IT’S OFFICIAL

The August 18, 2015 Edition

Our second week of Breeders’ Cup Elite Eight rankings for all divisions (with the exception of the two juvenile races on turf) contain a few changes from our debut list of last week.   Most notable are the placements of Tap It Up as the top-ranked two year old filly and Exaggerator as the top-rated juvenile colt.  Both displayed enormous talent and potential with victories at Saratoga on Sunday and both give the strong impression that their ceiling won’t be reached until they stretch out over a route of ground. 

Elsewhere, in her first start since suffering an injury last December, Taris returned as well as she left with a facile score in the Rancho Bernardo Handicap at Del Mar on Sunday, a victory that lands her on top of the heap in the Filly & Mare Sprint division.  The daughter of Flatter probably was no more than 80 percent fit for the race but just toyed with her rivals, doing so while displaying a new dimension, that of a stalker rather than a pacesetter.  Last year at Keeneland she earned a sensational 110 Beyer speed figure when winning the Raven Run Stakes over the same course and distance that the Filly & Mare Sprint will be contested, and there’s no reason to believe she can’t approach that type of form when trainer Simon Callaghan tightens the screws in the fall.

Though Highland Reel-Ir was a highly impressive winner of the Secretariat Stakes for trainer Aidan O’Brien, there was no mention of the Breeders Cup as a possible late-season goal in post-race commentary, so we’re not going to list the son of Galileo in the rankings just yet (though you know the O’Brien yard will be heavily represented in this race and others on Breeders’ Cup day).  We will begin sprinkling European names on our various lists as intentions become known, such as the French-based Esoterique, winner of the win-and-your-in Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville.  The five year old mare reportedly will target the Prix du Moulin and possibly the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket before being sent to the States for the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

A reminder of a few of the guidelines we follow in composing the rankings.  First, no horse will be listed twice; we’ll select the race we believe the horse is best suited for and that’s where the horse will be ranked.  Also, contenders that haven’t raced in several months will not be included unless they are ready to begin, or are currently engaged, in a regular work schedule. 

BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC

1.       American Pharoah (B. Baffert)

2.       Honor Code (C. McGaughey)

3.       Tonalist (C. Clement)

4.       Texas Red (K. Desormeaux)

5.       Frosted (K. McLaughlin)

6.       Effinex (J. Jerkins)

7.       Coach Inge (T. Pletcher)

8.       Constitution (T. Pletcher)

BREEDERS’ CUP DIRT MILE

1.       Liam’s Map (T. Pletcher)

2.       Dortmund (B. Baffert)

3.       Upstart (R. Violette, Jr.)

4.       Bradester (E. Kenneally)

5.       Bayern (B. Baffert)

6.       Appealing Tale (P. Miller)

7.       Wicked Strong (J. Jerkens)

8.       Race Day (T. Pletcher)

BREEDERS’ CUP TURF

1.       Red Rifle (T. Pletcher)

2.       Big Blue Kitten (C. Brown)

3.       The Pizza Man (R. Brueggeman)

4.       Twilight Eclipse (M. Maker)

5.       Force the Pass (A. Goldberg)

6.       Slumber-GB (T. Albertrani)

7.       War Dancer (W. Mott)

8.       Finnegans Wake (P. Miller)

BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT

1.       Private Zone (J. Navarro)

2.       Rock Fall (T. Pletcher)

3.       Work All Week (R. Brueggeman)

4.       Secret Circle (B. Baffert)

5.       The Big Beast (A. Dutrow)

6.       Holy Boss (S. Asmussen)

7.       Favorite Tale (G. Preciado)

8.       Masochistic (R. Ellis)

BREEDERS’ CUP MILE

1.       Wise Dan (C. Lopresti)

2.       Bobby’s Kitten (C. Brown)

3.       Esoterique (A. Fabre)

4.       Ironicus (C. McGaughey)

5.       Mshawish (T. Pletcher)

6.       Seek Again (W. Mott)

7.       Grand Arch (B. Lynch)

8.       Prospect Park (C. Sise, Jr.)

BREEDERS’ CUP DISTAFF

1.       Beholder (R. Mandella)

2.       Stopchargingmaria (T. Pletcher)

3.       Wedding Toast (K. McLaughlin)

4.       Untapable (S. Asmussen)

5.       Curalina (T. Pletcher)

6.       I’m a Chatterbox (L. Jones)

7.       Sheer Drama (D. Fawkes)

8.       Lovely Maria (L. Jones)

BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE TURF

1.       Hard Not to Like (C. Clement)

2.       Secret Gesture (R. Beckett)

3.       Tepin (M. Casse)

4.       Stephanie’s Kitten (C. Brown)

5.       Euro Charline-GB (M. Botti)

6.       Watsdachances (C. Brown)

7.       Kitten’s Queen (C. Brown)

8.       Discreet Marq (C, Clement)

BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE SPRINT

1.       Taris (S. Callaghan)

2.       Fantastic Style (B. Baffert)

3.       Dame Dorothy (T. Pletcher)

4.       Cavorting (K. McLaughlin)

5.       Unbridled Forever (D. Stewart)

6.       Judy the Beauty (W. Ward)

7.       Stonetastic (K. Breen)

8.       La Verdad (L. Rice)

BREEDERS’ CUP TURF SPRINT

1.       Lady Shipman (K. O’Connell)

2.       Thieves Guild (J. Toner)

3.       Ready for Rye (T. Albertrani)

4.       Undrafted (W. Ward)

5.       Ageless (A. Delacour)

6.       Shore Runner (J. Sharp)

7.       Distinctiv Passion (J. Bonde)

8.       Something Extra (G. Cox)

BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE

1.       Exaggerator (K. Desormeaux)

2.       Nyquist (D. O’Neil)

3.       Young Brian (P. D’Amato)

4.       Saratoga Mischief (T. Pletcher)

5.       Blameitonthelaw (J. Sadler)

6.       Magna Light (R. Rodriguez)

7.       Swipe (K. Desormeaux)

8.       Mrazek (D. O’Neil)

BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES

1.       Tap to It (R. Nicks)

2.       Just Wicked (S. Asmussen)

3.       Off the Tracks (R. Rodriguez)

4.       Rachel’s Valentina (T. Pletcher)

5.       Songbird (J. Hollendorfer)

6.       Pretty N Cool (B. Baffert)

7.       One Last Shot (B. Baffert)

8.       Surfside Tiara (J. Hollendorfer)

THIS WEEK’S DEL MAR “BLACK BOOK”

 CASUALITY (Aug. 13, 8^th race) – First timer received no action (37-1) in bottom-rung maiden claiming sprint but showed some spark and may deserve more respect when he returns against a similar bunch next time.  Son of Stormello was impeded at the break and pinched back, commenced an extended rally wide into the stretch and finished with interest (though failing to change leads) when fourth behind runaway winner Swiss Cheese in what turned out to be a strong race for the class.  Eurton-trained gelding has plenty of room to improve and certainly doesn’t figure to have much to beat next time.

IPRAY (Aug. 16, 6^th race) – Though beaten nine lengths by Kristinite when second in a restricted (nw-2) $16,000 claiming miler, the D’Amato-trained filly actually ran well enough to expect a win in the near future, especially if matched against 3-year-olds only.  Settled off the pace and responded when called upon to finish eagerly, though never able to land on blow on the runaway winner.  It was her first start in 10 weeks and we’re expecting the daughter of Hold Me Back to produce a considerable forward move.

NASHOBA’S CANDY (Aug. 15, 10^th race) – Was given a run in her debut at a mile on turf against an older group of maiden fillies and mares and acquitted herself quite well when finishing seventh, beaten just two lengths, without being knocked about at any stage.  Candy Ride filly from the top producer Nashoba galloped out in front while begging for more ground, so next against this group at a bit farther trip (preferably nine furlongs) this Gaines-trained filly will be quite formidable.

PATRIOTIC DIMAOND (Aug 15, 7^th race) – Got bounced around pretty good leaving the gate and lost early position, was allowed to settle, then took hold wide into the stretch and finished eagerly when second in her debut behind Run for Rettis, missing by less than a length while more than three clear of the rest.  Daughter of Hat Trick from a mare by Whywhywhy should benefit greatly from the experience, and when given a chance to do what she’s bred to do (run long on turf) this Biancone-trained juvenile could make some serious nose.