America's Best Horses for May 24

Racing
Early Voting (far left) sweeps to the lead at the top of the stretch en route to a win in the May 21 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. (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 2022 top 3-year-old rankings below.


AMERICA’S TOP THOROUGHBREDS FOR MAY 24, 2022

Eclipse Sportswire

1.(tie) Epicenter (23 first-place votes)

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Joel Rosario

2022 record: 5 starts – 2 wins – 3 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 2ndPreakness Stakes, May 21 at Pimlico

Next race: TBD, possibly the TVG.com Haskell Stakes, July 23 at Monmouth Park


Eclipse Sportswire

1. (tie) Early Voting

Owner: Klaravich Stables

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

2022 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Preakness Stakes, May 21 at Pimlico

Next race: TBD, possibly the TVG.com Haskell Stakes, July 23 at Monmouth Park or the Jim Dandy Stakes, July 30 at Saratoga Race Course


Coady Photography

3. Zandon 

Owner: Jeff Drown

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2022 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 2 thirds

Last race: 3rd, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 7 at Churchill Downs

Next race: TBD


Coady Photography

4. Rich Strike (8 first-place votes)

Owner: RED TR-Racing

Trainer: Eric Reed

Jockey: Sonny Leon

2022 record: 4 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 2 thirds

Last race: 1st, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 7 at Churchill Downs

Next race: Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, June 11 at Belmont Park


Eclipse Sportswire

5. Jack Christopher (1 first-place vote)

Owners: Jim Bakke, Gerry Isbister, Coolmore Stud and White Birch Farm

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

2022 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Pat Day Mile Stakes Presented by LG&E and KU, May 7 at Churchill Downs

Next race: Woody Stephens Stakes, June 11 at Belmont Park


Eclipse Sportswire

6. Secret Oath (4 first-place votes)

Owner: Briland Farm

Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas

Jockey: Luis Saez

2022 record: 5 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 4thPreakness Stakes, May 21 at Pimlico

Next race: Coaching Club American Oaks, July 23 at Saratoga Race Course


Eclipse Sportswire

7. Mo Donegal 

Owner: Donegal Racing 

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

2022 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 5th, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 7 at Churchill Downs

Next race: TBD, possibly the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, June 11 at Belmont Park


Coady Photography

8. Creative Minister

Owners: Fern Circle Stables, Back Racing and Magdalena Racing

Trainer: Ken McPeek

Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

2022 record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 third

Last race: 3rdPreakness Stakes, May 21 at Pimlico

Next race: Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, June 11 at Belmont Park


Eclipse Sportswire

9. Simplification

Owners: Tami Bobo and Tristan De Meric

Trainer: Antonio Sano

Jockey: John Velazquez

2022 record: 6 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 third

Last race: 6th, Preakness Stakes, May 21 at Pimlico

Next race: TBD


Coady Photography

10. Taiba 

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Tim Yakteen

Jockey: Mike Smith

2022 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 12thKentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 7 at Churchill Downs

Next race: TBD

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