Citizen Bull Leads First 2025 NTRA Triple Crown Poll

Racing
2025 Kentucky Derby, Triple Crown, NTRA 3-year-old poll, Citizen Bull
Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Citizen Bull Leads the first NTRA 3-year-old poll of the 2025 Triple Crown season. (Charles Toler/Eclipse Sporswire)

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 1 of the 2025 NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll, covers races through Jan. 26. 

The 3-Year-Old poll represents horses competing up 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 JAN. 28, 2025

Citizen Bull. (Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire)

1. Citizen Bull (12 first-place votes)

Owners: SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, et al.

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Martin Garcia

2025 record: 0 starts – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by TAA, Nov. 1, 2024 at Del Mar

Next race: Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Feb. 1 at Santa Anita Park


Barnes. (Lindsay Affleck/Eclipse Sportswire)

2. Barnes (9 first-place votes)

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Juan Hernandez

2025 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, San Vicente Stakes, Jan. 4 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Rebel Stakes, Feb. 22 at Oaklawn Park or DK Horse San Felipe Stakes, March 1 at Santa Anita Park


East Avenue. (Candice Chavez/Eclipse Sportswire)

3. East Avenue

Owner: Godolphin

Trainer: Brendan Walsh

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

2025 record: 0 starts – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 9th, FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by TAA, Nov. 1, 2024 at Del Mar

Next race: Risen Star Stakes, Feb. 15 at Fair Grounds


Disco Time. (Casey Laughter/Eclipse Sportswire)

4. Disco Time

Owner: Juddmonte

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Florent Geroux

2025 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Lecomte Stakes, Jan. 18 at Fair Grounds

Next race: Risen Star Stakes, Feb. 15 at Fair Grounds or Rebel Stakes, Feb. 22 at Oaklawn Park


Speed King. (Tommy Land/Eclipse Sportswire)

5. Speed King (1 first-place vote)

Owner: Triton Thoroughbreds

Trainer: Ron Moquett

Jockey: Rafael Bejarano

2025 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1stSouthwest Stakes, Jan. 25 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: Rebel Stakes, Feb. 22 at Oaklawn Park


Coal Battle. (Justin Manning/Eclipse Sportswire)

6. Coal Battle 

Owner: Norman Stables

Trainer: Lonnie Briley

Jockey: Juan Vargas

2025 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Smarty Jones Stakes, Jan. 4 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: Rebel Stakes, Feb. 22 at Oaklawn Park


Journalism. (Jon Putman/Eclipse Sportswire)

7. Journalism (2 first-place votes)

Owners: Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC and LaPenta, Robert V.

Trainer: Michael McCarthy

Jockey: Umberto Rispoli

2025 record: 0 starts – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Los Alamitos Futurity, Dec. 14 at Los Alamitos

Next race: TBD, possibly the DK Horse San Felipe Stakes, March 1 at Santa Anita Park


Chancer McPatrick. (Jason Moran/Eclipse Sportswire)

8. Chancer McPatrick

Owner: Flanagan Racing

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2025 record: 0 starts – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 6th, FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by TAA, Nov. 1, 2024 at Del Mar

Next race:  TBD, possibly the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, March 8 at Tampa Bay Downs


Sandman. (Gary Johnson/Eclipse Sportswire)

9. Sandman (1 first-place vote)

Owners: D. J. Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables

Trainer: Mark Casse

Jockey: Cristian Torres

2025 record: 1 start – 0 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 2nd, Southwest Stakes, Jan. 25 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: Rebel Stakes, Feb. 22 at Oaklawn Park


Sovereignty. (Coady Media)

10. Sovereignty

Owner: Godolphin

Trainer: Bill Mott

Jockey: Junior Alvarado

2025 record: 0 starts – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Street Sense Stakes, Oct. 27, 2024 at Churchill Downs

Next race: TBD


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