Spectacular Bid: ‘Greatest Horse to Look Through a Bridle’
Catching Freedom Enters Triple Crown Rankings at No. 5, Sierra Leone Remains No. 1
RacingEach 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 9 of the 2024 Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the NTRA covers racing performances through March 25, 2024. Sierra Leone, the winner of the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds, leads the poll. Entering the top 10 for the first time this week is Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby winner Catching Freedom, who is ranked No. 5.
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 MARCH 26, 2024
1. Sierra Leone (12 first-place votes)
Owners: Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing, Peter M. Brant
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Risen Star Stakes, Feb. 17 at Fair Grounds
Next race: Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 6 at Keeneland
2. Timberlake (1 first-place vote)
Owners: WinStar Farm and Siena Farm
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Rebel Stakes, Feb. 24 at Oaklawn Park
Next race: Arkansas Derby, March 30 at Oaklawn Park
3. Nysos (14 first-place votes)
Owner: Baoma Corp.
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Flavien Prat
2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Feb. 3 at Santa Anita Park
Next race: TBD, sidelined due to minor injury reported March 12
4. Dornoch (1 first-place vote)
Trainer: Danny Gargan
2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 2 at Gulfstream Park
Next race: Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 6 at Keeneland
5. Catching Freedom (2 first-place votes)
Owner: Albaugh Family Stables
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Flavien Prat
2024 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third
Last race: 1st, Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 23 at Fair Grounds
Next race: Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, May 4 at Churchill Downs
6. 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: Arkansas Derby, March 30 at Oaklawn Park
7. Fierceness
Owner: Repole Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
2024 record: 1 start – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third
Last race: 3rd, Holy Bull Stakes, Feb. 3 at Gulfstream Park
Next race: Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa, March 30 at Gulfstream Park
8. Mystik Dan
Owners: Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby III
Trainer: Ken McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez
2024 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Southwest Stakes, Feb. 3 at Oaklawn Park
Next race: Arkansas Derby, March 30 at Oaklawn Park
9. Hades
Owners: D. J. Stable and Robert Cotran
Trainer: Joe Orseno
Jockey: Paco Lopez
2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Holy Bull Stakes, Feb. 3 at Gulfstream Park
Next race: Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa, March 30 at Gulfstream Park
10. Deterministic
Owners: St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, C. Steven Duncker, and Vicarage Stable
Trainer: Christophe Clement
Jockey: Joel Rosario
2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Gotham Stakes , March 2 at Aqueduct
Next race: TBD
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