3yo Top Ten

1. Rachel Alexandra
2. Mine That Bird
3. Quality Road
4. Big Drama
5. Summer Bird
6. Munnings (+2)
7. Capt. Candyman Can
8. Papa Clem (+2)
9. Charitable Man (New)
10. Fresian Fire (New)

No changes to the top five.

Pioneerof The Nile is retired with his career ending injury. This may sound harsh but there wasn’t a lot left for the horse anyways. He was always a cut below the top tier on a dirt track and he was never going to factor in the Breeders Cup Classic. With his pedigree (Empire Maker) he’ll have a nice life ahead of him covering mares for a living.

Musket Man is sidelined for the year with injury. His injury hurts the division far more than Pioneer since he was going to be a real threat in many of the big dirt races out east. Luckily he doesn’t have Pioneers pedigree and is more valuable running than standing at stud. He should have fun next year beating up what is becoming a laughable handicap division.

Munnings moves up the most with these injuries. He had a dominant, albeit easy time in the G2 Tom Fool with Fabulous Strike’s late scratch. He is looking more and more like a threat to be the best sprinter in the nation, though early word is they may give the Haskell a go. (Note, this was before Rachel was declared for the race)

Papa Clem threw in a clunker in the Long Branch yet still moves up two spots because of the injuries. For one, he is a better horse than that effort showed and you have to figure he will rebound off that start. Secondly there is not a lot of talent behind him.

Charitable Man and Fresian Fire make it onto the list. Fresian Fire is looking more and more like a one meet wonder and you have to worry about his ability to recover from his last two starts and injury. Charitable Man looks like a G2 type but he is in better form than Fresian.