With the US racing season about halfway through, it is time to post the first ToTT rankings of the year.  So without further ado:

Horse of the Year

• Rachel Alexandra - Undefeated 5-5 in '09 and the winner of arguably the top race of the year.
• Einstein - Gr-I winner on turf and (synthetic) dirt in '09, perhaps top overall horse in US
• Gio Ponti - Not household name, but multiple Gr-I winner in '09

Three-Year-Old Male Horse

• Mine that Bird - Derby winner and top three in all TC races gets the nod
• Pioneerof the Nile / I Want Revenge / Quality Road - We'll lump together the three Gr-I winners, all dominant in their region of the country.

Three-Year-Old Filly

• Rachel Alexandra - But you knew that already.
• Stardom Bound - 2yo filly Champion had been the toast of the town until suffering first loss
• Justwhistledixie - 3 wins, two graded, and a second gets you the spot...

Older Male Horse

• Einstein - Dominant on dual surfaces...
• It's a Bird - Three stakes wins in 5 starts is better than most...
• Macho Again - Two huge wins surrounded by two awful flops, beat Einstein and It's a Bird...

Older Female Horse

• Zenyatta - Undefeated '08 Champion, still so until further notice
• Seattle Smooth - Has won five in a row and getting better with each one
• Life is Sweet - Three wins, including a Gr-I, and a second in'09. Not bad at all...

Sprint Horse

• Bribon - Staking a claim as best dirt miler after pair of impressive wins
• Fabulous Strike - Finally landed a win after two close seconds...
• True Quality - A pair of solid wins before Carter flop...

Female Sprint Horse

• Informed Decision - Winner of 4 in row, dual Gr-I winner and beat Ventura...
• Ventura - Last year's BC F&M Sprint winner has been first or second in all three starts
• Indian Blessing - Although 0-2 in '09, '08 Champion should be winning again soon...

Male Turf Horse

• Gio Ponti - Better with every start, most underrated. Only dual turf Gr-I winner
• Einstein - Case already made...
• Midships - 3-3 in '09, went from optional claiming runs to Gr-I winner in four months...

Female Turf Horse

• Forever Together - '08 Champ has been first and second in 2 starts in '09, still tops
• Diamondrella - Ran down Forever' last out, has won 6 in a row
• Rutherienne - One of the most consistent around, never out of top 3

All three Gr-I's have been completed with no surprises to be had.  Kicking things off, Paco Boy took over with under 2F to go and powered his way to an impressive win the Queen Anne Stakes, his second career Gr-I but first beyond 7F. 

Godolphin's Gladiatorus, the race favorite, sped of like a shot, opening a 5 length lead early and trying to run away with the race as the did the Duty Free, but ran out of juice and faded to a dissapointing sixth... Although 'Top Miler' is not an official award, it is nevertheless a prestigious unofficial title to hold in all racing venues (save the US perhaps), and various top-notch races are held to decide it.  Paco' well on his way to be considered as such in Europe...

Next up was the 5F King's Stand Stakes, where Australia's Scenic Blast demolished the field as the favorite, becoming a Gr-I winner on two continents. 

This race has been owned by the Aussie's, this being their fourth win in the last seven years... The win should seal Australia's Champion Sprinter (08-09 season) honors for him.  He is unlikely to run Saturday in the Golden Jubilee, but if he does, could lay claim to best turf sprinter in the world if he does... And even if he does not, he should be in every discussion.

Wrapping things up in the St. James's Palace was favorite Mastercraftsman (left),who once more outbattled Delegator down the stretch, passing him after Delegator himself had rallied to take the lead, with less than 1F to go to score the big win.

Sea the Stars and Mastercraftsman are now both dual Gr-I winners at 3, and the top two in the division.  The former holds the lead due to him besting Master' in the English 2K Guineas, but the title is far from decided...

Tune in tomorrow for more updates...

The world famous racing meet at England's Royal Ascot course begins tomorrow and runs through Saturday with some of the best horses in the world descending on the UK for the big event.

Kicking off the festivities on Tuesday is the Gr-I St. James's Palace Stakes, for 3yo over a mile.  The pre-race odds on favorite is '08 2yo Champion Mastercraftsman, coming off a dominating win in the Gr-I Irish 2000 Guineas.  And a win today would bridge the gap between him and English 2KG / Epsom Derby winner Sea the Stars for the 3yo title.  His main challenger appears to be Delegator, meeting for the third time this year.  Delegator finished ahead of him when second in the English 2KG, but floundered in the Irish version, finishing 8th.

Last year, Henrythenavigator won this race on his way to four Gr-I wins... while being ripped off the European 3yo title...

The sprinters then take center stage in the 5f Gr-I King's Stand Stakes.  The early favorites are the lightly raced English colt Amour Propre, winner of 4 of 5 career starts, and the Gr-III Palace House Stakes last out, Irish filly Fleeting Spirit, a multiple graded winner but still looking for that first Gr-I.  She was third in this race last year as the favorite, behind French-bred and Spanish-raced colt Equiano, who returns to defend his title and first win since then.  Rounding up the field is top notch Aussie sprinter Scenic Blast, a dual Gr-I winner this year, and potentially the champion sprinter there when awards are handed out.

The last Gr-I of the day will be the Queen Anne Stakes, for older horses going a mile.  Leading the charge is UAE import Gladiatorus, the runaway winner of the Dubai Duty Free back in March, where he beat a collection of the world's top milers, making his English debut.  He's finished first or second in 11 of 12 races, and is off to lay a claim as the top grass miler in the world.  His main foe will be Gr-I winner Paco Boy, an Irish bred that has won 8 of 12 career starts, and is coming off a win in the Gr-II Sandown Mile.

Last year's winner was Australia's Haradasun, a multiple Gr-I winner Down Under, who was purchased by Coolmore Stud's Irish operation, and won the Queen Anne in his career finale.  He is now retired, finishing in the top 3 in 14 of 16 career starts, and over $2.3M in earnings.

The feature on Wednesday will be the Gr-I  Prince of Wales's Stakes, for Older Horses at 10f (1-1/4m). Headlining the field is who we think might be top Euro horse in training, France's multiple Gr-I winner Vision D'Etat, last year's French Derby winner and last out winner of the Gr-I Prix Ganay.  But he will have a tough task against English racer Tartan Bearer, last year's Epsom Derby runner up and impressive winner of a prep last out, and fellow French horse Never on Sunday, the winner of the Gr-I Prix d'Ispahan.

Last year's winner Duke of Marmalade went on to win be name Europe's Champion Older horse, and is now retired, with top 3 finishes in 11 of 15 starts, and over $1.5M in winnings.

Of note will also be the Gr-II Windsor Forest Stakes, for older F&M at a mile, headlined by triple Gr-I winner Lush Lashes.

Thursday is featured by the Gr-I Gold Cup, for older horses going over 20F (2.5 miles).  The great stayer Yeats, Europe's Three-Time Champion Stayer, who will be going for an unprecedented fourth win in this race.  But the 8yo looked very flat in his season debut, a sixth in the Vintage Crop Stakes, and questions about his form.  Trying to finally get the best of him will be Geordieland, twice second to Yeats in this race, but coming off a sharp win in the Henry II Stakes.  Also in the race is Dubai Sheema Classic surprise winner Eastern Anthem, who finished a dull sixth in the Gr-I Coronation Cup in his UK debut.

The final Gr-I will be the 6f Golden Jubilee on Saturday, in what could be the turf sprinting world championship, with the top sprinters from all corners of the world. The world class field features South Africa's champion sprinter JJ the Jet Plane as the pre-race favorite, coming off a sharp win in his European debut, Hong Kong's champion and former world's top rated sprinter Sacred Kingdom, who after being out for almost 10 months and four races to return to form, appears to be his old self once more; Australia's 10yo warrior Takeover Target, a former champion; Europe's champion sprinter Marchand D'Or will be looking to return to form after flopping in Hong Kong and Dubai in his last two starts, plus last year's race winner Kingsgate Native is back as well to defend his crown.  The wild card though appears to be Greece's Ialysos, an undefeated winner of all 7 career starts in his homeland, and impressive winner in his English debut last out.

All and all, it will be a great week of racing and we will do our best to keep you posted on the happenings...

Things went back to normal in NY today, where the Mets...as Eric Cartman would say... were 'f'd in the a' by the Yankess 15 - 0, in what has to be the lowlight of the season.  Of particular significance was that the game was started by Johan Santana, who gave up 9 runs in 3 innings.

And not to bring further panic to the herd, but through his last 6 starts, Santana... although 4-2... is sporting an Ollie Perez-like 7.25 ERA!  After the game, he stated that even though he 'feels fine', he has been battling several aches and pains as of late... Didn't we just say a couple of days ago that he needed to be encased in a protective bubble before the voodoo turned its eyes on him!

This is very concerning because its been a month since his last through dominant outing,  True, there is really no long-term reason to worry, as there is no previous evidence to suggest he's lost it... But never the less, the last thing the Mets need right now is any continued stretch of poor performances from him, as they now find themselves 4 games back of the Phillies.

To date, the June swoon continues with a 4-8 record through the first two weeks.  The Mets will have tomorrow off before welcoming to Citi Field the AL East's last place team, the Baltimore Orioles... and not a moment too soon.

We rag on the Mets quite a bit, but only because we care... So today we will pay credit where credit is due, as the NYM came out after a terrible loss to score a decisive win over the Yankees in a game where they easily could have come out and folded.   To highlight:

- Luis Castillo was not drawn and quartered last night, and came out batting leadoff again, going 2-5

- All starters had at least one hit, with Alex Cora and Fernando Tatis the only ones that did not have two or more.

- But the star of the game was unheralded Fernando Nieve, called up to take John Maine's spot on the rotation, and going 6 and 2/3 innings, allowing only 2 runs on 4 hits.

All in all, great game and great gut check, the NYM showing the heart that had recently been lacking.  Hopefully a springboard of better things to come.... 'cause You Gotta Believe!