America's Best Horses for April 19

Racing
Probable Kentucky Derby favorite Essential Quality (left) trains on the morning of April 17 in preparation for the big race on May 1. (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 APRIL 19, 2021

Coady Photography

1. Essential Quality (34 first-place votes)

Owner: Godolphin

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Luis Saez

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

Last race: 1st, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 3 at Keeneland Race Course

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 1 at Churchill Downs 


Eclipse Sportswire

2. Rock Your World (1 first-place vote)

Owners: Hronis Racing and Talla Racing

Trainer: John Sadler

Jockey: Joel Rosario

2021 record: 3 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, April 3 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 1 at Churchill Downs 


Coady Photography

3. Known Agenda (1 first-place vote)

Owner: St. Elias Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

2021 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st,  Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa, March 27 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 1 at Churchill Downs 


Eclipse Sportswire

4. Hot Rod Charlie (1 first-place vote)

Owners: Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing and William Strauss

Trainer:  Doug O'Neill

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2021 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 1st, Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 20 at Fair Grounds

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 1 at Churchill Downs 


Keeneland/Coady Photography

5. Highly Motivated

Owner: Klaravich Stables

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Javier Castellano

2021 record: 2 starts – 0 wins – 1 second – 1 third

Last race: 2nd, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 3 at Keeneland Race Course

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 1 at Churchill Downs 


Coady Photography

6. Super Stock

Owners: Erv Woolsey and Keith Asmussen

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.

2021 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Arkansas Derby, April 10 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 1 at Churchill Downs 


BENOIT photo

7. Medina Spirit

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: John Velazquez

2021 record: 4 starts – 1 win – 3 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 2nd, Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, April 3 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 1 at Churchill Downs 


Coady Photography

8. Concert Tour 

Owners: Gary and Mary West

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Joel Rosario

2021 record: 4 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 3rd, Arkansas Derby, April 10 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: TBD, possibly the Preakness Stakes, May 15 at Pimlico Race Course


BENOIT photo

9. Life Is Good (1 first-place vote)

Owners: WinStar Farm and CHC

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Mike Smith

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

Last race: 1st, San Felipe Stakes, March 6 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: TBD, sidelined due to injury


Coady Photography

10. Midnight Bourbon

Owners: Winchell Thoroughbreds

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Mike Smith

2021 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 1 third

Last race: 2nd, Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 20 at Fair Grounds

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 1 at Churchill Downs 

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