Breeders' Cup Top 10 - Ladies Classic

Ladies Classic Top 10 - July 15

1. Zenyatta (1)
2. Acoma (3)
3. Rachel Alexandra (4)
4. Cocoa Beach (2)
5. Music Note (5)
6. Seventh Street (6)
7. Life Is Sweet (7)
8. Ghanaati (8)
9. Again (9)
10. Milwaukee Appeal (new)

Dropped: Witty (10)

There has been very little change in my perception of this division since I last wrote about it a month ago. Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra have both won stakes races impressively but they didn't face anyone of note so it was pretty much business as usual. There is a chance emerging that Zenyatta could bypass this race in favor of the Classic but she still stays #1. Rachel Alexandra's connections have showed no change of heart towards the Breeders' Cup so her participation is in doubt.

Cocoa Beach has dropped a few spots because of her horrendous comeback effort in a minor Belmont stakes race. I'm giving her a bit of a pass though since the entire Godolphin string in America seems to be out of sorts at the moment. Surely they'll get it right sometime and Cocoa Beach and Music Note will look like their old selves again.

I was sad to learn that Witty's campaign is over because of injury. She had some real promise. She could be an interesting horse for next year. Taking her place in the top 10 is the horse that I believe is the second best sophomore router on the continent. Milwaukee Appeal might be overlooked somewhat because she runs in Canada but she is a very good filly with room to improve. She won the Woodbine Oaks in a romp while earning a 99 Beyer Speed Figure. If I'm not mistaken that is actually higher than any other route figure earned by a 3yo filly not named Rachel Alexandra. Since her powerful performance in the Oaks she has gone down the Canadian Triple Crown trail. She finished 3rd in the Queen's Plate by less than a length and 2nd in the Prince of Wales by just a nose. The figures for those races were not overwhelming but she has shown a lot of class. She has very good good tactical speed. She can sit right near the lead and make an early move if need be. She can also come from further back in the pack. Her preference for synthetics makes her a danger, especially if she improves.

I considered ranking the consistent Euphony but I think she is a second class horse that is being brilliantly campaigned away from the limelight. I don't think her connections really think she can be a G-1 level filly.