Stars of Yesterday: Looking Back at Best Arkansas Derby Winners
America's Best Horses for Feb. 22
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 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 FEB. 22, 2021
1. Essential Quality (26 first-place votes)
Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luis Saez
2021 record: N/A
Last race: 1st, TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Nov. 6 at Keeneland Race Course
Next race: Southwest Stakes, Feb. 27 at Oaklawn Park
2. Life Is Good (5 first-place votes)
Owners: WinStar Farm and CHC
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
2021 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Sham Stakes, Jan. 2 at Santa Anita Park
Next race: San Felipe Stakes, March 6 at Santa Anita Park
3. Mandaloun (4 first-place votes)
Owner: Juddmonte Farms
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
2021 record: 2 starts – 1 first – 0 seconds – 1 third
Last race: 1st, Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford, Feb. 13 at Fair Grounds
Next race: Louisiana Derby, March 20 at Fair Grounds
4. Greatest Honour (1 first-place vote)
Owner: Courtlandt Farms
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
2021 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Holy Bull Stakes, Jan. 30 at Gulfstream Park
Next race: Fountain of Youth Stakes, Feb. 27 at Gulfstream Park
Owner: Zedan Racing Stables
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Abel Cedillo
2021 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Jan. 30 at Santa Anita Park
Next race: TBD
6. Caddo River (1 first-place vote)
Owner: Shortleaf Stable
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
2021 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Smarty Jones Stakes, Jan. 22 at Oaklawn Park
Next race: Rebel Stakes, March 13 at Oaklawn Park
7. Concert Tour
Owners: Gary and Mary West
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Joel Rosario
2021 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, San Vicente Stakes, Feb. 6 at Santa Anita Park
Next race: Rebel Stakes, March 13 at Oaklawn Park
8. Keepmeinmind
Owners: Cypress Creek, Arnold Bennewith and Spendthrift Farm
Trainer: Robertino Diodoro
Jockey: David Cohen
2021 record: N/A
Last race: 1st, Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs
Next race: probable for Southwest Stakes, Feb. 27 at Oaklawn Park
Owners: Kirk and Judy Robison
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario
2021 record: N/A
Last race: 4th, TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Nov. 6 at Keeneland Race Course
Next race: Southwest Stakes, Feb. 27 at Oaklawn Park
10. Risk Taking
Owner: Klaravich Stables
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Eric Cancel
2021 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Withers Stakes, Feb. 6 at Aqueduct
Next race: Wood Memorial Stakes, April 3 at Aqueduct