California Chrome leads latest 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 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 26 weeks of 2016 voting, clinching this week’s tally with 45 first-place votes and 459 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; 364 points) remains in second for Godolphin Racing and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. It is anticipated that the son of Tapit’s next start will be the GI Woodward Stakes this Saturday at Saratoga. In third is Tepin with (339).
For the second year in a row, the GI Longines Sword Dancer “Win and You’re In Breeders’ Cup Turf Divisional” winner Flintshire (309) moves into fourth place for Juddmonte Farms and trainer Chad Brown after his sensational 1 ¾ length victory this past Saturday at Saratoga. The son of Dansili is being targeted for the G1, $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational on October 1 at Belmont Park.
The undefeated 3-year-old filly Songbird, (305) with a perfect total career of ten wins in as many starts moves into fifth place. The Eclipse Award champion could possibly make her next start in the G1 Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing, September 24.
Joining the Poll for the first time ever is Travers Stakes winner Arrogate (189) who jumps into the ranks in sixth place. The Bob Baffert trainee made the history books Saturday, winning the Grade 1 event in a record time of 1:59.36 seconds at Saratoga Race Course, smashing General Assembly’s 1 1/4-mile stakes and track mark of 2:00 flat set in 1979.
Ranked seventh is the three-time Eclipse Award champion Beholder (181). 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: Melatonin (67); Cavorting (53) and Nyquist (45).
NTRA TOP THOROUGHBRED POLL
- California Chrome
- Frosted
- Tepin
- Flintshire
- Songbird
- Arrogate
- Beholder
- Melatonin
- Cavorting
- Nyquist
