Top Midlantic-bred Poll leaders eye Breeders’ Cup
Stellar Wind broke her maiden at Laurel Park. Photo by Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club.
Staff report
With the Breeders’ Cup upon us, it’s also time for the latest Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred/The Racing Biz Top Midlantic-bred Poll.
Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred/The Racing Biz Top Midlantic-bred Poll
- Stellar Wind (VA) — Two straight wins in G1 events over champion Beholder make her the cream of the crop. This four-year-old Curlin filly is 5-2 in the morning line for Friday’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
- Cathryn Sophia (MD) — This Grade 1-winning millionaire has never been worse than third in nine career starts; her connections have opted to skip the Breeders’ Cup and instead have entered her in the Fasig-Tipton November sale.
- Al’s Gal (PA) — This eight-time winner has finished in the exacta in six straight and last out won the Grade 1 E. P. Taylor at Woodbine by a nose. She’s 15-1 on the morning line in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
- Tom’s Ready (PA) — Like Rodney Dangerfield, this More Than Ready colt can’t get no respect; he’s 12-1 on the morning line for Friday’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, even though Runhappy, a horse he dusted last out in winning the Grade 3 Ack Ack, is the 3-1 second choice.
- Illuminant (PA) — Has not raced since winning the G1 Gamely in May
- Giant Run (MD) — Three-year-old Giant’s Causeway colt broke his maiden in January and went on to win three stakes, place in two graded events, and earn over $350,000.
- Finest City (PA) — City Zip filly won the G2 Great Lady M Stakes in April, has placed in three other graded events this year. She’s 12-1 on the morning line in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
Others receiving votes: Lucy N Ethel, Dancing Rags, Rose Brier, Page McKenney, Valid, Greatbullsoffire, Mor Spirit, Queen Caroline
Four of the top seven horses were bred in Pennsylvania. Two were bred in Maryland, and one was bred in Virginia. The list includes five females and two males.
The monthly Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred is the only publication devoted to Thoroughbred breeding and racing in the Mid-Atlantic region. The Racing Biz, an online publication, is the independent voice for mid-Atlantic racing and breeding.
The poll is restricted to horses that have run in 2016 and were bred in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, and the Carolinas.
- Stellar Wind — Curlin-Evening Star, by Malibu Moon; bred by Keswick Stables & Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC, owned by Hronis Racing, LLC, and trained by John Sadler
- Cathryn Sophia — Street Boss-Sheave, by Mineshaft; bred by Robert Manfuso, owned by Cash Is King LLC, and trained by John Servis
- Al’s Gal — English Channel-Dans La Ville, by Winning; bred by Malone Racing LLC, owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, and trained by Mike Maker
- Tom’s Ready — More Than Ready-Goodbye Stranger, by Broad Brush; bred by Blackstone Farm LLC, owned by G M B Racing, and trained by Dallas Stewart
- Illuminant — Quality Road-Sparkling Number, by Polish Numbers; bred by Sycamore Hall Farm LLC, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and trained by Michael McCarthy
- Giant Run — Giant’s Causeway-Who Did It and Run, by Polish Numbers; bred by Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds LLC, owned by Robert Baker and William Mack, and trained by Tom Albertrani
- Finest City — City Zip-Be Envied, by Lemon Drop Kid; bred by HnR Nothhaft Horseracing, LLC, owned by Seltzer Thoroughbreds, and trained by Ian Kruljac.
Participating Voters: Ted Black (freelance writer), Michael Campbell (Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey), Joe Clancy (Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred), Cindy Deubler (Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred), Linda Dougherty (freelance), Debbie Easter (Virginia Thoroughbred Association), Anne Frederick (Maryland Horse Breeders Association), Rich Glazier (Delaware Park), Cricket Goodall (Maryland Horse Breeders Association), Jim Hague (freelance), Nick Hahn (freelance), Carol Holden (West Virginia Breeders Classics), Tom LaMarra (The Blood-Horse), Jeff Nations (freelance), Kate Painter (West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders Association), Vinnie Perrone (freelance), Frank Petramalo (Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association), Gary Quill (The Racing Biz), David Richardson (Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association), Brian Sanfratello (Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association), John Scheinman (freelance), Sal Sinatra (Maryland Jockey Club), Dan Tordjman (freelance), Frank Vespe (The Racing Biz), Bill Watson (freelance), Lydia Williams (freelance), Bobby Zen (freelance).
Note — Not all participating voters will vote in every poll.
