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 18 of the 2025 NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll covers races through June 1. The top three horses in the rankings are all entered to compete in the third jewel of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets June 7 at Saratoga Race Course.

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).

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AMERICA’S TOP 3-YEAR-OLD THOROUGHBREDS FOR JUNE 2, 2025

1. Journalism (19 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: 4 starts – 3 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Preakness Stakes, May 17 at Pimlico

Next race: Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, June 7 at Saratoga Race Course

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2. Sovereignty (8 first-place votes)

Owner: Godolphin

Trainer: Bill Mott

Jockey: Junior Alvarado

2025 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 3 at Churchill Downs

Next race:  Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, June 7 at Saratoga Race Course

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3. Baeza

Owners:  C R K Stable and Grandview Equine

Trainer: John Shirreffs

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2025 record: 4 starts – 1 win – 2 seconds – 1 third

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

Next race: Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, June 7 at Saratoga Race Course

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4. Good Cheer 

Owners: Godolphin

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Luis Saez

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

Last race: 1^st, Longines Kentucky Oaks, May 2 at Churchill Downs

Next race: DK Horse Acorn Stakes, June 6 at Saratoga Race Course

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5. Sandman

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

Trainer: Mark Casse

Jockey: John Velazquez

2025 record: 5 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 2 thirds

Last race: 3^rd, Preakness Stakes, May 17 at Pimlico

Next race: TBD, possibly the Jim Dandy Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun, July 26 at Saratoga Race Course

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6. Gosger

Owners: Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables

Trainer: Brendan Walsh

Jockey: Luis Saez

2025 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 2^nd, Preakness Stakes, May 17 at Pimlico

Next race: NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes, July 19 at Monmouth Park

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7. Final Gambit

Owner: Juddmonte

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Luan Machado

2025 record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 4^th, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 3 at Churchill Downs

Next race: Matt Winn Stakes, June 8 at Churchill Downs

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8. 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: 1^st, Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino, April 5 at Aqueduct

Next race: Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, June 7 at Saratoga Race Course

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9. Burnham Square

Owner: Whitham Thoroughbreds

Trainer: Ian Wilkes

Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

2025 record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 6^th, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 3 at Churchill Downs

Next race: Matt Winn Stakes, June 8 at Churchill Downs

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10. Hill Road

Owner: AMO Racing USA

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Flavien Prat

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

Last race: 1^st, Peter Pan Stakes, May 10 at Belmont at the Big A

Next race: Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, June 7 at Saratoga Race Course

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