Stars of Yesterday: Looking Back at Best Florida Derby Winners
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 July 28
1. Maxfield (27 first-place votes)
Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
2021 stats: 4 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third
Last race: 1st, Stephen Foster Stakes, June 26 at Churchill Downs
Next race: Whitney Stakes, Aug. 7 at Saratoga Race Course
Click to add to Equibase Virtual Stable.
2. Essential Quality (7 first-place votes)
Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luis Saez
2021 stats: 4 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, June 5 at Belmont Park
Next race: Jim Dandy Stakes, July 31 at Saratoga Race Course
Click to add to Equibase Virtual Stable.
3. Hot Rod Charlie (1 first-place vote)
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.
4. Mandaloun
Owner: Juddmonte Farms
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
2021 stats: 6 starts – 3 wins – 1 second – 1 third
Last race: 1st, TVG.com Haskell Stakes, July 17 at Monmouth Park
Next race: TBD, possibly the Runhappy Travers Stakes, Aug. 28 at Saratoga Race Course
Click to add to Equibase Virtual Stable.
5. Knicks Go
Owner: Korea Racing Authority
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Joel Rosario
2021 stats: 4 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap, July 2 at Prairie Meadows
Next race: Whitney Stakes, Aug. 7 at Saratoga Race Course
Click to add to Equibase Virtual Stable.
6. Silver State
Owners: Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.
2021 stats: 4 starts – 4 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap, June 5 at Belmont Park
Next race: Whitney Stakes, Aug. 7 at Saratoga Race Course
Click to add to Equibase Virtual Stable.
7. 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.
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 TVG Pacific Classic, Aug. 21 at Del Mar or the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Sept. 4 at Saratoga Race Course
Click to add to Equibase Virtual Stable.
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: 3rd, Suburban Stakes, July 3 at Belmont Park
Next race: TBD, possibly the Whitney Stakes, Aug. 7 at Saratoga Race Course
Click to add to Equibase Virtual Stable.
10. 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