Fierceness Reclaims Top Spot in Triple Crown Rankings Following Florida Derby Romp

Racing
2024 Kentucky Derby, Florida Derby, Endlessly, Fierceness, NTRA 3-year-old poll
Fierceness romped in the Florida Derby and moved to No. 1 in the NTRA poll of Triple Crown contenders. (Scot Serio/Eclipse Sportswire)

Each week, members of the national media vote on the nation's top contenders on the Triple Crown trail in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top Thoroughbred Poll.

Week 10 of the 2024 Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the NTRA covers racing performances through March 31, 2024. Fierceness reclaimed the top spot in the poll this week after this 13 1/2-length win in the Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa, March 30  at Gulfstream Park.

The 3-year-old poll represents horses competing up to and through the Triple Crown. Rankings are based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 voting system. First place votes are in parentheses.


AMERICA’S TOP 3-YEAR-OLD THOROUGHBREDS FOR APRIL 1, 2024

Fierceness. (Lauren King)

1. Fierceness (18 first-place votes)

Owner: Repole Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

2024 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 1st, Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa, March 30  at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, May 4 at Churchill Downs


Sierra Leone. (Eclipse Sportswire)

2. Sierra Leone (9 first-place votes)

Owners: Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing, Peter M. Brant

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Risen Star Stakes, Feb. 17 at Fair Grounds

Next race: Toyota Blue Grass Stakes,  April 6 at Keeneland


Muth. (Ben Breland/Eclipse Sportswire)

3. Muth (1 first-place votes)

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey:  Juan Hernandez

2024 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Arkansas Derby, March 30 at Oaklawn Park

Next race:  TBD


Dornoch. (Lauren King)

4. Dornoch 

Owners: West Paces Racing, R.A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeders, Two Eight Racing, Pine Racing Stables

Trainer: Danny Gargan

Jockey: Luis Saez

2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 2 at Gulfstream Park

Next race:  Toyota Blue Grass Stakes,  April 6 at Keeneland


Catching Freedom. (Lou Hodges, Jr. /Hodges Photography)

5. Catching Freedom 

Owner: Albaugh Family Stables

TrainerBrad Cox

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2024 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 1st, Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 23 at Fair Grounds

Next race: Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, May 4 at Churchill Downs


Nysos. (BENOIT photo)

6. Nysos (3 first-place votes)

Owner: Baoma Corp.

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Feb. 3 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: TBD, sidelined due to minor injury reported March 12


Deterministic. (Chelsea Durand/NYRA)

7. Deterministic

Owners: St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, C. Steven Duncker, and Vicarage Stable

Trainer: Christophe Clement

Jockey: Joel Rosario

2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Gotham Stakes , March 2 at Aqueduct

Next race: Wood Memorial Stakes presented by Resorts World Casino, April 6 at Aqueduct


Forever Young. (Shamela Hanley/Eclipse Sportswire)

8. Forever Young

Owner: Susumo Fujita

Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi

Jockey: Ryusei Sakai

2024 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, UAE Derby Sponsored by Atlantis the Royal, March 30 at Meydan Racecourse

Next race: Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, May 4 at Churchill Downs


Timberlake. (Eclipse Sportswire)

9. Timberlake 

Owners: WinStar Farm and Siena Farm

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey:  Florent Geroux

2024 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 4th, Arkansas Derby, March 30 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: TBD, will not run in Kentucky Derby


Endlessly. (Carson Blevins/Eclipse Sportswire)

10. Endlessly

Owners: Amerman Racing

Trainer: Michael McCarthty

Jockey: Umberto Rispoili

2024 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Jeff Ruby Steaks, March 23 at Turfway Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, May 4 at Churchill Downs


Six Beginner Betting Tools

  1. Start simple with an easy guide for how to bet on horse racing.
  2. Not sure what that word means? Horse racing terminology is a language of its own. Allow us translate for you.
  3. What the heck is a speed figure? This beginner’s guide to speed figures has everything you need to know.
  4. Betting on horse racing can be intimidating. Team ABR put together some Dos and Don’ts for the new fan getting started betting on racing.
  5. We all make mistakes when it comes to betting on horse racing, here are eight lessons learned from experience.
  6. Figure out how much each bet will cost in advance with our Gambling Calculator, presented by NYRA Bets.

newsletter sign-up

Stay up-to-date with the best from America's Best Racing!

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram TikTok YouTube
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram TikTok YouTube