Mishriff, Mystic Guide Top Longines World Rankings

After impressive displays during the Dubai World Cup card, Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and TDN Rising Star Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) share the top spot with a 122 ranking in the second edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2021. The rankings are compiled by the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings Committee and published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).

Mishriff, who led the rankings following his victory in the Saudi Cup, switched back to turf and won the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic next time out. Joining Mishriff at the top with a win in the G1 Dubai World Cup, Mystic Guide came into the race having won Oaklawn Park's GIII Razorback H. earlier this season.

Joining Australia's Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) at 121 in the co-third spot is Eduardo (Aus) (Host {Chi}), who is a perfect two-for-two this season. Eduardo defeated Nature Strip by a short head in the G2 Hyland Race Colours Challenge S. and then went on to win the G1 Bisley Workwear Galaxy.

TDN Rising Star Charlatan (Speightstown), winner of last December's GI Malibu S. at Santa Anita, is ranked in co-fifth at 120. The chestnut finished second behind Mystic Guide in the Feb. 20 G1 Saudi Cup. Also among those co-ranked in fifth at 120, TDN Rising Star Life Is Good (Into Mischief), Lord North (Ire) who entered the top five after winning the G1 Dubai Turf and Hong Kong's 2020 Horse of the Year Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), two for two in Group 1 company in Hong Kong this season.

For the complete rankings, click here.

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Mystic Guide, Mishriff Share Top Billing In Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings

After impressive displays during the Dubai World Cup card, Mishriff [122] and Mystic Guide [122] share the top spot in the second edition of the LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2021.

LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings

Leading Horses

click here for complete rankings

Rank Horse Rating Trained
1 MISHRIFF (IRE) 122 GB
1 MYSTIC GUIDE (USA) 122 USA
3 EDUARDO (AUS) 121 AUS
3 NATURE STRIP (AUS) 121 AUS
5 CHARLATAN (USA) 120 USA
5 EXULTANT (IRE) 120 HK
5 GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS) 120 HK
5 LIFE IS GOOD (USA) 120 USA
5 LORD NORTH (IRE) 120 GB

Mishriff, who was already at the top of the rankings following his victory in the Saudi Cup, switched back to turf and won the LONGINES Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) in his next start. Mystic Guide, meanwhile, took the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) by 3 ¾ lengths to land at the top of the rankings. He came into the race having won the Razorback Handicap (G3) by six lengths to begin his 2021 campaign.

Lord North [120] is also in the top five after winning in Dubai. He earned his ranking by being victorious in the Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1), which he took by three lengths in his first start of the year.

Joining Australia's Nature Strip [121] in the co-third spot is Eduardo [121], who is a perfect two-for-two this season. Eduardo defeated Nature Strip by a short head in the Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (G2) and then went on to win the Bisley Workwear Galaxy (G1) by 3 ½ lengths.

Several other horses who have impressed in Australia this season find themselves ranked as well, including Mugatoo [119], who defeated Russian Camelot [118] by half a length in the All-Star Mile. Additionally, Sir Dragonet [118] won the Kia Tancred Stakes (G1) by 2 ¼ lengths to join the rankings.

Elsewhere, Malmoos [119] is ranked after winning the World Sports Betting SA Derby (G1) by 5 ¼ lengths to claim South Africa's Triple Crown. He also won the World Sports Betting S A Classic (G1) and World Sports Betting Gauteng Guineas (G2) to accomplish the feat.

In America, Colonel Liam [118] is two-for-two this year after winning the Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes (G2) following his score in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1), and champion filly Swiss Skydiver [118] made her seasonal debut a winning one when she took the Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) by 2 ¾ lengths.

In Japan, Lei Papale [118] is ranked after she took the Osaka Hai (G1) by 4 lengths, and in France, Skalleti [118] began his season with a victory in the Prix Exbury (G3) by 3 ½ lengths to join the rankings.

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Santa Anita Derby Still Goes Through Baffert Barn

Even after the defection of unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) due to an ankle chip, Saturday's GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby will still go through Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's barn.

Medina Spirit (Protonico), just a $35,000 OBS July 2-year-old pick-up by Zedan Racing Stables last year, was a game-as-can-be narrow winner of the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. two starts back over 'TDN Rising Star' Roman Centurian (Empire Maker) and subsequent GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow).

Medina Spirit was also second-best behind his aforementioned sidelined stablemate twice, including eight lengths adrift most recently in the GII San Felipe S. Mar. 6.

Baffert, also represented by second-out, come-from-behind six-furlong maiden winner Defunded (Dialed In) Mar. 6, has won a record nine Runhappy Santa Anita Derbies.

Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}) switches to dirt after opening his career with a pair of visually impressive victories on turf, including the one-mile Pasadena S. last time Feb. 27. Rock Your World, a $650,000 KEESEP yearling graduate, fired a five-furlong warning shot for John Sadler in :59 1/5 (1/82) at Santa Anita Mar. 28. The dark bay is out of the Empire Maker mare Charm the Maker, heroine of the Sharp Cat S. and placegetter in the GI Hollywood Starlet S. and GI Oak Leaf S.

'TDN Rising Star' Dream Shake (Twirling Candy), a flashy debut winner sprinting for Peter Eurton Feb. 7, was a distant third while making his two-turn debut in the San Felipe, 3 1/4 lengths ahead of fourth-place finisher Roman Centurian. The latter is expected to scratch and could resurface in either the GI Arkansas Derby or GIII Lexington S., according to a report in Daily Racing Form.

Law Professor (Constitution), eighth in the Dream Shake maiden, followed up with a promising graduation going a two-turn mile over this course Mar. 5.

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Medina Spirit, Baffert’s Santa Anita Derby Stand-In, ‘Went Very Nice’ In Breeze

Medina Spirit, twice runner-up to Life Is Good, worked four furlongs Sunday in 48 seconds flat as the Protonico colt prepares to deputize for his undefeated but sidelined stablemate in Saturday's Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

“He went very nice (under jockey Juan Ochoa),” said Bob Baffert, who is seeking to add to his record of nine Santa Anita Derby victories.

“I also worked Hozier (runner-up to unbeaten stablemate Concert Tour in the March 13 Rebel at Oaklawn Park, five furlongs in 1:00.80), Charlatan (four furlongs in 48 flat) and Gamine (five furlongs in 59.60).”

Life Is Good was favored in the most recent Future Wager to win the May 1 Kentucky Derby before a small chip in his left hind ankle was detected following a workout on March 20, forcing him to miss the race and necessitating surgery by Dr. Larry Bramlage at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., two days ago.

“The surgery went well,” Baffert said. “I received great reports on it. It was minor, so that was good and he should be back (racing) a lot sooner than we thought he would.”

G1 Malibu Stakes winner Charlatan and Eclipse Award champion female sprinter Gamine are scheduled to run at Churchill Downs on Derby Day, Charlatan in the G1 Churchill Downs Stakes and Gamine in the G1 Derby City Distaff, both at seven furlongs.

Trainer John Sadler sent Runhappy Santa Anita Derby candidate Rock Your World five furlongs Sunday morning in a bullet 59.20, fastest of 76 drills at the distance, more than two seconds faster than the average time of 1:01.37.

The Runhappy Santa Anita Derby headlines six stakes on Saturday, four of them graded and two showcasing California-bred or sired runners.

In addition to the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, they are the G22 Santa Anita Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles; the G2 Royal Heroine for fillies and mares 4 and up at one mile on turf; and the G3 Providencia Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Also, two Golden State Series races, the $150,000 Echo Eddie Stakes for 3-year-olds at 6 ½ furlongs and the $150,000 Evening Jewel Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 6 ½ furlongs.

In all, the six stakes offer $1,750,000 in purse money. Entries for Saturday's race will be taken on Wednesday.

Saturday's latest local weather forecasts partly cloudy skies, one percent chance of rain and a high of 78 degrees.

First post time will be 12 noon.

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