
Belmont Stakes Rematch Between Sovereignty and Journalism a Real Possibility
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 2022 top 3-year-old rankings below.
AMERICA’S TOP THOROUGHBREDS FOR MARCH 15, 2022
1. Epicenter (8 first-place votes)
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario
2022 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford, Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds
Next race: Louisiana Derby, March 26 at Fair Grounds
2. Forbidden Kingdom (6 first-place votes)
Owners: MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
2022 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, San Felipe Stakes, March 5 at Santa Anita Park
Next race: Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, April 9 at Santa Anita Park
3. Classic Causeway (2 first-place votes)
Owners: Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper
Trainer: Brian Lynch
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
2022 record: 2 start – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, March 12 at Tampa Bay Downs
Next race: Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 9 at Keeneland Race Course
Owner: Tami Bobo
Trainer: Antonio Sano
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
2022 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 5 at Gulfstream Park
Next race: Curlin Florida Derby, April 2 at Gulfstream Park
5. Messier (10 first-place votes)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: John Velazquez
2022 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Feb. 6 at Santa Anita Park
Next race: Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, April 9 at Santa Anita Park
6. Smile Happy (3 first-place votes)
Owner: Lucky Seven Stable
Trainer: Ken McPeek
Jockey: Corey Lanerie
2022 record: 1 start – 0 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 2nd, Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford, Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds
Next race: TBD, possibly the Curlin Florida Derby, April 2 at Gulfstream Park or Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 9 at Keeneland Race Course
Owners: C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
2022 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Holy Bull Stakes, Feb. 5 at Gulfstream Park
Next race: Curlin Florida Derby, April 2 at Gulfstream Park
8. Secret Oath (3 first-place votes)
Owner: Briland Farm
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Luis Contreras
2022 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Honeybee Stakes, Feb. 26 at Oaklawn Park
Next race: Arkansas Derby, April 2 at Oaklawn Park
9. Morello
Owners: Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, Craig Taylor and Diamond T Racing
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Jose Lezcano
2022 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Gotham Stakes, March 5 at Aqueduct
Next race: Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, April 9 at Aqueduct
10. Zandon
Owner: Jeff Drown
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
2022 record: 1 start – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third
Last race: 3rd, Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford, Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds
Next race: Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 9 at Keeneland Race Course