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.
Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings for August 31
1. Flightline (23 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. Life Is Good (4 first-place votes)
Owners: China Horse Club and WinStar Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
2022 record: 4 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Whitney Stakes, Aug. 6 at Saratoga Race Course
Next race: TBA, possibly the Woodward Stakes, Oct. 1 at Aqueduct
3. Epicenter (3 first-place votes)
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario
2022 record: 7 starts – 4 wins – 3 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Runhappy Travers Stakes, Aug. 27 at Saratoga Race Course
Next race: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nov. 5 at Keeneland Race Course
4. Country Grammer
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
5. Hot Rod Charlie
Owners: Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing and William Strauss
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Flavien Prat
2022 record: 4 starts – 1 win – 2 seconds – 1 third
Last race: 3rd, Whitney Stakes, Aug. 6 at Saratoga Race Course
Next race: TBD, possibly the Lukas Classic Stakes, Oct. 1 at Churchill Downs
6 (tie). Cyberknife
Owner: Gold Square
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
2022 record: 7 starts – 4 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 2nd, Runhappy Travers Stakes Aug. 27 at Saratoga Race Course
Next race: TBD
6 (tie). Olympiad
Owners: Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable and LNJ Foxwoods
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
2022 record: 6 starts – 5 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 4th, Whitney Stakes, Aug. 6 at Saratoga Race Course
Next race: Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes, Sept. 3 at Saratoga Race Course
8. Happy Saver
Owners: Alain and Gerard Wertheimer
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
2022 record: 3 starts – 0 wins – 3 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 2nd, Whitney Stakes, Aug. 6 at Saratoga Race Course
Next race: TBD
9. 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
10 (tie). Nest
Owners: Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
2022 record: 6 starts – 4 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Alabama Stakes, Aug. 20 at Saratoga Race Course
Next race: TBD, possibly the Beldame Stakes, Oct. 9 at Aqueduct or the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, Oct. 9 at Keeneland Race Course
10 (tie). Taiba
Owner: Zedan Racing Stables
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
2022 record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 1 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 2nd, TVG.com Haskell Stakes, July 23 at Monmouth Park
Next race: TBD, possibly the Pennsylvania Derby, Sept. 24 at Parx Racing