2014 U.S. Horse of the Year and dual Classic hero California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) is joined by 2015 Japanese champion 3-year-old male Duramente (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) and 2015 English highweight Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) at the top of the first edition of the 2016 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings with a mark of 121. Frosted (Tapit), a winner of the GI TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial S. in 2015 and 'TDN Rising Star' and U.S. juvenile filly champion Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) are tied at 120. The rankings cover the period between Jan. 1 and Mar. 6.
A winner of Santa Anita's GII San Pasqual S. to kickoff his 2016 campaign, California Chrome added a handicap while spotting his rivals 15 pounds at Meydan Feb. 25, and is targeting the G1 Dubai World Cup against Frosted Mar. 26. Also a dual Classic winner in his native land, Duramente opened his 4-year-old season with a victory in the G2 Nakayama Kinen and is aiming for the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic where he will face Postponed, who landed the G2 Dubai City of Gold at Meydan in his 5-year-old bow Mar. 5. Frosted also made his first start of 2016 a winning one, scoring in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 Feb. 4. Songbird remained undefeated with two facile wins at Santa Anita in the GII Las Virgenes S. Feb. 6 and the GIII Santa Ysabel S. Mar. 5. She is pointing towards the GI Kentucky Oaks May 6. For the complete rankings, go to www.ifhaonline.org.
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