Smarty Jones: An Unlikely Hero and Beloved Fan Favorite
Fierceness Tops First 3-Year-Old Triple Crown Poll of 2024
Racing
Each week, members of the national media vote on the nation's top contenders on the Triple Crown trail in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top Thoroughbred Poll.
Week 1 of the 2024 Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the NTRA covers racing performances through Jan. 29, 2024.
The 3-year-old poll represents horses competing up to and through the Triple Crown. Rankings are based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 voting system. First place votes are in parentheses.
AMERICA’S TOP 3-YEAR-OLD THOROUGHBREDS FOR JANUARY 29, 2024

1. Fierceness (23 first-place votes)
Owner: Repole Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
2024 record: 0 starts – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by TAA, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park
Next race: Holy Bull Stakes, Feb. 3 at Gulfstream Park

2. Muth
Owner: Zedan Racing Stables
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, San Vicente Stakes, Jan. 6 at Santa Anita Park
Next race: Rebel Stakes, Feb. 24 at Oaklawn Park
.jpg?itok=ymi0fN7m)
3 (tie). Locked
Owners: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
2024 record: 0 starts – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 3rd, FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by TAA, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park
Next race: Sam F. Davis Stakes, Feb. 10 at Tampa Bay Downs

3 (tie). Track Phantom (1 first-place vote)
Owners: L and N Racing, Clark O. Brewster, Jerry Caroom, Breeze Easy
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario
2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Lecomte Stakes, Jan. 20 at Fair Grounds
Next race: Risen Star Stakes, Feb. 17 at Fair Grounds

5. Dornoch
Trainer: Danny Gargan
2024 record: 0 starts – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Remsen Stakes, Dec. 2, 2023 at Aqueduct
Next race: Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 2 at Gulfstream Park

6. Nysos (1 first-place vote)
Owners: Baoma Corp.
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Flavien Prat
2024 record: 0 starts – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Bob Hope Stakes, Nov. 19, 2023 at Del Mar
Next race: Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Feb. 3 at Santa Anita Park

7. Sierra Leone (1 first-place vote)
Owners: Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing, Peter M. Brant
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
2024 record: 0 starts – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 2nd, Remsen Stakes, Dec. 2, 2023 at Aqueduct
Next race: Risen Star Stakes, Feb. 17 at Fair Grounds
.jpg?itok=f0JkHJ21)
8. Timberlake
Owners: WinStar Farm and Siena Farm
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
2024 record: 0 starts – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 4th, FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by TAA, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park
Next race: Rebel Stakes, Feb. 24 at Oaklawn Park
Owner: Albaugh Family Stables
Jockey: Cristian Torres
2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Smarty Jones Stakes, Jan. 1 at Oaklawn Park
Next race: Risen Star Stakes, Feb. 17 at Fair Grounds or Rebel Stakes, Feb. 24 at Oaklawn Park

10. Just F Y I
Owner: George Krikorian
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
2024 record: 0 starts – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park
Next race: TBD
Six Beginner Betting Tools
- Start simple with an easy guide for how to bet on horse racing.
- Not sure what that word means? Horse racing terminology is a language of its own. Allow us translate for you.
- What the heck is a speed figure? This beginner’s guide to speed figures has everything you need to know.
- Betting on horse racing can be intimidating. Team ABR put together some Dos and Don’ts for the new fan getting started betting on racing.
- We all make mistakes when it comes to betting on horse racing, here are eight lessons learned from experience.
- Figure out how much each bet will cost in advance with our Gambling Calculator, presented by NYRA Bets.