Flightline, Life Is Good Remain 1-2 in Classic Rankings

Hronis Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Summer Wind Equine LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing, LLC's 4-year-old Flightline holds a 32-vote lead over CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm LLC's Life Is Good in the latest Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, 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, received 330 votes to remain on top of the rankings for the ninth consecutive week. Flightline worked 7 furlongs in 1:24 at Del Mar on Saturday in preparation for the Sept. 3 TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar, which provides the winner an automatic starting position into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. Life Is Good, winner of both the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and the Whitney (G1) for trainer Todd Pletcher, is in second place with 298 votes.  

Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Country Grammer, owned by Commonwealth Thoroughbreds, LLC, WinStar Farm LLC, and Zedan Racing Stables, Inc., and trained by Bob Baffert, has hopped over Winchell Thoroughbreds' 3-year-old Epicenter and is now in third place with 217 votes. Epicenter, the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) winner, is in fourth place with 209 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, holds onto fifth place with 152 votes.

Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable LLC, and LNJ Foxwoods' 4-year-old Olympiad, a five-time winner this year, including the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2), is in sixth place with 132 votes. Wertheimer and Frere's 5-year-old Happy Saver, also trained by Pletcher, is in seventh place. Happy Saver (94 votes) finished second to Flightline in the Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and finished second in the Whitney. 

Gold Square LLC's 3-year-old Cyberknife, winner of the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1), moved from ninth to eighth place this week. Trained by Brad Cox, Cyberknife earned 83 votes. 

Fox Hill Farms, Inc. and Siena Farm LLC's Royal Ship (BRZ), winner of the San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar, drops back one position to ninth place. Trained by Richard Mandella, Royal Ship has 80 votes. 

Following her convincing victory in the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday, Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Michael House's 3-year-old filly Nest moves into 10th place. Trained by Pletcher, Nest received 47 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. 23, 2022*