Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings for Aug. 17

Each week a panel of media members, horseplayers, and Breeders’ Cup World Championships officials release a poll tabulating their votes on the nation’s top contenders for the 2022 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The rankings are determined by each voter ranking their top 10 horses with points assigned on a descending 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. The poll launched on June 28 and the final results for the latest poll are below.

Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings for August 17

1. Flightline (18 first-place votes)

Owners: Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing

Trainer: John Sadler

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2022 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap, June 11 at Belmont Park

Next race: TVG Pacific Classic Stakes, Sept. 3 at Del Mar

2. Life Is Good (6 first-place votes)

Owners: China Horse Club and WinStar Farm

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

2022 record: 4 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Whitney Stakes, Aug. 6 at Saratoga Race Course

Next race: TBA, possibly the Woodward Stakes, Oct. 1 at Aqueduct

3. Epicenter (2 first-place votes)

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Joel Rosario

2022 record: 6 starts – 3 wins – 3 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Jim Dandy Stakes, July 30 at Saratoga Race Course

Next race: Runhappy Travers Stakes, Aug. 27 at Saratoga Race Course

4. Country Grammer  (1 first-place vote)

Owners: Commonwealth Thoroughbreds, WinStar Farm and Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: John Velazquez

2022 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 2 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 2nd, San Diego Handicap, July 30 at Del Mar

Next race: TVG Pacific Classic Stakes, Sept. 3 at Del Mar

5. Hot Rod Charlie

Owners: Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing and William Strauss

Trainer: Doug O’Neill

Jockey: Mike Smith

2022 record: 4 starts – 1 win – 2 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 3rd, Whitney Stakes, Aug. 6 at Saratoga Race Course

Next race: TBD, possibly the Lukas Classic Stakes, Oct. 1 at Churchill Downs

6. Olympiad

Owners: Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable and LNJ Foxwoods

Trainer: Bill Mott

Jockey: Junior Alvarado

2022 record: 6 starts – 5 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 4th, Whitney Stakes, Aug. 6 at Saratoga Race Course

Next race: TBA, possibly the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes, Sept. 3 at Saratoga Race Course

7. Happy Saver

Owners: Alain and Gerard Wertheimer

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

2022 record: 3 starts – 0 wins – 3 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 2nd, Whitney Stakes, Aug. 6 at Saratoga Race Course

Next race: TBA, possibly the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes, Sept. 3 at Saratoga Race Course

8. Royal Ship

Owners: Fox Hill Farms and Siena Farm

Trainer: Richard Mandella

Jockey: Mike Smith

2022 record: 3 start – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 1 thirds

Last race: 1st, San Diego Handicap, July 30 at Del Mar

Next race: TVG Pacific Classic Stakes, Sept. 3 at Del Mar

9. Cyberknife

Owner: Gold Square

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Florent Geroux

2022 record: 6 starts – 4 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, TVG.com Haskell Stakes, July 23 at Monmouth Park

Next race: Runhappy Travers Stakes Aug. 27 at Saratoga Race Course

10. Charge It 

Owners: Whisper Hill Farm

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

2022 record: 5 starts – 2 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Dwyer Stakes, July 2 at Belmont Park

Next race: Runhappy Travers Stakes, Aug. 27 at Saratoga Race Course