LEXINGTON, Ky.― Hronis Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Summer Wind Equine LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing, LLC’s 4-year-old Flightline retained his overall lead in the latest Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings, and the top 10 remained unchanged in a quiet week for the division. 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.
The undefeated Flightline, trained by John Sadler, has been in first place for all eight weeks of the poll. Flightline, who received 260 votes, is expected to start next in the Sept. 3 TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar, which provides the winner an automatic starting position in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic. CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm LLC’s Life Is Good, winner of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and the Whitney Stakes (G1), is in second place with 236 votes.
Winchell Thoroughbreds’ 3-year-old Epicenter, who won Saratoga’s Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) on July 30, is in third place with 172 votes. Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Country Grammer, owned by Commonwealth Thoroughbreds, LLC, WinStar Farm LLC, and Zedan Racing Stables, Inc., is in fourth place with 160 votes. Boat Racing, LLC, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, and William Strauss’ 4-year-old Hot Rod Charlie, who finished second in the Dubai World Cup, and third in the Whitney, is in fifth place with 117 votes.
Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable LLC, and LNJ Foxwoods’ 4-year-old Olympiad, a winner five times in six starts this year, including the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2), is in sixth place with 112 votes. Wertheimer and Frere’s 5-year-old Happy Saver, who finished second in the Whitney, is in seventh place with 98 votes. Fox Hill Farms, Inc. and Siena Farm LLC’s 6-year-old gelding Royal Ship (BRZ), winner of the San Diego Handicap (G2), holds onto eighth place with 71 votes.
Gold Square LLC’s 3-year-old Cyberknife, winner of the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G2) on July 23 for trainer Brad Cox, is in ninth place with 69 votes. Whisper Hill Farm LLC’s 3-year-old Charge It, winner of the Dwyer Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park on July 2, rounds out the top 10 with 63 votes.
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. 11. 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.
Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings – Aug. 16, 2022*
| Rank | Horse | Votes | First-Place Votes | Previous Week |
| 1 | Flightline | 260 | 18 | 1 |
| 2 | Life Is Good | 236 | 6 | 2 |
| 3 | Epicenter | 172 | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | Country Grammer | 160 | 1 | 4 |
| 5 | Hot Rod Charlie | 117 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | Olympiad | 112 | 0 | 6 |
| 7 | Happy Saver | 98 | 0 | 7 |
| 8 | Royal Ship (BRZ) | 71 | 0 | 8 |
| 9 | Cyberknife | 69 | 0 | 9 |
| 10 | Charge It | 63 | 0 | 10 |
*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 mile on the main track at Keeneland, is limited to 14 starters. The race will be broadcast live on NBC.
Breeders’ Cup Press Release
Photo: Breeders’ Cup Classic Ranking Week #8
