California Chrome secure atop NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll
California Chrome. Photo By Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO.
From a National Thoroughbred Racing Association release
California Chrome, the leading Thoroughbred in North America with earnings over $13 million, remains in first-place after his five-length victory in the $1Million TVG Pacific Classic this past Saturday at Del Mar in this week’s NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll. The all-time leading money earner in the U.S., California Chrome has led the poll for all 25 weeks of 2016 voting, clinching this week’s tally with 42 first-place votes and 429 points overall.
The NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll is the sport’s most comprehensive survey of experts ranking active North American-based Thoroughbreds. Every week journalists and broadcasters cast votes for their top 10 horses, with points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. The NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll concludes Monday, November 7, following the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.
Whitney Stake’s winner Frosted (1 first-place vote; 353 points) remains in second after his two length margin of victory in the Grade I, 1 1/8 miles Whitney three weeks ago at Saratoga. Frosted has already earned entrance into the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile by having won the Met Mile for Godolphin Racing and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Options under consideration for the son of Tapit’s next start could be the Woodward or the Jockey Gold Cup with the Breeders’ Cup his main goal, according to McLaughlin.
Tepin (332) keeps the third slot. The undefeated 3-year-old filly Songbird, (297) with a perfect total career of ten starts with ten wins moves up the ranks to fourth place after her dominating victory in the GI Alabama Stakes at Saratoga this past Saturday. The Eclipse Award champion could possibly make her next start in the G1 Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing, September 24.
The Bowling Green Stakes (G2) winner Flintshire (225) remains in fifth for Juddmonte Farms and trainer Chad Brown. Flintshire, winner of the Sword Dancer last year is expected to enter the same race again in the G1 Longines Sword Dancer, a “Win and You’re In Breeders’ Cup Turf’ this Saturday at Saratoga.
Ranked sixth is the three-time Eclipse Award champion Beholder (194). The Pacific Classic winner of 2015, Beholder came in second to California Chrome in this year’s running.
The remaining top 10 is rounded out by: Exaggerator (168); Melatonin (93) Nyquist (64) and Dortmund (47).
NTRA TOP THOROUGHBRED POLL
- California Chrome
- Frosted
- Tepin
- Songbird
- Flintshire
- Beholder
- Exaggerator
- Melatonin
- Nyquist
- Dortmund
