Justify dominant in NTRA Top Thoroughbred Polls

From a National Thoroughbred Racing Association release

Undefeated Triple Crown winner Justify remains the top Thoroughbred racehorse in the United States by a wide margin, according the results of this week’s NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll of racing media.

Trained by Bob Baffert for owners China Horse Club, WinStar Farm, Starlight Racing, and Head of Plains Partners, the son of Scat Daddy is recovering from his 16-week campaign at Santa Anita Park while future plans remain undecided. Justify is a perfect six-for-six since winning on debut in February and also won an allowance race and the Santa Anita Derby (G1) before his historic sweep of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), the Preakness Stakes (G1), and the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1).

Justify garnered 36 of 37 first-place votes to amass 369 points in this week’s tally. The lone dissenting first-place vote went to recent Metropolitan Handicap (G1) runner-up Mind Your Biscuits (fifth overall, 155 points) and was cast by Horse Racing Radio Network host Anthony Stabile.

“Mind Your Biscuits has had an interesting and ambitious season,” Stabile said. “To go to Dubai and win the Golden Shaheen in such dramatic fashion, again, then come back and run arguably the best race of his life in the Met Mile speaks to his tremendous talent. Maybe others have more talent but I think he’s the best racehorse out there right now.”

The only change to the ordering of the top 10 this week was another move up the charts by superfilly Monomoy Girl – winner of three straight Grade 1 events, including the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) and the Acorn (G1) – from ninth to seventh, resulting in one-spot drops for Abel Tasman and City of Light. None of the top 10 raced since last week’s poll.

The NTRA Top Thoroughbred polls are the sport’s most comprehensive surveys of experts. Every week eligible 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. All horses that have raced in the U.S., are in training in the U.S., or are known to be pointing to a major event in the U.S. are eligible for the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll, which continues until November 5, after the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.