America's Best Horses for May 3

Racing
Medina Spirit (front right, red jockey cap and blue shadow roll) leads the Kentucky Derby field into the homestretch on May 1 en route to a half-length win over Mandaloun (pink jockey cap). (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 MAY 3, 2021

Coady Photography

1. Medina Spirit (34 first-place votes)

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: John Velazquez

2021 record: 5 starts – 2 wins – 3 seconds – 0 thirds

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

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


Coady Photography

2. Essential Quality (2 first-place votes)

Owner: Godolphin

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Luis Saez

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

Last race: 4th, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 1 at Churchill Downs 

Next race: TBD


Eclipse Sportswire

3. Mandaloun

Owner: Juddmonte Farms

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Florent Geroux

2021 record: 4 starts -1 win – 1 second – 1 third

Last race: 2nd, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 1 at Churchill Downs 

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


Eclipse Sportswire

4. Hot Rod Charlie 

Owners: Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing and William Strauss

Trainer:  Doug O'Neill

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2021 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 2 thirds

Last race: 3rd, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 1 at Churchill Downs 

Next race: Belmont Stakes, June 5 at Belmont Park


Coady Photography

5. Malathaat (1 first-place vote)

Owner: Shadwell Stable

Jockey: John Velazquez

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

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

Last race: 1st, Longines Kentucky Oaks, April 30 at Churchill Downs 

Next race: TBD


Coady Photography

6. 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


Eclipse Sportswire

7. 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

8. Jackie’s Warrior

Owners: J. Kirk and Judy Robison

Jockey: Joel Rosario

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

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

Last race: 1st, Pat Day Mile Presented by LG&E and KU, May 1 at Churchill Downs 

Next race: TBD


Eclipse Sportswire

9. Rock Your World

Owners: Hronis Racing and Talla Racing

Trainer: John Sadler

Jockey: Joel Rosario

2021 record: 4 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 17th, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 1 at Churchill Downs 

Next race: TBD


Eclipse Sportswire

10. Midnight Bourbon

Owners: Winchell Thoroughbreds

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Mike Smith

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

Last race: 6th, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 1 at Churchill Downs 

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

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