Undefeated 4-Year-Old Led all 16 Weeks in National Poll
LEXINGTON, Ky.― The undefeated Flightline has finished No. 1 in the final Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings, earning a unanimous vote in the international poll. The Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings is a weekly rating of the top 10 horses in contention for the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, on Nov. 5.
Flightline, owned by Hronis Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Summer Wind Equine LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing, LLC, received 350 votes. Much like his races, Flightline led the Classic Rankings from start to finish, which comprised a 16-week poll. Trained by John Sadler, Flightline has won both the Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) this year. Flightline worked 6 furlongs in 1:12.4 at Santa Anita Park on Saturday in preparation for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The 3-year-old Epicenter, trained by Steve Asmussen, winner of the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1), finished second with 291 votes. The 4-year-old Life Is Good, who captured the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga and the Woodward (G1) at Aqueduct, finished third in the Classic Rankings. Owned by CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm LLC, and trained by Todd Pletcher, Life Is Good earned 265 votes.
Zedan Racing Stable’s Taiba, winner of the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) for trainer Bob Baffert, finished fourth with 217 votes. Olympiad, owned by Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable LLC, and LNJ Foxwoods, finished fifth with 216 votes. Olympiad, trained by Bill Mott, has won six of seven races this year, including Saratoga’s Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1).
Boat Racing, LLC, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, and William Strauss’ Hot Rod Charlie, winner of the Lukas Classic Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, finished in sixth place with 191 votes. Country Grammer, winner of the Dubai World Cup (G1), wound up in seventh place with 94 votes.
Rich Strike, owned by RED TR-Racing, LLC, and trained by Eric Reed, finished in eighth place. Runner-up in the Lukas Classic, Rich Strike earned 73 votes. Gold Square LLC’s Cyberknife, winner of the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1), finished in ninth place with 69 votes.
Wertheimer and Frere’s Happy Saver, second in the Whitney Stakes, finished in 10th place with 42 votes.
The Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings was voted upon by leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers, and members of the Breeders’ Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. A list of voting members can be found here.
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.
Final Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings – Oct. 11, 2022*
| Rank | Horse | Votes | First Place Votes | Previous Week |
| 1 | Flightline | 350 | 35 | 1 |
| 2 | Epicenter | 291 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Life Is Good | 265 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | Taiba | 217 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | Olympiad | 216 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | Hot Rod Charlie | 191 | 0 | 6 |
| 7 | Country Grammer | 94 | 0 | 7 |
| 8 | Rich Strike | 73 | 0 | 8 |
| 9 | Cyberknife | 69 | 0 | 9 |
| 10 | Happy Saver | 42 | 0 | 11 |
*Note – The Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The 2022 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, which will be run at 1 ¼ miles on the main track at Keeneland, is limited to 14 starters. The race will be broadcast live on NBC.
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