America's Best Horses for March 29

Racing
Trainer Steve Asmussen (right) accompanies Epicenter and jockey Joel Rosario in the Fair Grounds paddock prior to the colt’s win in the Louisiana Derby on March 26. (Eclipse Sportswire)

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 2022 top 3-year-old rankings below.


AMERICA’S TOP THOROUGHBREDS FOR MARCH 29, 2022

Lou Hodges, Jr. /Hodges Photography

1. Epicenter (25 first-place votes)

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Joel Rosario

2022 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 26 at Fair Grounds

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 7 at Churchill Downs


Eclipse Sportswire

2. Forbidden Kingdom (4 first-place votes)

Owners: MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm

Trainer: Richard Mandella

Jockey: Juan Hernandez

2022 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, San Felipe Stakes, March 5 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, April 9 at Santa Anita Park


SV Photography

3. Classic Causeway 

Owners: Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper

Trainer: Brian Lynch

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

2022 record: 2 start – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, March 12 at Tampa Bay Downs

Next race: Curlin Florida Derby, April 2 at Gulfstream Park


Eclipse Sportswire

4. Messier (4 first-place votes)

Owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable and Siena Farm

Trainer: Tim Yakteen

Jockey: John Velazquez

2022 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Feb. 6 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, April 9 at Santa Anita Park


Eclipse Sportswire

5. Simplification

Owner: Tami Bobo

Trainer: Antonio Sano

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

2022 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 5 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Curlin Florida Derby, April 2 at Gulfstream Park


Eclipse Sportswire

6. Smile Happy 

Owner: Lucky Seven Stable 

Trainer: Ken McPeek

Jockey: Corey Lanerie

2022 record: 1 start – 0 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 2nd, Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford, Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds

Next race: Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 9 at Keeneland Race Course


Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photo

7. White Abarrio

Owners: C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable

Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

2022 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Holy Bull Stakes, Feb. 5 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Curlin Florida Derby, April 2 at Gulfstream Park


Coady Photography

8. Secret Oath (2 first-place votes)

Owner: Briland Farm 

Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas

Jockey: Luis Contreras

2022 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Honeybee Stakes, Feb. 26 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: Arkansas Derby, April 2 at Oaklawn Park


Eclipse Sportswire

9. Morello

Owners: Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, Craig Taylor and Diamond T Racing

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Jose Lezcano

2022 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Gotham Stakes, March 5 at Aqueduct

Next race: Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, April 9 at Aqueduct


Eclipse Sportswire

10. Un Ojo

Owner: Cypress Creek Equine

Trainer: Ricky Courville

Jockey: Ramon Vazquez

2022 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Rebel Stakes, Feb. 26 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: Arkansas Derby, April 2 at Oaklawn Park

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