Flightline Finishes On Top in BC Classic Rankings

The undefeated Flightline  has finished No. 1 in the final Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, earning a unanimous vote in the international poll. The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings is a weekly rating of the top 10 horses in contention for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland in Lexington Nov. 5.

Flightline, owned by Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing received 350 votes. Much like his races, Flightline led the Classic Rankings from start to finish, which comprised a 16-week poll. Trained by John Sadler, Flightline has won both the Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) this year. Flightline worked six furlongs in 1:12.4 at Santa Anita Park on Oct. 8 in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Classic. 

The 3-year-old Epicenter , trained by Steve Asmussen, winner of the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1), finished second with 291 votes. The 4-year-old Life Is Good  , who captured the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga and the Woodward (G1) at Aqueduct Racetrack, finished third in the Classic Rankings. Owned by CHC and WinStar Farm, and trained by Todd Pletcher, Life Is Good earned 265 votes.

Zedan Racing Stables' Taiba , winner of the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) for trainer Bob Baffert, finished fourth with 217 votes. Olympiad , owned by Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable, and LNJ Foxwoods, finished fifth with 216 votes. Olympiad, trained by Bill Mott, has won six of seven races this year, including Saratoga Race Course's Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1).

Boat Racing, Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Roadrunner Racing, and William Strauss' Hot Rod Charlie , winner of the Lukas Classic Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, finished in sixth place with 191 votes. Country Grammer , winner of the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), wound up in seventh place with 94 votes.

Rich Strike , owned by RED TR-Racing, and trained by Eric Reed, finished in eighth place. Runner-up in the Lukas Classic, Rich Strike earned 73 votes. Gold Square's Cyberknife  , winner of the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1), finished in ninth place with 69 votes.

Wertheimer and Frere's Happy Saver , second in the Whitney Stakes, finished in 10th place with 42 votes.

The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings was voted upon by leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers, and members of the Breeders' Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. 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.