American Pharoah Fortifies World's-Best Hold

Triple Crown winner American Pharoah   already had ranked first in the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2015 but his 6 1/2-length Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) victory in the final start of his career increased his rating from 131 to 133.

For the rankings through Nov. 8, American Pharoah held a rating three points better than his closest rival Golden Horn, who this week was named Europe's Horse of the Year at the Cartier Awards.

Should American Pharoah's rating hold as the highest of 2015, he will be the first U.S.-based horse to top the rankings since Curlin  , who was rated at 130 in 2008. The only American horse to be rated higher than American Pharoah since 1995 is Cigar, who finished 1996 at 135.

Second-ranked Golden Horn also ran for the final time at the Breeders' Cup World Championships, finishing a close second to filly Found in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT). His rating remains unchanged, from the previous month's ratings.

Treve, who finished fourth behind Golden Horn in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I), remains in the third spot. The 5-year-old mare, who was co-highest rated horse of 2013, has since been retired to broodmare duties.

Still tied in fourth position are geldings Able Friend (AUS) and Shared Belief. Making his first start since June, Able Friend won the Premier Bowl (HK-II) at the end of October. Shared Belief, who was injured earlier in the year, recently returned to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer's barn.

The final year-end rankings for 2015 will be revealed during the Longines World's Best Racehorse Ceremony this coming January.