America's Best Horses for March 1

Racing
Horses break from the gate in the 2021 Southwest Stakes, won by Essential Quality (right, blue jockey silks). (Coady Photography)

Each 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

Eclipse Sportswire

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


Eclipse Sportswire

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


Eclipse Sportswire

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


Lou Hodges, Jr. /Hodges Photography

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


BENOIT photo

5. Medina Spirit

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


Eclipse Sportswire

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


Eclipse Sportswire

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


Eclipse Sportswire

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


Joe Labozzetta/NYRA Photo

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


Eclipse Sportswire

10. Proxy

Owner: Godolphin

Trainer: Michael Stidham

Jockey: John Velazquez

2021 record: 2 starts – 0 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 2ndRisen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford, Feb. 13 at Fair Grounds 

Next race: Louisiana Derby, March 20 at Fair Grounds

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