Classic Top 10

With American Pharoah's loss in the Travers yesterday, lets take a look at the current Top 10 for the Classic.

1. American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile), Baffert: Was hounded almost the entire way,  headed came back and still didn't lose by that much. Although Ahmed Zayat says that he is leaning towards retirement, that could have been a heat of the moment thing.

2. Beholder (Henny Hughes), Mandella: Like AP in the Haskell, she had a very impressive race in the Pacific Classic. She doesn't have the greatest non California record, but it's better then another Cal legend, Lava Man.

3. Tonalist (Tapit), Clement: Sure he was third in the Whitney, but returning to his preferred Belmont surface next time out will be quite a bit helpful. Plus he's had the most rotten luck this year. He'll have to prove he can win outside of NY, but he has the pedigree to do it.

4. Honor Code (A.P. Indy), McGaughey: I'm going to get a little bit of flak for not having him higher, but the 3 in front of him have mile and quarter wins. He has yet to go that distance, and honestly he needs a super hot pace for that to happen. Mile and a quarter on his sire's side (being the 1992 Classic winner) is no problem, and dam's grandma is a legendary filly, but struggled at the Classic distance.

5. Keen Ice (Curlin), Romans: This horse was due. 8th, 3rd, 2nd and a win. By far the biggest win of his career. The #2 3yo for this crop.

6. Wicked Strong (Hard Spun), Jerkins: I refuse to give up on him. He just needs well the perfect setup. Hopefully we that closing kick of his. Sire of course runner up to #5's sire in the 07 Classic.

7. Liam's Map (Unbridled's Song), Pletcher: Finally a Todd horse! Runner up in the Whitney, but I'm concerned if he can stay sound and might be distance limited. Still he is a horse who has a ton of heart.

8. Effinex (Mineshaft), Jerkins: Defeated his stablemate in the Excelsior and beat Tonalist in the Suburban. So why is he so low with 2 mile and quarter wins this year? Because neither of those wins where G1 wins. He also had a very strange Brooklyn where he bolted. Will be making his G1 debut in the Woodward. Sire of course was HOY and his dam's 3rd dam is the dam to KY Oaks winner Blush with Pride. This makes him from the same female family as Belmont winners Jazil and Rags to Riches as BC Marathon winner Man of Iron.

9. Lea (First Samurai), Mott: Whatever happened in the Whitney... draw a line through it. He's talented enough to stay on this list, however he's been working on the grass so not sure if he is still pointing towards the Classic.

10. Frosted (Tapit), McLaughlin: I am not holding him hounding AP against him... however if Joel Rosario wasn't injured we might have a different situation where he might be higher on this list and Keen Ice could be lower.