecourse, 1st; Al Quoz Sprint, Meydan Racecourse, 9th; Breeders’ Cup Mile, Del Mar, 1st

The 5-year-old son of Dubawi continued Godolphin’s successful Breeders’ Cup stand by scoring in the Mile as a 2-1 favorite. Space Blues sat off the early pace and then battled Southern California runner Smooth Like Strait to the wire, winning by a half-length. He was trained by Appleby and booted home at Del Mar by William Buick, who won aboard three of his four mounts that weekend. Space Blues has been retired in Ireland.

10. Malathaat, $1.56 million

2021 results: Ashland Stakes (G1), Keeneland, 1st; Kentucky Oaks, Churchill Downs, 1st; Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), Saratoga, 2nd; Alabama Stakes (G1), Saratoga, 1st; Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Del Mar, 3rd

The 3-year-old Curlin filly is in line to be runaway winner of the Eclipse Award for top 3-year-old filly after taking three of her division’s most prestigious races. Malathaat’s Kentucky Oaks score was particularly thrilling, as she dug in under jockey John Velazquez to turn back Search Results at the wire by a neck. She also was the top-finishing 3-year-old in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, crossing third behind the unlikely Marche Lorraine-Dunbar Road exacta. The Shadwell Stable runner can aim for the Distaff again in 2022.