Wins Propel Zandon, Slow Down Andy into Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings Top 10

Racing
Zandon, Slow Down Andy, Woodward Stakes, Awesome Again Stakes, 2023 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic
Zandon won the Woodward Stakes, and along with Slow Down Andy moved into the top 10 list of Breeders' Cup Classic contenders. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)

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 2023 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park. For the sixth straight week, the leader in the rankings is Travers Stakes winner and Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets winner Arcangelo. This week, Slow Down Andy, the winner of the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita, and Zandon, winner of the Grade 2 Woodward Stakes at Belmont at the Big A, both enter the Top 10.

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 rankings will be updated each week through Oct. 10. The results of the latest poll are below.


Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings for Oct. 3


Arcangelo. (Scott Serio/Eclipse Sportswire)

1. Arcangelo (27 first-place votes)

Owners: Blue Rose Farm

Trainer: Jena Antonucci

Jockey: Javier Castellano

2023 record: 5 starts – 4 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Travers Stakes, Aug. 26 at Saratoga Race Course

Next race: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park


Geaux Rocket Ride. (EQUI-PHOTO)

2. Geaux Rocket Ride (1 first-place vote)

Owner: Pin Oak Stud

Trainer: Richard Mandella

Jockey: Mike Smith

2023 record: 5 starts – 3 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 2nd, FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic Stakes, Sept. 2 at Del Mar

Next race:  Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park


Arabian Knight. (Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire)

3. Arabian Knight (3 first-place votes)

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2023 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third 

Last race: 1st, FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic Stakes, Sept. 2 at Del Mar

Next race: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park


White Abarrio. (Gary Johnson/Eclipse Sportswire)

4. White Abarrio (4 first-place votes)

Owners: C Two Racing Stable amd Antono Pagnano

Trainer: Richard Dutrow Jr.

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

2023 record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 1st, Whitney Stakes, Aug. 5 at Saratoga Race Course

Next race:  Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park, or Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park


Forte. (Liz Lamont/Eclipse Sportswire)

5. Forte

Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

2023 record: 5 starts – 3 wins – 1 seconds– 0 thirds

Last race: 4th, Travers Stakes, Aug. 26 at Saratoga Race Course

Next race: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park


Zandon. (Susie Raisher/NYRA)

6. Zandon

Owners: Jeff Drown

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2023 record: 4 starts – 1 win – 3 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Woodward Stakes, Oct. 1 at Belmont at the Big A 

Next race: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park


Slow Down Andy. (Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire)

7. Slow Down Andy

Owners:  Reddam Racing

Trainer: Doug O'Neill

Jockey:  Mario Gutierrez

2023 record: 4 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 1 third

Last race: 1st, Awesome Again Stakes, Sept. 30 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park, or Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park


Bright Future. (Gary Johnson/Eclipse Sportswire)

8. Bright Future

Owners:  Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey:  Javier Castellano

2023 record: 5 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 1st, Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes, Sept 2 at Saratoga Race Course

Next race: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park


Proxy. (Ted McClenning/Eclipse Sportswire)

9. Proxy (2 first-place votes)

Owners: Godolphin

Trainer: Michael Stidham

Jockey: Joel Rosario

2023 record: 6 starts – 2 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 2nd, Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes, Sept 2 at Saratoga Race Course

Next race:  Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park


Saudi Crown. (Candice Chavez/Eclipse Sportswire)

10. Saudi Crown

Owners:  FMQ Stables

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Florent Geroux

2023 record: 5 starts – 3 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Pennsylvania Derby, Sept. 23 at Parx

Next race: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park, or Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park



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