Power Rankings: Burnham Square Moves Into Top 10, Kentucky Derby is Next

Racing
NTRA, poll, Kentucky Derby, Blue Grass Stakes, Triple Crown, Journalism, Burnham Square, Sandman, Tappan Street, Rodriguez, Sovereignty, Tiztastic, Burnham Square, Coal Battle, Citizen Bull, Baeza
Burnham Square nears the finish of the Blue Grass Stakes April 8 at Keeneland, getting up to edge East Avenue by a nose. (Coady Media)

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 11 of the 2025 NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll covers races through April 13. Returning to the rankings this week at No. 7 is Burnham Square based on his win in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes April 8 at Keeneland. The leader in the poll is Journalism based on his win in the Santa Anita Derby, April 5 at Santa Anita Park, garnering him 29 of the 30 first-place votes.

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 14, 2025

Journalism. (BENOIT photo)

1. Journalism (29 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: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Santa Anita Derby, April 5 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 3 at Churchill Downs


Sandman. (Coady Media)

2. Sandman

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

Trainer: Mark Casse

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

2025 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 1 third

Last race: 1st, Arkansas Derby, March 29 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 3 at Churchill Downs


Tappan Street. (Coglianese Photos/Gulfstream Park)

3. Tappan Street (1 first-place vote)

Owners: WinStar Farm, CHC, Cold Press Racing

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Luis Saez

2025 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm at Xalapa, March 29 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 3 at Churchill Downs


Rodriguez. (Sue Kawczynski/Eclipse Sportswire)

4. Rodriguez

Owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Mike Smith

2025 record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 third

Last race: 1st, Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino, April 5 at Aqueduct

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 3 at Churchill Downs


Sovereignty. (Coglianese Photos/Gulfstream Park)

5. Sovereignty

Owner: Godolphin

Trainer: Bill Mott

Jockey: Junior Alvarado

2025 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 2ndCurlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm at Xalapa, March 29 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 3 at Churchill Downs


Tiztastic. (Coady Media)

6. Tiztastic

Owners:  Winchell Thoroughbreds, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Joel Rosario

2025 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 1st, Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 22 at Fair Grounds

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 3 at Churchill Downs


Burnham Square. (Coady Media)

7. Burnham Square

Owner: Whitham Thoroughbreds

Trainer: Ian Wilkes

Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

2025 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 8 at Keeneland

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 3 at Churchill Downs


Coal Battle. (Coady Media)

8. Coal Battle

Owner: Norman Stables

Trainer: Lonnie Briley

Jockey: Juan Vargas

2025 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 3rd, Arkansas Derby, March 29 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 3 at Churchill Downs


Citizen Bull. (BENOIT photo)

9. Citizen Bull

Owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan 

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Martin Garcia

2025 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 4th, Santa Anita Derby, April 5 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 3 at Churchill Downs


Baeza. (Lindsay Affleck/Eclipse Sportswire)

10. Baeza

Owners: C R K Stable and Grandview Equine

Trainer: John Shirreffs

Jockey: Hector Berrios

2025 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 2 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 2nd, Santa Anita Derby, April 5 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: TBD

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