Arabian Knight after his frontrunning score in the Pacific Classic (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Arcangelo Remains at No. 1 Following Week #8 Voting
Breeders’ Cup Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.― Zedan Racing Stables Inc.’s Arabian Knight, winner by a neck over Geaux Rocket Ride in Saturday’s FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar, has risen to third in Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings, while Arcangelo remains at the top of the list. The Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings are a weekly rating of the top 10 horses in contention for the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), which will be run Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.
Trained by Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old Arabian Knight, who earned an automatic berth into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic with his Pacific Classic win, rose from 12th to third (147 votes) in the rankings. Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1) winner Arcangelo maintained his No. 1 position with 200 votes, including 14 first-place votes. Despite his close defeat in the Pacific Classic, Pin Oak Stud’s Geaux Rocket Ride improved one spot in the poll to second place with 157 votes. Following Arabian Knight in fourth place is C2 Racing Stable, LLC, and La Milagrosa Stable, LLC’s Whitney Stakes (G1) winner White Abarrio, who has 142 votes. Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Forte is the fourth 3-year-old in the top five. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Forte is in fifth place with 114 votes.
Godolphin’s 5-year-old Proxy ranks sixth with 76 votes. Trained by Mike Stidham, Proxy was second by a nose to Bright Future in Saturday’s Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga. The 4-year-old Bright Future, also owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, gained a free berth in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic with his Gold Cup score. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Bright Future is seventh with 67 votes.
Jeff Drown’s 4-year-old Zandon, runner-up in the Whitney, ranks eighth with 43 votes, and is followed in ninth by Mage, winner of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). Trained by Gustavo Delgado, Mage earned 38 votes.
Ryotokuji Kenji Holdings Co. Ltd.’s Ushba Tesoro (JPN), winner of the Dubai World Cup (G1), is in 10th with 36 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. 10. A list of voting members can be found here.
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.
Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings – Sept. 5, 2023*
| Rank | Horse | Votes | First-Place Votes | Previous Week |
| 1 | Arcangelo | 200 | 14 | 1 |
| 2 | Geaux Rocket Ride | 157 | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Arabian Knight | 147 | 1 | 12 |
| 4 | White Abarrio | 142 | 1 | 2 |
| 5 | Forte | 114 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | Proxy | 76 | 0 | 9 |
| 7 | Bright Future | 67 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Zandon | 43 | 0 | 8 |
| 9 | Mage | 38 | 0 | 10 |
| 10 | Ushba Tesoro (JPN) | 36 | 2 | 11 |
Also receiving one first place vote this week was King of Steel.
*Note – The Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The 2023 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, which will be run at 1 1/4 miles on the main track at Santa Anita, is limited to 14 starters. The race will be broadcast live on NBC and Peacock.
