California Chrome leads second-to-last NTRA 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, continues to hold the top spot in the second to last NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll for the year. The all-time leading money earner in the U.S., California Chrome has led the poll for all 35 weeks of 2016 voting, clinching this week’s tally with all 34 first-place votes and 340 points overall. California Chrome’s next start will be the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

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, November 4 & 5.

With all the Breeders’ Cup prep races having concluded, the horses being pointed towards their Breeders’ Cup divisional races are now holding steady with maintenance work as the Countdown to the World Championships is only four days away. That being said, the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll shows no change in this week’s top-ten poll watch.

The undefeated 3-year-old Eclipse Award Champion filly Songbird, (277) with a perfect career total of 11 wins from 11 starts, is ranked number two for Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and owner Rick Porter. It is anticipated that Songbird’s next appearance will come in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Tepin, (252) the “Queen of the Turf,” trained by Mark Casse, remains third for owner Robert Masterson. The five-year-old mare remains on target for the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Rounding out the top-ten is as follows: Frosted, (185); Arrogate (183); Flintshire (180); (Stellar Wind (154); Beholder (71); Lady Eli (55) and A.P. Indian (40).

NTRA TOP THOROUGHBRED POLL