BloodHorse Celebrates Breeders' Cup's Top Horses, 16-9

With Breeders' Cup celebrating the 40th edition of its World Championships this year, BloodHorse thought it would be a good time to consider the event's 40 greatest horses to date.

After receiving nominations from staff and correspondents, we conducted a vote to determine the top 40. Keep in mind that we allowed voters wide latitude in considering "greatness." While most started with Breeders' Cup winners—and, for that matter, multiple winners—voters also found room to back courageous runners-up, a few especially accomplished horses that just competed, as well as horses that impacted the event from the breeding side.

Here's how we see it in the fall of 2023, beginning with horses 16-9.

(In case you missed it, check out Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 from earlier in the week.)

16. Bayakoa

Bayakoa won her first Distaff (G1) in 1989 for trainer Ron McAnally and owners Janis and Frank Whitham. Then in 1990, the daughter of Consultant's Bid added another in a race marred by the breakdown of Go for Wand. Bayakoa earned consecutive Eclipse Awards as champion older female in 1989-90 and ultimately retired with a 21-for-39 record.

15. American Pharoah  

Remembered for ending racing's 37-year Triple Crown drought in 2015, American Pharoah capped that year with a victory in the Classic (G1). The bay son of Pioneerof the Nile , owned by Zayat Stables and trained by Bob Baffert, was Horse of the Year in 2015, which followed 2-year-old male championship honors a year earlier. 

14. Wise Dan

Horse of the Year in 2012-13, Wise Dan also won Eclipse Awards for champion older male and champion male turf horse those years, becoming the first horse to win the same three Eclipse Awards in consecutive years. Of the Wiseman's Ferry gelding's 23 victories from 31 starts, 19 came in graded stakes—including back-to-back editions of the Mile (G1T) in 2012-13 for trainer Charlie LoPresti and owner/breeder Morton Fink. 

13. Ghostzapper  

Bred by owner Frank Stronach at Adena Springs, Ghostzapper won grade 1 stakes from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/4 miles, taking the Classic in 2004. The Bobby Frankel-trained son of Awesome Again retired to stud with a 9-0-1 record from 11 starts and earned champion older male and Horse of the Year honors in 2004.

12. Alysheba

After winning the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1), Alysheba capped a memorable 1987 campaign with a nose defeat to Ferdinand in his first Classic appearance. A year later, the Alydar colt would be victorious over Seeking the Gold in the Classic. The Jack Van Berg trainee, owned by Dorothy and Pamela Scharbauer, won multiple Eclipse Awards, including Horse of the Year in 1988. 

11. Personal Ensign

Chasing 1988 Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors in that year's Distaff, Personal Ensign got up in the final stride to win by a nose in one of the great races in Breeders' Cup history. With that victory, the Private Account filly retired undefeated in 13 starts for owner/breeder Ogden Phipps and trainer Shug McGaughey. As a broodmare, she would later produce 1995 Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner My Flag, dam of 2002 Juvenile Fillies winner Storm Flag Flying.

10. Beholder 

Since 1976, Spendthrift Farm's Beholder is the only horse to win at least one grade 1 race every year from ages 2 through 6. The Richard Mandella-trained daughter of Henny Hughes won four Eclipse Awards and became only the second horse to win three Breeders' Cup races. Of her 18 wins, 11 came in grade 1s, including the Distaff in 2013 and 2016, and the Juvenile Fillies in 2012.

9. Curlin  

A Preakness Stakes and Classic victory led to championship 3-year-old male honors for Curlin in 2007 and a Horse of the Year title. Though the Smart Strike colt would later run fourth in the 2008 Classic, his stellar season that year at age 4 led to more championships and Horse of the Year glory for owner Stonestreet Stables and trainer Steve Asmussen.