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 poll results for the opening week are below.
Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings for June 28
1. Flightline (22 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. Country Grammer (2 first-place votes)
Owners: Commonwealth Thoroughbreds, WinStar Farm and Zedan Racing Stables
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Flavien Prat
2022 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline, March 26 at Meydan Racecourse
Next race: TBD, possibly the San Diego Handicap, July 30 at Del Mar
3. Life Is Good (2 first-place votes)
Owners: China Horse Club and WinStar Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
2022 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 4th, Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline, March 26 at Meydan Racecourse
Next race: John A. Nerud Stakes, July 2 at Belmont Park
4. Hot Rod Charlie
Owners: Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing and William Strauss
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Mike Smith
2022 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 2nd, Salvator Mile Stakes, June 18 at Monmouth Park
Next race: TBD, possibly the Whitney Stakes, Aug. 6 at Saratoga Race Course
5. Mandaloun
Owner: Juddmonte Farms
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
2022 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 9th, Saudi Cup, Feb. 26 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse
Next race: Stephen Foster Stakes, July 2 at Churchill Downs
6. Mo Donegal (2 first-place votes)
Owners: Donegal Racing and Repole Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
2022 record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third
Last race: 1st, Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, June 11 at Belmont Park
Next race: TBD, possibly the Jim Dandy Stakes, July 30 at Saratoga Race Course
7. Olympiad (2 first-place votes)
Owners: Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable and LNJ Foxwoods
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
2022 record: 4 starts – 4 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Alysheba Stakes Presented by Sentient Jet, May 6 at Churchill Downs
Next race: Stephen Foster Stakes, July 2 at Churchill Downs
8. Epicenter
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario
2022 record: 5 starts – 2 wins – 3 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 2nd, Preakness Stakes, May 21 at Pimlico
Next race: Jim Dandy Stakes, July 30 at Saratoga Race Course
9. Early Voting
Owner: Klaravich Stables
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
2022 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Preakness Stakes, May 21 at Pimlico
Next race: TBD, possibly the TVG.com Haskell Stakes, July 23 at Monmouth Park or the Jim Dandy Stakes, July 30 at Saratoga Race Course
10. Jack Christopher
Owners: Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud and Peter Brant
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
2022 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun, June 11 at Belmont Park
Next race: TVG.com Haskell Stakes, July 23 at Monmouth Park
