
Jack Van Berg: A Hall of Famer and a True Horseman
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.
1. Flightline (25 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. Olympiad (5 first-place votes)
Owners: Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable and LNJ Foxwoods
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
2022 record: 5 starts – 5 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Stephen Foster Stakes, July 2 at Churchill Downs
Next race: Whitney Stakes, Aug. 6 at Saratoga Race Course
3. Life Is Good (4 first-place votes)
Owners: China Horse Club and WinStar Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Flavien Prat
2022 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, John A. Nerud Stakes, July 2 at Belmont Park
Next race: Whitney Stakes, Aug. 6 at Saratoga Race Course
4. Epicenter
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
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
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: Whitney Stakes, Aug. 6 at Saratoga Race Course
7. 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
8. 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: TBD, possibly the Runhappy Travers Stakes Aug. 27 at Saratoga Race Course
9. 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
Owners: China Horse Club and WinStar Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Luis Saez
2022 record: 2 starts – 0 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 2nd, Stephen Foster Stakes, July 2 at Churchill Downs
Next race: Whitney Stakes, Aug. 6 at Saratoga Race Course