The Basics: How to Bet the Kentucky Derby
America's Best Horses for March 1
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 Thoroughbred Poll. The poll will run weekly through June 5. Find out the latest 2021 top 3-year-old rankings below.
AMERICA’S TOP THOROUGHBREDS FOR MARCH 1, 2021
1. Essential Quality (37 first-place votes)
Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luis Saez
2021 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Southwest Stakes, Feb. 27 at Oaklawn Park
Next race: TBD, possibly the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 3 at Keeneland Race Course, or the Arkansas Derby, April 10 at Oaklawn Park
2. Greatest Honour (1 first-place vote)
Owner: Courtlandt Farms
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
2021 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes, Feb. 27 at Gulfstream Park
Next race: Florida Derby, March 27 at Gulfstream Park
3. Life Is Good (2 first-place votes)
Owners: WinStar Farm and CHC
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
2021 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Sham Stakes, Jan. 2 at Santa Anita Park
Next race: San Felipe Stakes, March 6 at Santa Anita Park
4. Mandaloun (1 first-place vote)
Owner: Juddmonte Farms
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
2021 record: 2 starts – 1 first – 0 seconds – 1 third
Last race: 1st, Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford, Feb. 13 at Fair Grounds
Next race: Louisiana Derby, March 20 at Fair Grounds
Owner: Zedan Racing Stables
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Abel Cedillo
2021 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Jan. 30 at Santa Anita Park
Next race: San Felipe Stakes, March 6 at Santa Anita Park
6. Caddo River
Owner: Shortleaf Stable
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
2021 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Smarty Jones Stakes, Jan. 22 at Oaklawn Park
Next race: Rebel Stakes, March 13 at Oaklawn Park
7. Concert Tour
Owners: Gary and Mary West
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Joel Rosario
2021 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, San Vicente Stakes, Feb. 6 at Santa Anita Park
Next race: Rebel Stakes, March 13 at Oaklawn Park
8. Keepmeinmind
Owners: Cypress Creek, Arnold Bennewith and Spendthrift Farm
Trainer: Robertino Diodoro
Jockey: David Cohen
2021 record: N/A
Last race: 1st, Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs
Next race: Rebel Stakes, March 13 at Oaklawn Park
9. Risk Taking
Owner: Klaravich Stables
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Eric Cancel
2021 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Withers Stakes, Feb. 6 at Aqueduct
Next race: Wood Memorial Stakes, April 3 at Aqueduct
10. Proxy
Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: Michael Stidham
Jockey: John Velazquez
2021 record: 2 starts – 0 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 2nd, Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford, Feb. 13 at Fair Grounds
Next race: Louisiana Derby, March 20 at Fair Grounds