Undefeated Olympiad rises in Breeders' Cup Classic rankings

After the third week of voting, Flightline remains at No. 1 in the Breeders’ Cup Classic rankings, with Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) winner Olympiad moving into second place.

The rankings are a weekly rating of the top 10 horses in contention for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., on Nov. 5.

The 4-year-old Flightline, a 6-length winner of the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park on June 11, earned 269 votes.

Four-year-old Olympiad, undefeated in five starts this year, improved from third to second place this week, registering 217 votes. And 4-year-old Life Is Good, winner of the Pegasus World Cup (G1) in January and the John A. Nerud Stakes (G2) on July 2, drops from second place to third with 210 votes.

The next six places in the rankings remain unchanged from last week.

Country Grammer, winner of the Dubai World Cup (G1), is in fourth place with 180 votes. Hot Rod Charlie, second in the Dubai World Cup, is in fifth place with 126 votes.

Epicenter leads a trio of 3-year-olds for positions 6 through 8. Epicenter, who finished second in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, is in sixth with 94 votes, and is followed by Preakness Stakes winner Early Voting (76 votes) and undefeated Jack Christopher, who has 65 votes.

Five-year-old Express Train, winner of the Santa Anita Handicap (G1), is in ninth place with 48 votes, and 4-year-old Americanrevolution (44 votes), second in the Stephen Foster, rounds out the top 10.

Jeff Drown’s 3-year-old Zandon, winner of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, drops to 12th place after being tied for 10th last week.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings poll is 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. 11. A list of voting members can be found here.

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.