Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings for Aug. 18

Racing
The field for the 2021 Jim Dandy Stakes breaks from the starting gate at Saratoga. Essential Quality (left, #5) won the race. (Eclipse Sportswire)

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 2021 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 29 and the final poll results for the current week are below.

Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings for Aug. 18


Eclipse Sportswire

1. Knicks Go (21 first-place votes)

Owner: Korea Racing Authority

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Joel Rosario

2021 stats:5 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Whitney Stakes, Aug. 7 at Saratoga Race Course

Next race: TBD

Click to add to Equibase Virtual Stable.


Eclipse Sportswire

2. Essential Quality (4 first-place votes)

Owner: Godolphin

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Luis Saez

2021 stats: 5 starts – 4 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Jim Dandy Stakes, July 31 at Saratoga Race Course

Next race: Runhappy Travers Stakes, Aug. 28 at Saratoga Race Course

Click to add to Equibase Virtual Stable.


Coady Photography

3. Maxfield (5 first-place votes)

Owner: Godolphin

Trainer: Brendan Walsh

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

2021 stats: 5 starts – 3 wins – 1 second – 1 third

Last race: 2nd, Whitney Stakes, Aug. 7 at Saratoga Race Course

Next race: TBD

Click to add to Equibase Virtual Stable.


Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

4. Hot Rod Charlie 

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

Trainer: Doug O’Neill

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2021 stats: 5 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 2 thirds

Last race: Finished 1st, disqualified to 7th in TVG.com Haskell Stakes, July 17 at Monmouth Park

Next race: TBD

Click to add to Equibase Virtual Stable.


Eclipse Sportswire

5. Letruska

Owner: St. George Stable

Trainer: Fausto Gutierrez

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

2021 stats: 5 starts – 4 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Fleur de Lis Stakes, June 26 at Churchill Downs

Next race: Personal Ensign Stakes, Aug. 28 at Saratoga Race Course

Click to add to Equibase Virtual Stable.


Adam Coglianese/NYRA

6. Silver State

Owners: Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.

2021 stats: 5 starts – 4 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 3rdWhitney Stakes, Aug. 7 at Saratoga Race Course

Next race: TBD

Click to add to Equibase Virtual Stable.


BENOIT photo

7. Express Train

Owner: C R K Stable

Trainer: John Shirreffs

Jockey: Juan Hernandez

2021 stats: 5 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 2 thirds

Last race: 1st, San Diego Handicap, July 17 at Del Mar

Next race: TVG Pacific Classic, Aug. 21 at Del Mar

Click to add to Equibase Virtual Stable.


Coady Photography

8. Max Player

Owner: George E. Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds Corp.

Trainer: Steve Asmussen 

Jockey: Ricardo Santana, Jr.

2021 stats: 3 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Suburban Stakes, July 3 at Belmont Park

Next race: TBD, possibly the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Sept. 4 at Saratoga Race Course

Click to add to Equibase Virtual Stable.


Adam Coglianese/NYRA

9. Happy Saver 

Owner: Wertheimer & Frere

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

2021 stats: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race:  3rdSuburban Stakes, July 3 at Belmont Park

Next race: Jockey Club Gold Cup, Sept. 4 at Saratoga Race Course

Click to add to Equibase Virtual Stable.


Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

10. Dr Post

Owner: St. Elias Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Joel Rosario

2021 stats: 3 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Monmouth Cup Stakes, July 17 at Monmouth Park

Next race: TVG Pacific Classic, Aug. 21 at Del Mar

Click to add to Equibase Virtual Stable.

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