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 Oct. 5
1. Flightline (29 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: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, TVG Pacific Classic Stakes, Sept. 3 at Del Mar
Next race: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 5 at Keeneland Race Course
2. Epicenter
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario
2022 record: 7 starts – 4 wins – 3 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Runhappy Travers Stakes, Aug. 27 at Saratoga Race Course
Next race: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 5 at Keeneland Race Course
3. Life Is Good
Owners: China Horse Club and WinStar Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
2022 record: 5 starts – 4 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Woodward Stakes, Oct. 1 at Belmont at the Big A
Next race: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 5 at Keeneland Race Course
4. Taiba
Owner: Zedan Racing Stables
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
2022 record: 5 starts – 3 wins – 1 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Pennsylvania Derby, Sept. 24 at Parx Racing
Next race: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 5 at Keeneland Race Course
5. Olympiad
Owners: Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable and LNJ Foxwoods
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
2022 record: 7 starts – 6 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes, Sept. 3 at Saratoga Race Course
Next race: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 5 at Keeneland Race Course
6. Hot Rod Charlie
Owners: Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing and William Strauss
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
2022 record: 5 starts – 2 wins – 2 seconds – 1 third
Last race: 1st, Lukas Classic Stakes, Oct. 1 at Churchill Downs
Next race: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 5 at Keeneland Race Course
7. Country Grammer
Owners: Commonwealth Thoroughbreds, WinStar Farm and Zedan Racing Stables
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
2022 record: 5 starts – 1 win – 4 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 2nd, Awesome Again Stakes on Oct. 1 at Santa Anita Park
Next race: TBD
8. Rich Strike
Owner: Red TR-Racing
Trainer: Eric Reed
Jockey: Sonny Leon
2022 record: 7 starts -1 win – 1 second – 2 thirds
Last race: 2nd, Lukas Classic Stakes, Oct. 1 at Churchill Downs
Next race: TBD, possibly the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 5 at Keeneland Race Course or the Clark Stakes Presented by Norton Healthcare, Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs
9. Cyberknife
Owner: Gold Square
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
2022 record: 8 starts – 4 wins – 1 second – 1 third
Last race: 3rd, Pennsylvania Derby, Sept. 24 at Parx Racing
Next race: TBD, possibly the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic or Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, Nov. 5 at Keeneland Race Course
10. Defunded
Owners: Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Edwin Maldonado
2022 record: 5 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Awesome Again Stakes on Oct. 1 at Santa Anita Park
Next race: TBD
