Division rankings: National Treasure leads Eclipse hopes

With the conclusion of the Belmont Stakes, Thoroughbred
racing has reached its unofficial halfway point, making it the perfect time to
present my mid-season awards.

Mid-season horse of the year: National Treasure

This decision was a tough one for me. I considered two
strong contenders.

Many would choose the 3-year-old filly Thorpedo Anna, who
boasts a 3-for-3 record this season with two Grade 1 wins. But her
victories all have been in her own division, and she hasn’t yet competed
against older females. For context, Pretty Mischievous had a nearly identical
record with those same two Grade 1 wins at this time last year.

On the other hand, National Treasure has won both of his
stateside starts this season, both Grade 1 races against some of the best in
his division. Setting aside any opinions about National Treasure’s connections,
this is about the horse and always will be. His dominant win in the Met Mile (G1) cemented his position as no. 1 in his division, making him a narrow choice over
Thorpedo Anna.

Older dirt males

Mid-season award winner: National Treasure

1. National Treasure. Dominant in the Met Mile, he moves to the top of this division. Could make the trip back to New York from his home base of California for the Whitney (G1) in August at Saratoga.

2. Señor Buscador. His record this year thus far as been good, winning the Saudi Cup (G1) before his Dubai World Cup (G1) third-place finish. He kicked off the season with a close second-place finish to National Treasure in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) in January. The focus now will be on preparing for the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar in late August, likely making a start in the San Diego Handicap (G2) in late July as a prep.

3. First Mission. Started his season with a ninth-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup but has been impressive in two starts since, winning the Essex (G3) at Oaklawn and the Alysheba (G2) at Churchill Downs.

4. Skippylongstocking. The Oaklawn Handicap (G2) winner has won his last two starts, but I can’t say I am very confident he will be one of the best in this division by season’s end.

5. Mr Fisk. The recent winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2), he also triumphed in the Californian (G3) in April. Two decades ago, these victories would have made him a strong contender for the Eclipse Award, but today, these races are considered less significant. Unfortunately, he was injured during his Gold Cup win and is unlikely to race again. Nevertheless, he deserves recognition and remains in the top five for now.

Next 5: Saudi Crown, Disarm, Newgate, Kingsbarns, Next

Older dirt females

Mid-season award winner: Idiomatic

1. Idiomatic. Although she came up short in the Ogden Phipps (G1) on Belmont
weekend, she likely was the best in the race given the trip. Despite the
setback, she remains at the top with a significant gap separating her from the
horses below.

2. Randomized. Ran a stellar race in the Phipps to upset Idiomatic. Last fall she nearly sprung the upset against that same rival in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. She is 1-for-2 on the season.

3. Sweet Azteca. Won her first graded stakes last out in the Beholder Mile (G1). She is 3-for-4 in her short career.

4. Adare Manor. Another start and another win for this gal. This time she scored in the Santa Margarita (G2) at Santa Anita. Before this last win she made a rare appearance outside of her home state of California and won the Apple Blossom (G1) at Oaklawn impressively by more than five lengths.

5. Pretty Mischievous. The 3-year-old female Eclipse winner from 2023, she returned in the La Troienne (G1) in May, finishing a respectable third, five lengths behind Idiomatic. In her most recent start, she finished third again, this time losing to Randomized and Idiomatic in the Phipps.

Next 5: Scylla, Free like a Bird, Coffee in Bed, Desert Dawn, Bellamore

3-year-old males

Mid-season award winner: Mystik Dan

1. Mystik Dan. Ran out of gas in the Belmont, but he still resides here at the top because of what he did in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. He also gets credit in my book for showing up and running, something few of the horses below have done.

2. Sierra Leone. He again ran a stellar race and again failed to run straight in the stretch when finishing third in the Belmont. Would be favored in a race against any horse in his division.

3. Forever Young. With one start in this country, this guy is ranked here even though he was likely the best horse who ran in the Kentucky Derby. Now 5-for-6 on his career, he globetrotted his way to Kentucky with wins this year in two countries already. I think it is a long shot we see him stateside again, but the Breeders’ Cup is a possibility.

4. Muth. Dominated the Arkansas Derby (G1) last out and is now 2-for-2 on the season as he impressed to win going away in the San Vicente (G2) in January. Last season at age 2 he was second best in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and won the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita. Scratched from the Preakness because of a fever.

5. Seize the Grey. Facile winner of the Preakness, he faded to finish seventh in the Belmont. A break is probably in order after running six times already this season.

Next 5: Dornoch, Catching Freedom, Mindframe, Fierceness, Honor Marie

3-year-old females

Mid-season award winner: Thorpedo Anna

1. Thorpedo Anna. Dominated again, this time in the Acorn (G1). Before that she dominated a deep Kentucky Oaks (G1) and proved she is the real deal. Now 5-for-6 on her career, she run next in the CCA Oaks (G1).

2. Leslie’s Rose. The Ashland (G1) winner rebounded from her off-the-board Kentucky Oaks run to finish a distant second in the Acorn.

3. Tarifa. Up the track in the Kentucky Oaks, but perhaps she disliked the off track. Still, with two graded-stakes wins this season, Tarifa stays in the top five here.

4. Nothing Like You. Dominated the Santa Anita Oaks (G2), winning by more than seven lengths and leaving Kinza in her wake. Was that an aberration? Possibly. Still, a nice effort. Returns Saturday in the Summertime Oaks (G2).

5. Kinza. No excuses when runner-up to Nothing Like you last out in the Santa Anita Oaks. In her prior three starts she was dominant, posting two graded-stakes wins this season.

Next 5: Power Squeeze, Regulatory Risk, Just F Y I, Ways and Means, Tamara

Turf males

Mid-season award winner: Master of The Seas

1. Master of The Seas. We finally have a solid leader of this division after he won the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) last out in dominating fashion. He now has three Grade 1 scores from his last four starts in North America. But the problem is he won’t run again until August, so he will fall from this spot. For now, he is up top, but I’m disappointed the connections will bench him for four months and wait untill the Aug. 10 Fourstardave (G1) for his next start.

2. Measured Time. Dominated the Manhattan (G1) in his first start in this country. The Manhattan was the first Grade 1 win for this son of Frankel.

3. Program Trading. Disappointed in the Manhattan (G1) when off the board after making his seasonal debut a winning one in the Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs on Derby weekend.

4. Naval Power. This guy is 6-for-9 in his career, and this year he just missed when runner-up in two Grade 1 events stateside, the last being the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs. Won a Group 2 event in Dubai earlier this season.

5. Johannes. Now 2-for-2 on this season after his Shoemaker Mile (G1) win, this guy has come back a different horse after being on the bench for nearly a year.

Next 5: Du Jour, Silver Knott, Nation’s Pride, I’m Very Busy, Gold Phoenix

Turf females

Mid-season award winner: Didia

1. Didia. Really showed me something by posting a facile win over a very good field in the New York Stakes (G1) last out. She started the season in the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G2) in January with a win and followed that with a third in the Jenny Wiley in April.

2. Chili Flag. Has won all three of her starts since her loss to Didia in the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf. She was sensational in the Just a Game (G1) on Belmont weekend.

3. Anisette. Super impressive in her first start of 2024, the Gamely (G1) at Santa Anita on Memorial Day. Since coming to this country last season she is 5-for-7 with four graded-stakes wins. She is likely the best in the west and a serious threat to reach the top of this division later this season.

4. Neecie Marie. Defeated Whitebeam in the Beaugay (G2) earlier this season and then took on the best in the division and ran well when runner-up to Didia in the New York Stakes.

5. Whitebeam. Runner-up in both of her starts this season, she ran well in the Just a Game losing to Chili Flag.

Next 5: English Rose, War Like Goddess, Beautee Cachee, McKulick,  Beautee Cachee

Male sprinters

Mid-season award winner: Skelly

1. Skelly. Was stunned last time out in the Aristides at Churchill Downs when runner-up losing by a length to Closethegame Sugar. Previously he dominated the listed Lake Hamilton. Has won nine of his last 11 starts.

2. The Chosen Vron. Won again, this time in the Thor’s Echo Stakes at Santa Anita. This was his fifth straight win since his Breeders’ Cup Sprint loss last fall. His record is remarkable, winning 18 of his 23 career starts. Tops out west in this division, the only question for this guy in 2024 will be whether he can hang with the very best in this division. He will need to run faster for sure, but right now he is on a roll out west.

3. Post Time. Ran a distant second to National Treasure in the Met Mile. Still deserves this top-five ranking here.

4. Gun Pilot. Failed as the favorite in the True North (G2) on Belmont weekend, finishing third. But previously scored his first stakes win in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1), defeating a few ranked below.

5. Nakatomi. Third last out in Dubai in the Golden Shaheen (G1), he was third in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Major player in this division.

Next 5: Baby Yoda, Happy Jack, Super Chow, Hoist the Gold, Closethegame Sugar

Female sprinters

Mid-season award winner: Vahva

1. Vahva. Got revenge on Alva Starr in the Derby City Distaff (G1), where she posted a facile two-length win. Previously she was runner-up to Alva Starr in the Madison (G1) at Keeneland in her first start of 2024.

2. Alva Starr. Runner-up to Vahva in the Derby City, she should get another shot at her rival this summer at Saratoga. Easy winner of the black-type Rehoboth Beach at Delaware Park.

3. Flying Connection. Third to the top two in the Derby City, she has won six listed stakes and placed in her last two Grade 1 starts.

4. Three Witches. The Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint third-place runner from last season started this season off right with a win in the Santa Monica (G2) at Santa Anita but then disappointed last out in he Derby City, finishing seventh.

5. Society. This gal was fourth in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and is back on the work tab. She won two stakes last year and should be a major player in this division.

Next 5: Red Carpet Ready, Clearly Unhinged, Sidabhuti, Apple Picker, Honor D Lady