Essential Quality Takes Lead in BC Classic Rankings

Godolphin's Essential Quality , winner of the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) and the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1), has overtaken stablemate Knicks Go  for the No. 1 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) Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

The 3-year-old Essential Quality, trained by Brad Cox, received 278 votes, which was three votes higher than Korea Racing Authority's 5-year-old Knicks Go, who has 275 votes in second place after being No. 1 for four consecutive weeks. Also trained by Cox, Knicks Go has won three races this year, including the Pegasus World Cup InvitationalStakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park and the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

Godolphin's Maxfield  remained in third place with 226 votes. Trained by Brendan Walsh, the 4-year-old Street Sense   colt captured the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs in June, in which he earned an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Classic. Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, and William Strauss's Hot Rod Charlie  is in fourth place with 189 votes. Hot Rod Charlie, trained by Doug O'Neill, finished third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and second in the Belmont Stakes. He crossed the wire first in the TVG Haskell Stakes (G1) July 17 at Monmouth Park, but was disqualified for interference in the stretch and was placed seventh. He is expected to race next in the Sept. 25 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx Racing.

The big mover in the Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings this week was 4-year-old Max Player , who jumped from 13th to fifth place with 155 votes after winning the Sept. 4 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) at Saratoga by four lengths. The Jockey Club Gold Cup win was Max Player's second Breeders' Cup Challenge Series triumph in the Classic division this year. Owned by George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds, Max Player already earned a free berth into the Classic when he won the Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park July 3. 

Hronis Racing's 4-year-old Tripoli  dropped one position to sixth place with 96 votes. Trained by John Sadler, Tripoli won the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar Aug. 21 and gained a "Win and You're In" berth into the Breeders' Cup Classic.

St. George Stable's 5-year-old mare Letruska , winner of three grade 1 stakes this year, including the Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga, slips one spot to seventh place with 86 votes. 

Winchell Thoroughbreds' 3-year-old Midnight Bourbon  dropped from seventh to eighth place this week with 76 votes. Also trained by Asmussen, Midnight Bourbon finished just a neck behind Essential Quality in the Travers.

Prince A A Faisal's 4-year-old Mishriff , who earned an automatic starting position into the Breeders' Cup Classic when he won the Juddmonte International (G1) on turf at York Racecourse Aug. 18, drops one spot to ninth place. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Mishriff has 71 votes. He won the Saudi Cup (G1) on dirt earlier this year.

Zedan Racing Stables' 3-year-old Medina Spirit , who captured the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar Aug. 29, remained in 10th place with 60 votes.

Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings—Sept. 7, 2021*

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