America's Best Horses for April 5

Racing
The field for the April 3 Santa Anita Derby gets into position shortly after leaving the starting gate, with eventual winner Rock Your World pictured second from right. (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 2021 top 3-year-old rankings below.


AMERICA’S TOP THOROUGHBREDS FOR APRIL 5, 2021

Coady Photography

1. Essential Quality (31 first-place votes)

Owner: Godolphin

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Luis Saez

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

Last race: 1st, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 3 at Keeneland Race Course

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


Eclipse Sportswire

2. Concert Tour (5 first-place votes)

Owners: Gary and Mary West

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Joel Rosario

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

Last race: 1st, Rebel Stakes, March 13 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: Arkansas Derby, April 10 at Oaklawn Park


Eclipse Sportswire

3. Hot Rod Charlie (1 first-place vote)

Owners: Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing and William Strauss

Trainer: Leandro Mora

Jockey: Joel Rosario

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

Last race: 1st, Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 20 at Fair Grounds

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


BENOIT photo

4. Rock Your World

Owners: Hronis Racing and Talla Racing

Trainer: John Sadler

Jockey: Umberto Rispoli

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

Last race: 1st, Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, April 3 at Santa Anita Park

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


Eclipse Sportswire

5. Known Agenda

Owner: St. Elias Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

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

Last race: 1st,  Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa, March 27 at Gulfstream Park

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


Eclipse Sportswire

6. Greatest Honour 

Owner: Courtlandt Farms

Trainer: Shug McGaughey

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

2021 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 3rd, Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa, March 27 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: TBD


Keeneland/Coady Photography

7. Highly Motivated

Owner: Klaravich Stables

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Javier Castellano

2021 record: 2 starts – 0 wins – 1 second – 1 third

Last race: 2nd, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 3 at Keeneland Race Course

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


Eclipse Sportswire

8. Medina Spirit

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Abel Cedillo

2021 record: 4 starts – 1 win – 3 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 2nd, Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, April 3 at Santa Anita Park

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


Eclipse Sportswire

9. 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


Eclipse Sportswire

10. Midnight Bourbon

Owners: Winchell Thoroughbreds

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Joe Talamo

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

Last race: 2nd, Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 20 at Fair Grounds

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

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