California Chrome Tops Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings

In the first rankings released for 2016, California Chrome is the No. 1-ranked racehorse in the world. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire)
For the third consecutive year, the first edition of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings saw a U.S.-based horse rated on top with California Chrome’s rating of 121 tying him as the first top rated horse of the year with Japan’s Duramente and Great Britain’s Postponed. 
In the first ratings of the year, 30 horses were rated 117 or above with a variety of distances and surfaces represented. Of those, six are North American-based horses with Frosted and Songbird tied right below California Chrome with a rating of 120. 
Last year’s Eclipse champion 2-year-old colt, Nyquist is rated two points below those two at 118 while current Kentucky Derby favorite Mohaymen tied at 117 with last year’s Eclipse female turf horse champion Tepin.
NYQUIST

This is the second straight year California Chrome, now raced by California Chrome LLC, has started the year out with a 121 rating, one that was good enough to rank him fifth behind Shared Belief with a 125 in 2015. California Chrome is no stranger to the list as he also made an appearance in the first rankings of 2014 as a 3-year-old when he was given a 116 for his early-season exploits on the Kentucky Derby trail. 
This year the former champion has won both of his races in preparation for the Dubai World Cup later this month where he looks to win the race after finishing second in 2015. He will be joined by Frosted, whose 120 rating comes from a strong victory in Dubai earlier this month in his own prep. 
The United States is the only country to have Northern Hemisphere 3-year-olds on the list with the country only one of three to have a filly or mare represented. Mark Casse-trained Tepin is listed as trained in Canada, but races in the United States. 
To see the full list of ratings, readers can click here.