Breeders’ Cup Rankings – Summer Bird Tops First Power Poll

The Del Mar and Saratoga meets signal the beginning of the summer thoroughbred racing season in the United States.

It also signals the beginning of the Breeders’ Cup watch as the Breeder’s Cup is just a few short months away. A lot is going to happen from now until the first Saturday in November when the Breeders’ Cup will be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA.

Even though that’s true, it shouldn’t keep thoroughbred racing fans from keeping tabs on the top Breeders’ Cup Classic contenders.

Let’s do that right now with the first Breeders’ Cup Power Rankings list.

Breeders’ Cup Power Rankings

1. Summer Bird +2500 – - The Belmont Stakes winner has been training well for a potential start in the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. Then, it’s on to the Traver’s. The truth about this son of Birdstone is that he came into his own in the Belmont and figures, if anything, to be better on the Santa Anita Pro-Ride surface then he is on dirt. He will be tough if he makes the race in November.

2. Einstein +1000 – - He was unlucky when finishing 3rd in the Grade I Stephen Foster in his last but could be one of the favorites in the Arlington Million coming up in August. He should relish the Pro-Ride surface as his turf form is better than his dirt form.

3. Asiatic Boy +3500 – - The second place finish in the Stephen Foster was great, but he followed it up with a dull effort in the Suburban Handicap at Belmont. Yes, he finished second in that race as well, but he should have destroyed that field. He could move up on the Pro-Ride surface.

4. Gladiatorous +1000 – - The Arabs proved that they could take a horse, like Raven’s Pass, who had been running on turf and transfer his form to Pro-Ride. Gladiatorous figures to do just that in this year’s Breeders’ Cup. He could be very tough as his Dubai Duty Free victory in March was stunning.

5. Georgie Boy +2000 – - He’s won two straight races, both on Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface, but needs to start increasing the distance of his races in order to ready himself for the 1 ¼ mile Breeders’ Cup Classic. He could do it because he loves Santa Anita and his pedigree suggests that he can go long.

6. Tiago +1400 – - Trainer John Shireff’s has kept Tiago relatively under wraps since last year’s Breeders’ Cup run, a third to Raven’s Pass and Henrythenavigator in the Classic. He’ll have a prep over Del Mar’s Polytrack and then a prep or two at Santa Anita’s Oak Tree meet in the fall before trying for that elusive Breeders’ Cup victory again.

7. Rip Van Winkle +2200 - – He just loss to Sea The Stars by a length in the Grade I Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on July 4th, but that can be forgiven as he was closing fast against that rival. That fact that he’s 22 to 1 as opposed to Sea The Stars at 20 to 1 makes him a better wager in the sportsbook to me.

8. Sea The Stars +2000 - – He’s good, no doubt, and could improve enough over the course of this summer to really be a force in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita. Could horsplayers be looking at another rivalry ala Raven’s Pass and Henrythenavigator from last year? Maybe.

9. Never on Sunday +2500 – - He finished 3rd in his last, the Grade I Prince of Wales Stakes, and because he was sired by Sunday Break, who was sired by Forty Niner, he should relish be able to transfer his grass form to the Pro-Ride. He could be a nice long shot.

10. Mine That Bird +1600 - – The odds appear low on the Kentucky Derby winner who probably has hit his peak being a gelding and all. Then again, his style might be conducive to a huge run on the Pro-Ride at Santa Anita and a fast pace would almost ensure a top four placing.