Knicks Go Holds No. 1 Spot in BC Classic Rankings

Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go , a front-running winner of the Whitney Stakes (G1) Aug. 7 at Saratoga Race Course, has maintained the top spot in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, a weekly poll of the top 10 horses in contention for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). This year's Breeders' Cup Classic will be run at Del Mar in Del Mar, Calif., on Nov. 6 as the final race of the 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Knicks Go, trained by Brad Cox, received 286 votes in his second week at No. 1. Knicks Go has won three of five starts this year, which in addition to the Whitney includes the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park in January and the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3) in July. Godolphin's 3-year-old Essential Quality , also trained by Cox, is in second place with 259 votes. Essential Quality won the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga and the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) in his last two starts.  Maxfield , second in the Whitney and winner of the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, is in third place with 244 votes. Owned by Godolphin and trained by Brendan Walsh, Maxfield gained a free berth into the Breeders' Cup Classic with his win in the Stephen Foster. Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, and William Strauss's 3-year-old Hot Rod Charlie , trained by Doug O'Neill, is in fourth place with 192 votes.

St. George Stable's 5-year-old mare Letruska  improved one position to fifth place with 109 votes. Letruska, trained by Fausto Gutierrez, has won four of five starts this year, including the Ogden Phipps Stakes(G1) at Belmont Park and the Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings – Aug. 17, 2021*

*Note: The Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Breeders' Cup Classic. The 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run at 1 1/4 miles on the main track, is limited to 14 starters. The race will be broadcast live on NBC.