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 10th 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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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 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.

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 146th 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 10th 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 10thplace.

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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Champion Maximum Security Back Out Front In NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll

Champion Maximum Security asserted his class when he captured the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on August 22, an effort that has once again moved the son of New Year's Day to the head of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top Thoroughbred Poll.

In earning his tenth career triumph and fourth top-level victory, Maximum Security secured 16 first-place votes and 343 points to take the lead in the poll for the first time since March 2. The 4-year-old bay colt has won both of his starts since being transferred to the barn of Bob Baffert having previously annexed the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on July 25 in his first start under the care of the Hall of Fame trainer.

“He was a totally different horse today,” Baffert told the Del Mar publicity team after the Pacific Classic. He (jockey Abel Cedillo) got to know 'Max' last time and I'm happy for him. (Maximum Security) just does things effortlessly. He wasn't even blowing when he came back. I'm just so happy for this horse. It's not his fault what he went through. Today he showed that he is a great horse.”

With Maximum Security taking over the top spot, fellow multiple Grade 1-winner Vekoma drops one position to No. 2 with 8 first-place votes and 297 points. Tom's d'Etat (3 first-place votes, 250 points) is now third followed by Grade 1 Whitney Stakes-winner Improbable (232 points) in fourth.

Top sophomore Tiz the Law (11 first-place votes, 228 points) remains in fifth, just ahead of champion distaffer Midnight Bisou in sixth with 204 points. Zulu Alpha (109 points) ranks seventh while the Chad Brown-trained Rushing Fall (102 points) jumps up three spots to eighth on the strength of her triumph in the Grade 1 Diana Stakes on August 23.

Champion Monomoy Girl (1 first-place vote and 96 points) and By My Standards (81 points) round out the top 10.

With the September 5 Kentucky Derby less than two weeks away, Belmont and Travers Stakes hero Tiz the Law remains the leader in the NTRA Top Three-Year-Old Poll with 39 first-place votes and 390 points.

Blue Grass Stakes winner Art Collector remains in second with 320 points followed by Honor A. P. (274 points) and fellow Grade 1 winner Authentic (249).

After being tied for the fifth spot last week, Gamine now owns that position outright with 207 points – one point more than her expected Kentucky Oaks rival Swiss Skydiver (206). Thousand Words (138 points) holds in seventh with King Guillermo (102), Ny Traffic (77) and Travers runner-up Caracaro (60) completing the top 10.

The NTRA Top Thoroughbred polls are the sport's most comprehensive surveys of experts. Every week eligible journalists and broadcasters cast votes for their top 10 horses, with points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. All horses that have raced in the U.S., are in training in the U.S., or are known to be pointing to a major event in the U.S. are eligible for the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll. Voting in both the Top Three-Year-Old Poll and the Top Thoroughbred Poll is scheduled to be conducted through the conclusion of the Breeders' Cup in November.

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Tiz The Law Ascends To Top Of Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings

Following his dominant win in last Saturday's Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, Sackatoga Stable's 3-year-old Tiz the Law is the new No. 1 in the 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, a weekly poll of the top 10 horses in contention for the $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), which is scheduled to be held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington on Nov. 7.

The 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.

Trained by Barclay Tagg, Tiz the Law (265 votes) remained undefeated in four starts this year, rolling to a 5 ½-length victory in the Travers under jockey Manny Franco. Tiz the Law, a New York-bred son of Constitution, will be pointed next to the Kentucky Derby (G1) on Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs, which is the second jewel in this year's restructured Triple Crown. Tiz the Law, who earned 11 first-place votes in this week's poll, won the Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 20 prior to his Travers score.

GMB Racing's Tom's d'Etat (262 votes), was tied for first with the 4-year-old Maximum Security in last week's Classic Rankings, but drops to second place. Trained by Al Stall Jr., the 7-year-old Tom's d'Etat, winner of the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2), is five points ahead of third-place Maximum Security (257 votes). Owned by Gary and Mary West, Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magner and Derrick Smith, Maximum Security won the San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar on July 25 for trainer Bob Baffert. Maximum Security received 10 first-place votes from the panel this week.

A second Baffert-trained runner, WinStar Farm, CHC Inc. and SF Racing's Improbable (201 votes), drops from third to fourth place this week. The 4-year-old chestnut son of City Zip earned a “Win and You're In” automatic starting position into the Breeders' Cup Classic following his 2-length victory in the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 1.

Allied Racing Stable's 4-year-old By My Standards (124 votes), second in the Whitney, retains fifth place in the rankings. Trained by Bret Calhoun, By My Standards won the New Orleans Handicap (G2) and the Oaklawn Handicap (G2.

W.S. Farish's 4-year-old Code of Honor (110 votes) remains in sixth place. Trained by Claude R. “Shug” McGaughey III, Code of Honor, who won the Westchester Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park in June, finished fourth in the Whitney.

Bruce Lunsford's 3-year-old Art Collector (93 votes) jumped from 10th to seventh place this week following his front-running victory in last Sunday's Ellis Park Derby as the odds-on favorite. A bay son of Bernardini, trained by Tom Drury Jr., Art Collector remains unbeaten this year in four starts, including the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland on July 11.

Juddmonte Farms' 4-year-old Tacitus (90 votes) stays in eighth place in the Classic Rankings for the fourth consecutive week. Trained by Bill Mott, Tacitus swept to an 8 ¾-length victory in the Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park on July 4. He is expected to run next in the Woodward (G1) at Saratoga on Sept. 5.

Bloom Racing, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing's 5-year-old mare Midnight Bisou (81 votes), who was defeated as the odds-on favorite in Saratoga's Personal Ensign (G1) on Aug. 1., drops from seventh to ninth place this week.

The 4-year-old Vekoma (74 votes), trained by George Weaver, drops one spot this week to 10th place. Owned by R.A Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables, Vekoma is unbeaten in three starts this year, including two wins in Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races: the Runhappy Carter Handicap (G1), for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), and the Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1), for the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings – Aug. 11, 2020*

RANK HORSE TOTAL VOTES FIRST-PLACE VOTES
1 Tiz the Law 265 11
2 Tom's d'Etat 262 8
3 Maximum Security 257 10
4 Improbable 201 2
5 By My Standards 124 0
6 Code of Honor 110 0
7 Art Collector   93 0
8 Tacitus   90 0
9 Midnight Bisou   81 0
10 Vekoma   74 0

 

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

In the 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, which will be run at 1 ¼ miles on the main track at Keeneland, will be televised live on NBC.

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