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Forte, White Abarrio Rank 1-2 in Shake-Up Atop Breeders' Cup Classic Contender Rankings
RacingEach 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. Forte assumed the No. 1 ranking this week after Cody's Wish lost the Whitney Stakes Aug. 5 at Saratoga Race Course. White Abarrio, the winner of the Whitney, moves to No. 2 in the poll, while Cody's Wish, who now is unlikely to point to the Breeders' Cup Classic, remains in the poll at No. 6.
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 August 8
1. Forte (16 first-place votes)
Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
2023 record: 4 starts – 3 wins – 1 seconds– 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Jim Dandy Stakes, July 29 at Saratoga Race Course
Next race: Travers Stakes, Aug. 26 at Saratoga Race Course
2. White Abarrio (3 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
3. Geaux Rocket Ride (3 first-place vote)
Owner: Pin Oak Stud
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Jockey: Mike Smith
2023 record: 4 starts – 3 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, TVG.com Haskell Stakes, July 22 at Monmouth Park
Next race: FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic Stakes, Sept. 2 at Del Mar
4. Mage (1 first-place vote)
Owners: OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing, CMNWLTH
Trainer: Gustavo Delgado
Jockey: Javier Castellano
2023 record: 6 starts – 2 wins – 2 seconds – 1 third
Last race: 2nd, TVG.com Haskell Stakes, July 22 at Monmouth Park
Next race: Travers Stakes, Aug. 26 at Saratoga Race Course
5. Arcangelo (1 first-place vote)
Owners: Blue Rose Farm
Trainer: Jena Antonucci
Jockey: Javier Castellano
2023 record: 4 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, June 10 at Belmont Park
Next race: Travers Stakes, Aug. 26 at Saratoga Race Course
6. Cody's Wish (3 first-place votes)
Owners: Godolphin
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
2023 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third
Last race: 3rd, Whitney Stakes, Aug. 5 at Saratoga Race Course
Next race: TBD
7. Defunded (2 first-place votes)
Owners: Karl Watson, Michael Pegram, and Paul Weitman
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
2023 record: 5 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 third
Last race: 4th, San Diego Handicap, July 29 at Del Mar
Next race: FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic Stakes, Sept. 2 at Del Mar
8. Rattle N Roll (3 first-place votes)
Owner: Lucky Seven Stable
Trainer: Ken McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez
2023 record: 5 starts – 3 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 2nd, Stephen Foster Stakes, July 1 at Ellis Park
Next race: FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic Stakes, Sept. 2 at Del Mar, or Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes, Sept 2 at Saratoga Race Course
9. Zandon
Owners: Jeff Drown
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
2023 record: 3 starts – 0 wins – 3 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 2nd, Whitney Stakes, Aug. 5 at Saratoga Race Course
Next race: TBD
10. Art Collector
Owners: Bruce Lunsford
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
2023 record: 3 starts – 1 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 2nd, Alysheba Stakes, May 5 at Churchill Downs
Next race: TBD