Essential Quality Maintains Lead in BC Classic Rankings

Godolphin's Essential Quality , the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) and Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) winner, maintained a two-vote advantage over stablemate Knicks Go  for the lead 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.

Trained by Brad Cox, 3-year-old Essential Quality received 282 votes in his second week at No. 1. Just behind Essential Quality with 280 votes is the Cox-trained 5-year-old Knicks Go, who won the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park and the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course this year.

The next five places in the rankings remained the same from last week.

Godolphin's 4-year-old Maxfield , who earned an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic when he won the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs in June, has 228 votes.

Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, and William Strauss' Hot Rod Charlie , third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and second in the Belmont, is in fourth place with 184 votes for trainer Doug O'Neill.

George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds' Max Player  is in fifth place with 153 votes. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the 4-year-old has won two Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races this year in the Classic division, taking the Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park in July and the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga earlier this month.

Hronis Racing's 4-year-old Tripoli , who triumphed in the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar and gained a free starting position into the Breeders' Cup Classic, is in sixth place. Trained by John Sadler, Tripoli has 153 votes.

St. George Stable's 5-year-old mare Letruska  is in seventh place with 70 votes. Letruska, trained by Fausto Gutierrez, won her third top-level race this year when she captured last month's Personal Ensign Stakes Presented by Lia Infiniti (G1) at Saratoga.

Zedan Racing Stables' 3-year-old Medina Spirit , winner of the Aug. 29 Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar, rose from 10th place to eighth with 68 votes.

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon  dropped from eighth place to ninth this week with 67 votes. Also trained by Asmussen, Midnight Bourbon finished second to Essential Quality in the Travers Stakes.

Prince A A Faisal's 4-year-old Mishriff  drops one spot to 10th place with 65 votes. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Mishriff secured a free berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic when he won the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York Racecourse Aug. 18. 

Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings—Sept. 14, 2021*

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