Winx tops Longines world rankings; Justify's rating unchanged

Winx remains the highest-rated horse in the world, and despite capturing the Triple Crown, Justify did not have his ranking increased in the latest release of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.

Following his Belmont Stakes win, Justify is rated 124 by the panel of worldwide racing officials and handicappers convened under the auspices of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. That’s the same rating Justify was assigned following his Kentucky Derby win and is the co-highest dirt rating in the world along with Justify’s stablemate West Coast. Bob Baffert trains both horses.

The panel’s decision to leave unchanged Justify’s rating means it felt neither his Preakness nor Belmont enhanced his form beyond his Kentucky Derby performance. By comparison, American Pharoah was rated 128 after winning the 2015 Triple Crown.

Another American dirt horse, Accelerate, did have his rating raised to 121 after a decisive win in the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita.

Winx hasn’t started since the last World’s Best Racehorse Rankings release and remains atop the ratings at 130. Cracksman worked hard to win the Coronation Cup at Epsom and his rating remained 125. Gun Runner, now standing at stud, is rated 129 on the strength of his Pegasus World Cup victory.

Masar’s rating rose to 121 following his victory in the Epsom Derby.