A Beginner’s Guide to the Preakness Stakes
America's Best Thoroughbreds
RacingEach week members of the media around the country vote on the nation's top contenders on the Triple Crown trail in the NTRA Top 3-year-Old Poll. Find the latest 2017 Top 3-Year-Old rankings below.
AMERICA'S TOP 3-YEAR-OLD THOROUGHBREDS as of Feb. 27
1. McCraken (17 first-place votes)
Owner: Whitham Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Ian Wilkes
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
2017 stats: 1 start, 1 win, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Sam F. Davis Stakes, Tampa Bay Downs, Feb. 11
Next race: TBD
2. Irish War Cry (10 first-place votes)
Owner: Isabelle de Tomaso
Trainer: Graham Motion
Jockey: Joel Rosario
2017 stats: 1 start, 1 win, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes, Gulfstream Park, Feb. 4
Next race: Fountain of Youth Stakes, Gulfstream Park, March 4
3. Mastery (3 first-place votes)
Owner: Cheyenne Stables
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
2017 stats: 0 starts, 0 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Los Alamitos Futurity, Los Alamitos, Dec. 10
Next race: San Felipe Stakes, Santa Anita Park, March 11
4. Classic Empire (2 first-place votes)
Owner: John Oxley
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Julien Leparoux
2017 stats: 1 start, 0 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third
Previous race: 3rd, Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes, Gulfstream Park, Feb. 4
Next race: TBD, possibly Tampa Bay Derby, Tampa Bay Downs, March 11
5. El Areeb (1 first-place vote)
Owner: M M G Stables
Trainer: Cathal Lynch
Jockey: Trevor McCarthy
2017 stats: 2 starts, 2 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Withers Stakes, Aqueduct, Feb. 4
Next race: Gotham Stakes, Aqueduct, March 4
6. Unique Bella (5 first-place votes)
Owner: Don Alberto Stable
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Jockey: Mike Smith
2017 stats: 2 starts, 2 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Las Virgenes Stakes, Santa Anita Park, Feb. 5
Next race: Santa Anita Oaks, Santa Anita Park, April 8
7. Gormley
Owner: Jerry and Ann Moss
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
2017 stats: 1 start, 1 win, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Sham Stakes, Santa Anita Park, Jan. 7
Next race: TBD, possibly San Felipe Stakes on March 11 at Santa Anita Park
8. One Liner
Owner: WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
2017 stats: 2 starts, 2 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Southwest Stakes, Oaklawn Park, Feb. 4
Next race: TBD
9. Girvin
Owner: Brad Grady
Trainer: Joe Sharp
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
2017 stats: 2 starts, 1 win, 1 second, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Risen Star Stakes, Fair Grounds, March 4
Next race: TBD
10. Gunnevera
Owner: Peacock Racing Stables
Trainer: Antonio Sano
Jockey: Javier Castellano
2017 stats: 1 starts, 0 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds
Previous race: 2nd, Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes, Gulfstream Park, Feb. 4
Next race: Fountain of Youth Stakes, Gulfstream Park, March 4