Angel of Empire won two graded stakes on the season, topped by his victory in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby in April. Keeping top company, he finished third in the Kentucky Derby, fourth in the Belmont, and then third again in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy. He did not race again following the July 29 Jim Dandy but has been pointed to a four-year-old campaign, trainer Brad Cox said.

Caravel kicked off her 2023 with three straight wins, including a score against the boys in the Grade 1 Jaipur. But she lost her last three outings, and in her effort to defend her Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint crown, she finished tenth.

Other graded stakes winners on the list include two-time Grade 3 winner Repo Rocks, Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes winner Gigante, and Grade 3 winner Roses for Debra.

The two horses on the list without a graded win this season both won several stakes. Nimitz Class has won four 2023 stakes, including most recently the Parx Dirt Mile, while Coastal Mission has won three, including the Russell Road. Coastal Mission is being pointed to the Grade 2 Cigar Mile.

TOP MIDLANTIC-BREDS

Voting conducted through Nov. 17

1. Angel of Empire (PA), 3C by Classic Empire-Armony’s Angel, by To Honor and Serve; bred by Forgotten Land Investment Inc & Black Diamond Equine Corp and trained by Brad Cox for Albaugh Family Stables LLC. 2023 highlights: Won G1 Arkansas Derby, G2 Risen Star S., 3rd G1 Kentucky Derby, 3rd G2 Jim Dandy. Last: 1 (3yo)
2. Caravel (PA), 6M by Mizzen Mast-Zeezee Zoomzoom, by Congrats; bred by Elizabeth Merryman and trained by Brad Cox for Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel and Madaket Stables LLC. 2023 highlights: Won G1 Jaipur, G2 Shakertown. Last: 1 (older)
3. Nimitz Class (PA), 4C by Munnings-Five Diamonds, by Flatter; bred by Arrowwod Farm and trained by Bruce Kravets for Tom Coulter. 2023 highlights: Won Parx Dirt Mile, John B. Campbell S., Harrison Johnson Memorial S., 2nd G3 Salvator Mile. Last: 4 (older)
4. Repo Rocks (VA), 5G by Tapiture-Hawaiian Love, by Not for Love; bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin III and trained by Jamie Ness for Double B Racing Stables. 2023 highlights: Won G3 Westchester, G3 Toboggan, Stymie S., 2nd G1 Carter H. Last: 3 (older)
5. Gigante (VA), 3C by Not This Time-Summertime Green, by Empire Maker; bred by Ann Mudge Backer and Smitten Farm and trained by Steve Asmussen for Iapetus Racing and Diamond T Racing. 2023 highlights: Won G2 Secretariat S., Caesars H. Last: Receiving votes (3yo)
6. Coastal Mission (WV), 4G by Great Notion-Smart Crowd, by Crowd Pleaser; bred by Coleswood Farm Inc. and trained by Jeff Runco for Coleswood Farm Inc.. 2023 highlights: Won Sam Huff WV Breeders Classic, Russell Road S., Confucius Say S. Last: NA
7. Roses for Debra (PA), 4F by Liam’s Map-Essential Rose, by Bernardini; bred by Blackstone Farm LLC and trained by Christophe Clement for John O’Meara. 2023 highlights: Won G3 Caress S. Last: 5th (older)

Also receiving votes: Twisted Ride, Determined Kingdom, Unruly Julie, Ain’t Da Beer Cold, Field Pass, Book’em Danno, Whimsically, Little Roo Roo, Chambeau, Spun Glass, Morning Matcha

Notes Five of the top seven are males, while two are females… Two of the seven are three-year-olds… It’s notable that no Maryland-breds made the top seven, especially since Maryland-breds have been named the overall Top Midlantic-bred in four of the nine years conducted to date and twice have occupied the top two spots… Were Caravel to end the season as Top Midlantic-bred, she would become the second horse to do so in consecutive years after Knicks Go was Top Midlantic-bred in 2020 and 2021… Stellar Wind was Top Midlantic-bred twice, as well, but in non-consecutive years (2015 and 2017)… A final poll will be conducted at season’s end.