A Day in the Life of a Kentucky Derby Horse
America's Best Thoroughbreds
RacingEach week members of the media around the country vote on the nation's top contenders on the Triple Crown trail in the NTRA Top 3-year-Old Poll. Find the latest 2017 Top 3-Year-Old rankings below.
AMERICA'S TOP 3-YEAR-OLD THOROUGHBREDS as of Feb. 27
1. McCraken (17 first-place votes)
Owner: Whitham Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Ian Wilkes
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
2017 stats: 1 start, 1 win, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Sam F. Davis Stakes, Tampa Bay Downs, Feb. 11
Next race: TBD
2. Irish War Cry (10 first-place votes)
Owner: Isabelle de Tomaso
Trainer: Graham Motion
Jockey: Joel Rosario
2017 stats: 1 start, 1 win, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes, Gulfstream Park, Feb. 4
Next race: Fountain of Youth Stakes, Gulfstream Park, March 4
3. Mastery (3 first-place votes)
Owner: Cheyenne Stables
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
2017 stats: 0 starts, 0 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Los Alamitos Futurity, Los Alamitos, Dec. 10
Next race: San Felipe Stakes, Santa Anita Park, March 11
4. Classic Empire (2 first-place votes)
Owner: John Oxley
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Julien Leparoux
2017 stats: 1 start, 0 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third
Previous race: 3rd, Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes, Gulfstream Park, Feb. 4
Next race: TBD, possibly Tampa Bay Derby, Tampa Bay Downs, March 11
5. El Areeb (1 first-place vote)
Owner: M M G Stables
Trainer: Cathal Lynch
Jockey: Trevor McCarthy
2017 stats: 2 starts, 2 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Withers Stakes, Aqueduct, Feb. 4
Next race: Gotham Stakes, Aqueduct, March 4
6. Unique Bella (5 first-place votes)
Owner: Don Alberto Stable
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Jockey: Mike Smith
2017 stats: 2 starts, 2 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Las Virgenes Stakes, Santa Anita Park, Feb. 5
Next race: Santa Anita Oaks, Santa Anita Park, April 8
7. Gormley
Owner: Jerry and Ann Moss
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
2017 stats: 1 start, 1 win, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Sham Stakes, Santa Anita Park, Jan. 7
Next race: TBD, possibly San Felipe Stakes on March 11 at Santa Anita Park
8. One Liner
Owner: WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
2017 stats: 2 starts, 2 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Southwest Stakes, Oaklawn Park, Feb. 4
Next race: TBD
9. Girvin
Owner: Brad Grady
Trainer: Joe Sharp
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
2017 stats: 2 starts, 1 win, 1 second, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Risen Star Stakes, Fair Grounds, March 4
Next race: TBD
10. Gunnevera
Owner: Peacock Racing Stables
Trainer: Antonio Sano
Jockey: Javier Castellano
2017 stats: 1 starts, 0 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds
Previous race: 2nd, Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes, Gulfstream Park, Feb. 4
Next race: Fountain of Youth Stakes, Gulfstream Park, March 4