McKinzie Stays Atop Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings

By Jim Gluckson/Breeders’ Cup —-

MCKINZIE STAYS ATOP BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC RANKINGS
LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 25, 2019) – Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman’s 4-year-old McKinzie (250 votes) has retained the No. 1 position following the third week of voting in the Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings. McKinzie, trained by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, is followed in second place by Godolphin’s 5-year-old Thunder Snow (IRE) (234 votes), the two-time winner of the Dubai World Cup (G1).

Robert LaPenta, Madaket Stables, Siena Farm and Twin Creeks Racing Stables’ 4-year-old Dixie Stakes (G2) winner Catholic Boy (157 votes) has risen from fourth to third place this week. Improving from fifth to fourth place in the Rankings is Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s 4-year-old Vino Rosso (151 votes), who captured the Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1) on May 27.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings, a weekly rating of the top 10 horses in contention for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita Park, November 2, are determined by a panel of leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers and members of the Breeders’ Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. Rankings are announced each week through October 15 and can be found on the Breeders’ Cup website along with the list of voting members.

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

Dropping two positions is Charles Fipke’s 6-year-old homebred Seeking the Soul (146 votes), winner of the Stephen Foster (G2), who is followed by Hronis Racing’s 6-year-old Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner Gift Box (101 votes) in sixth place.

Fox Hill Farms’ 3-year-old Omaha Beach (80 votes), winner of the Arkansas Derby (G1) and the morning line favorite for the Kentucky Derby (G1) before being scratched, retained the seventh spot followed by Salomon Del Valle’s 5-year-old Gunnevera (64 votes) in eighth.

Juddmonte Farms’ 3-year-old Tacitus (62 votes), second in the Belmont Stakes (G1), moved back into the top 10 this week, securing the No. 9 spot. Tacitus is followed by Gary and Mary West’s 3-year-old Florida Derby (G1) winner Maximum Security (55 votes) in 10th.

Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings Top 10 – June 25, 2019 *

Rank Horse Total Votes First Place Votes Previous Week

1 McKinzie 250 14 1
2 Thunder Snow 234 8 2
3 Catholic Boy 157 3 4
4 Vino Rosso 151 2 5
5 Seeking the Soul 146 0 3
6 Gift Box 101 0 6
7 Omaha Beach 80 0 7
8 Gunnevera 64 0 8
9 Tacitus 62 0 11
10 Maximum Security 55 0 11

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

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Each NBC Sports Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Win and You’re In – Presented by America’s Best Racing telecast will include the Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings, along with commentary from analyst and poll voter Randy Moss.
Upcoming races in the Classic Division which will be televised through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series programming include the TVG.com Haskell Invitational (G1) from Monmouth Park on July 20; the Whitney (G1) from Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 3; the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) from Park Racing on Sept. 21; Awesome Again Stakes (G1) from Santa Anita Park and the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) from Belmont Park on Sept. 28.
The 2019 Breeders’ Cup Classic, which will be run at 1 ¼ miles on the main track at Santa Anita, will be televised live and in primetime on NBC. Thirteen winners of the Classic have been voted Horse of the Year.
About Breeders’ Cup
The Breeders’ Cup administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships. The Breeders’ Cup also administers the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The 2019 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 championship races (13 Grade 1 events and one Grade 2 race) with purses and awards totaling more than $30 million, will be held on November 1-2 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., and will be televised live by the NBC Sports Group. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, www.breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Cover Photo: McKinzie; Benoit Photo