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Authentic Vaults To Fourth In Weekly Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings

Fresh off his dramatic front-running victory in last Saturday's 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby (G1), Authentic jumped from No. 11 to No. 4 in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, while top-rated Maximum Security increased his lead over Derby runner-up Tiz the Law. The 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings is a weekly poll of the top 10 horses in contention for the $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The 1 ¼-mile Classic, scheduled to be run on Nov. 7 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., is the climactic race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings are 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. 13. A list of voting members can be found here.

Authentic, owned by Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables and Starlight Racing, gave Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert a record-tying sixth Kentucky Derby win. The 3-year-old son of Into Mischief defeated Sackatoga Stable's odds-on favorite Tiz the Law by 1 ¼ lengths in 2:00.61 under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.

Authentic (167 votes) earned a Breeders' Cup Challenge automatic berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic when he won the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park on July 18. Now with five wins in six starts, Authentic is slated to run next in the “Win and You're In” Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course on Oct. 3.

Gary and Mary West, Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith's Maximum Security (238 votes) widened his lead to 58 points over Tiz the Law in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings. The 4-year-old bay son of 2013 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner New Year's Day won the inaugural Saudi Cup, the San Diego Handicap (G1) and the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) this year. Trained by Bob Baffert, Maximum Security earned 16 first-place votes this week.

Tiz the Law (180 votes) holds onto second place in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings after suffering his first defeat this year after dominant wins in the Holy Bull (G3), Florida Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1) and the Runhappy Travers (G1). The New York-bred son of Constitution could bypass the Preakness and train up to the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

GMB Racing's 7-year-old Tom's d'Etat (179 votes), winner of the Stephen Foster (G2) for trainer Al Stall Jr., remained in third place.

Following Authentic in fifth place is the 4-year-old Improbable (162 votes), the third Baffert-trained horse in the top five. Owned by WinStar Farm, CHC Inc., and SF Racing, Improbable captured the Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G1) and the “Win and You're In” Whitney (G1) at Saratoga this year.

The sixth-ranked horse is Allied Racing Stable's By My Standards (114 votes), who won his third graded stakes race of the year with an impressive score in last Saturday's 1 1/16-mile Alysheba (G2) at Churchill Downs for trainer Bret Calhoun.

W.S. Farish's 4-year-old Code of Honor (63 votes), trained by Claude R. “Shug” McGaughey III, remains in seventh place. The 4-year-old chestnut son of Noble Mission (GB) won the Westchester Stakes (G3) and was fourth in the Whitney in his last start.

Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector (53 votes), scratched from the Kentucky Derby early last week due to a minor foot issue, drops from sixth to eighth place. Trained by Tom Drury Jr., Art Collector, the Ellis Park Derby and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) winner, is a candidate for the Preakness Stakes.

The final two spots in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings are completed by the top two finishers in Saturday's Woodward (G1) at Saratoga, Global Campaign and Tacitus.

Sagamore Farm and WinStar Farm's 4-year-old Global Campaign (41 votes) enters the top 10 for the first time at No. 9 after taking the Woodward by 1 ¾ lengths for his third win in four starts this year. Trained by Stanley Hough, Global Campaign won the Monmouth Cup (G3) prior to the Woodward.

Juddmonte Farms' Tacitus (39 votes), trained by Bill Mott, drops from eighth to 10^th place.

Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings – Sept. 8, 2020*

RANK	HORSE	TOTAL VOTES	FIRST-PLACE VOTES
1	Maximum Security	238	16
2	Tiz the Law	180	4
3	Tom's d'Etat	179	5
4	Authentic	167	0
5	Improbable	162	0
6	By My Standards	114	0
7	Code of Honor	63	0
8	Art Collector	53	0
9	Global Campaign	41	0
10	Tacitus	39	0

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

In the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.

The 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic will be televised live on NBC.

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Maximum Security Unanimous Choice As Del Mar Horse Of The Meet

Gary and Mary West and partners' Maximum Security was unanimously voted the Horse of the Meet for Del Mar's 81st summer season in a poll of racing media.

Victories in the San Diego Handicap and the TVG Pacific Classic by the 4-year-old West Stables homebred son of New Year's Day made the choice for Horse of the Meet and Top Older Horse easy for voters, some of whom casts ballots electronically since COVID-19 rules limited on-site attendance.

The first two starts for Maximum Security since being transferred to the care of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert – also comeback efforts following a five-month layoff after a disputed victory in the inaugural $20 million Saudi Cup — were scintillating for racing aficionados.

In the San Diego on July 25, “Max,” as he's known around the stable, had to dig deep into his competitive spirit to edge Midcourt by a nose. Given a month more of training under Baffert, Maximum Security produced a dominating wire-to-wire, 3-length victory in the $500,000 TVG Pacific Classic, the winner's share of the purse putting him over $12 million in career earnings.

Maximum Security was not the only unanimous choice in the voting.

The West's solely owned homebred Fighting Mad, a 4-year-old daughter of New Year's Day trained by Baffert and, like Maximum Security, ridden by Abel Cedillo, was marked on every ballot for Top Older Filly/Mare as a result of her victory in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes on August 2.

Unanimity was also expressed for the winners of the Grade I, $250,000 stakes for 2-year-olds which highlight the final two days of the meeting. Princess Noor earned Top 2-Year-Old Filly honors off her win in the Del Mar Debutante and Dr. Schivel was Top 2-Year-Old via his victory in Monday's Del Mar Futurity.

Other divisional honors went to Bing Crosby winner Collusion Illusion (Sprinter); Shared Belief Stakes champion Thousand Words (Top 3-Year-Old); Del Mar Oaks victor Red Lark (3-Year-Old Filly), and Red King, who took a close vote for Top Grass Horse via victory in the Del Mar Handicap.

Champions of Del Mar 2020

Horse of the Meeting	Maximum Security
Top Sprinter	Collusion Illusion
Top Grass Horse	Red King
Top Older Horse	Maximum Security
Top Older Filly/Mare	Fighting Mad
Top 3-Year-Old	Thousand Words
Top 3-Year-Old Filly	Red Lark
Top 2-Year-Old Filly	Princess Noor
Top 2-Year-Old	Dr. Schivel

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Buoyed By Larger Fields, Host Status For Kentucky Derby, Del Mar Sees Jump In Handle

Operating through challenges and uncertainty as a result of the ongoing pandemic, the 2020 summer race meet at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club near San Diego, Calif., delivered impressive results on several fronts, including the continuance of its industry-leading safety record.

Despite not having fans on track due to the pandemic and running 25% fewer race days than in 2019, Del Mar finished its 2020 summer race meet with an 8% total wagering increase compared to its 2019 summer meeting. Wagering totaled $466.68 million in 2020, an increase of $34.71 million compared to the $431.98 million wagered during the 2019 summer meet. Average daily handle for the 27-day 2020 session was $17.28 million, an increase of 44% over the daily average of $12.00 million for the 36-day 2019 summer meeting.

On-line wagering in the state and across the country picked up markedly and overcame the lower wagering on-track and at California's satellite locations. California on-line wagering increased by 125% from 2019, while out-of-state betting grew 65%.

“Given the extraordinary circumstances, we are very pleased with our results. The racing product was first-rate and players around the country responded in-kind,” said Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's CEO, Joe Harper. “It is especially gratifying that we were able to achieve positive business results while maintaining our commitment to the health and safety of our workforce and our neighbors despite the obvious challenges.”

The track had run a 36-day meet racing five days a week over the past three years, but because of the environment surrounding the pandemic, cut back to 27 days this summer.

Due to the reshuffling of the Triple Crown calendar, Del Mar was the California wagering host for its first ever Kentucky Derby on Saturday, September 5. All told, Del Mar handled over $24.8 million on the day making it the fourth highest wagering day in its history.

Due to horse recruitment efforts and the support of California horse owners, Del Mar was able to increase field size from 8.0 runners per race in 2019 to 8.4 in 2020.

“This was a unique season on multiple levels, but once again our horsemen and women were outstanding,” said Del Mar's Executive Vice President for Racing, Tom Robbins. “They are a resilient group and we are extremely appreciative of their support. Together, we put on a terrific race meet.”

Del Mar's commitment to safety and welfare was on display once again as the track held one of the safest race meets in its history. In both 2018 and 2019, The Jockey Club's Equine Injury Database ranked Del Mar the safest major racetrack in the United States.

Top quality racing and hard-fought competition rose up throughout the summer season. Superstar Maximum Security returned to action for new trainer Bob Baffert and scored a pair of wins – one by a nose in the San Diego Handicap, the other in dominant fashion in the TVG Pacific Classic. Baffert unveiled his latest young superstar when Princess Noor won for fun in the Del Mar Debutante, then another future star came to light when Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal's Dr. Schivel scored handily in the closing day Del Mar Futurity. Both those youngsters will be special to watch on down the line.

The battle for the Del Mar riding crown proved to be a season-long duel with two terrific riders – four-time champion Flavien Prat and the international newcomer Umberto Rispoli – hooked up in a fierce competition that went right down to the last day with Prat coming away a 50 to 49 winner by virtue of his score on Dr. Schivel in the Futurity. Trainer Peter Miller captured his eighth Del Mar training title when he saddled 28 winners over the course of the meet.

“There are so many people to thank for our success in this extremely unusual season,” said Josh Rubinstein, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's President and COO. “On the business side want to extend our appreciation to our broadcast partner, TVG, for its dedication and professionalism in bringing our races to a national television audience and promoting our brand every day. We also owe a debt of gratitude to the family of backstretch workers here who helped make this meet a success as well as officials from the San Diego County Department of Health, Dr. Ghazala Sharieff and her expert medical team at Scripps Health, whose guidance was invaluable.”

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Classic Division Rankings: Maximum Security Retains Top Spot

TVG Pacific Classic (G1) winner Maximum Security retains the top spot in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings over Kentucky Derby (G1) morning-line favorite Tiz the Law, Tom's d'Etat and Improbable, as the top four positions remained unchanged.

The 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings is a weekly poll of the top 10 horses in contention for the $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The 1 1/4-mile Classic, scheduled to be run on Nov. 7 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., is the climactic race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

The 4-year-old Maximum Security (210 votes), owned by Gary and Mary West, Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith, holds a three-vote advantage over Sackatoga Stable's Tiz the Law (207 votes). Trained by Bob Baffert, Maximum Security won the Pacific Classic by 3 lengths over Sharp Samurai to improve his record to 3-for-3 this year, which includes wins in the inaugural Saudi Cup and the San Diego Handicap (G2).

Unbeaten in four starts this year, Tiz the Law, trained by Barclay Tagg, drew post 17 for Saturday's 146^th Kentucky Derby and was installed as the 3-5 morning-line favorite.

GMB Racing's 7-year-old Tom's d'Etat (186 votes), who won the Stephen Foster (G2) at Churchill Downs, remains in third place in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings. Tom's d'Etat is followed in fourth place by WinStar Farm, CHC Inc. and SF Racing's Improbable (156 votes), winner of Saratoga's Whitney (G1).

Allied Racing Stable's By My Standards (94 votes), winner of the New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2) and the Oaklawn Handicap (G2), rises from seventh to fifth place.

Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector (84 votes) was scratched from the Kentucky Derby Tuesday morning due to a minor foot issue. Trained by Tom Drury Jr., Art Collector, the Ellis Park Derby and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) winner, drops one position to sixth place.

W.S. Farish's 4-year-old Code of Honor (78 votes), winner of the Westchester Stakes (G3) and recently fourth in the Whitney, slides from sixth to seventh place.

Juddmonte Farms' 4-year-old Tacitus, winner of the Suburban (G2) at Belmont Park, remains in eighth place with 63 votes.

CRK Stable's 3-year-old Honor A. P. (59 votes) improved from 10^th to ninth place. Trained by John Shirreffs, Honor A. P. is the 5-1 morning-line second choice for the Kentucky Derby, breaking from post 16.

Bloom Racing Stables, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing's 5-year-old mare Midnight Bisou (52 votes), winner of the Fleur de Lis (G2), drops from an eighth-place tie to 10^thplace.

Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings – Sept. 1, 2020

RANK	HORSE	TOTAL VOTES	FIRST-PLACE VOTES
1	Maximum Security	210	11
2	Tiz the Law	207	9
3	Tom's d'Etat	186	3
4	Improbable	156	0
5	By My Standards	94	0
6	Art Collector	84	0
7	Code of Honor	78	0
8	Tacitus	63	0
9	Honor A. P.	59	0
10	Midnight Bisou	52	0

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

In the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.

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