Hronis Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Summer Wind Equine LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, LLC’s undefeated Flightline is the #1 ranked horse after the first week of tabulated votes for the Classics Leaderboard Longines Breeders’ 2022. The Longines Breeders ‘Cup Classic Ranking is a weekly ranking of the top 10 horses competing for the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), which will be run at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky, on April 1. November 5
Flightline, the stunning 6-length winner of the Hill ‘N’ Dale Capital Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park in its 2022 debut on June 11, topped all of the Stock contenders. Classic with 22 votes in first place and a total of 277 votes. A 4-year-old son of Tapit, Flightline is scheduled to have his next match in the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) in Del Mar on the same day. September 3. Pacific Classic is the Breeders ‘Cup Challenge: Win and You’re Series in the race, with the winner claiming an automatic starting spot and fees paid into the Longines Breeders ‘Cup Classic.
Country Grammer, owned by Commonwealth Thoroughbreds, LLC, WinStar Farm LLC, and Zedan Racing Stables, Inc., came in second with 220 votes. A 5-year-old Tonalist son, Country Grammer won the Dubai World Cup (G1) in Meydan in March, after finishing second in the Saudi Cup (G1) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.
CHC, Inc. and WinStar Farm LLC’s 4-year-old Life Is Good came in third place with 210 votes. The winner of last year’s $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), Life Is Good won the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park in January and came in at No. fourth at the Dubai World Cup in his most recent warm-up.
Boat Racing, LLC, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing and William Strauss 4-year-old Hot Rod Charlie came in at 4th place with 154 votes. Hot Rod Charlie finished second at the Dubai World Cup and also finished second in the Salvator Mile Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park on June 18.
Juddmonte, 4, Mandaloun, winner of the Louisiana Stakes (G2) at the Fair Grounds in January, came in fifth with 126 votes. Mandaloun is scheduled to start this Saturday at Churchill Downs in Stephen Foster Stakes (G2), which is an automatic qualifier for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic. Stephen Foster will be broadcast live on NBC (4-6 p.m. ET) as part of “Series Breeders’ Cup Challenge: Win and You’re In — presented by American Best Racing.”
Donegal Racing and Repole Stable’s Mo Donegal, winner of the Belmont Stakes (G1), is the highest rated 3-year-old in the Leaderboard. A son of Uncle Mo, Mo Donegal came in sixth place with 121 votes.
Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable, LLC and LNJ Foxwoods’ Olympiad, unbeaten in four starts this year, are in seventh place with 108 votes. Olympiad, a 4-year-old Speightstown boy, has won the New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2) at the Fair Grounds and the Alysheba Stakes (G2) in his last two starts. He is also scheduled to start in Stephen Foster.
Three-year-olds make up the rest of the top 10 in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Leaderboard. Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Epicenter came in at eighth place with 107 votes. The son of Not This Time, Epicenter finished second in both the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G2). One place behind Epicenter is the Early Voting of Klaravich Stables Inc., who won the Preakness Stakes in his most recent start. Early voting in 9th place with 95 votes. Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud, and Peter Brant’s undefeated Jack Christopher came in at 10th with 91 votes. Four-time champion, Jack Christopher has two wins this year, winning the Pat Day Mile (G2) at Churchill Downs and Woody Stephens (G1) at Belmont Park.
The Longines Breeders ‘Cup Classic’ standings are determined by a panel consisting of top Thoroughbred racing vehicles, horse riders and members of the Breeders Cup Racing Secretary/Directorate. The ranking will be announced every week until October 11th. The list of members who voted can be found here.
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