The HRN Power Rankings are in, and this week’s Number One remains
the Golden Girl – Goldikova.
The 6 year-old mare made her 2011 debut a winning
one in the Prix d’Ispahan in France. The 3-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Mile
is well on her way to an unprecedented fourth victory in the American championship
race. Goldikova leads 5 other stakes-winning fillies in the Top 10, with Apple
Blossom winner Havre de Grace and La Troienne winner Blind Luck following in the
third and fourth spots. Switch and R Heat Lightning fill in the 6th
and 7th spots (though Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty is conspicuously
absent). Life At Ten, 3rd in her last start, rounds out the Top 10.
The Kentucky Derby rules the Triple Crown races with Animal
Kingdom holding onto the 2nd spot overall, while Preakness winner Shackleford
didn’t even hit the Top 10, coming in 18th. Gio Ponti continues in the number 5 spot on
class alone, as he hasn’t made a start since his 5th place finish in
the Dubai World Cup in March. Big Drama, victorious in the Mr. Prospector
Stakes this year, hits the 8th spot, while perpetual runner-up Nehro
comes in 9th.
Speaking of the Derby, take a look at the current 3-Year-Old
Male ranking as compared to the one from February 16.
There’s no Animal Kingdom or Shackleford anywhere to be
found in that early poll, and Dialed In was third behind two horses that didn’t
even make it to the Derby starting gate. Uncle Mo is still a fan favorite,
ranked number 3 in this week’s poll. Incredibly, Premier Pegasus, who was
injured after the San Felipe, ranks number 4, and higher than he was in February.
Shackleford plays the Rodney Dangerfield of this group, getting no respect at number
6 despite his Preakness win.
The Belmont promises to be an exciting finale to the 2011
Triple Crown, with Animal Kingdom and Shackleford continuing their rivalry and
Nehro, Santiva and Master of Hounds coming in fresh to avenge their Derby
performances.
The Top 250 Power Rankings are determined by votes cast
daily by fans at HRN.