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 8 of the 2025 NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll, covers races through March 16. The leader in the poll remains Citizen Bull, who won the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 1. This week's big mover into the rankings was American Promise, who enters the top 10 at No. 8 after a runaway win in the $500,000 Virginia Derby March 15 at Colonial Downs. 

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 MARCH 18, 2025

Citizen Bull. (Jon Putman/Eclipse Sportswire)

1. Citizen Bull (13 first-place votes)

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

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

Next race: Santa Anita Derby, April 5 at Santa Anita Park

Journalism. (Jon Putman/Eclipse Sportswire)

2. Journalism (10 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: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, DK Horse San Felipe Stakes, March 1 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Santa Anita Derby, April 5 at Santa Anita Park

Sovereignty. (Juliana Colombo/Eclipse Sportswire)

3. Sovereignty (1 first-place vote)

Owner: Godolphin

Trainer: Bill Mott

Jockey: Junior Alvarado

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

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

Next race: Curlin Florida Derby, March 29 at Gulfstream Park

Coal Battle. (Justin Manning/Eclipse Sportswire)

4. Coal Battle (2 first-place votes)

Owner: Norman Stables

Trainer: Lonnie Briley

Jockey: Juan Vargas

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

Last race: 1^st, Rebel Stakes, Feb. 22 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: TBD, possibly the Arkansas Derby, March 29 at Oaklawn Park, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 5 at Keeneland, or Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 3 at Churchill Downs

Barnes. (Lindsay Affleck/Eclipse Sportswire)

5. Barnes 

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Juan Hernandez

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

Last race: 2^nd, DK Horse San Felipe Stakes, March 1 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: TBD

Owen Almighty. (Juliana Colombo/Eclipse Sportswire)

6. Owen Almighty

Owner: Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing

Trainer: Brian Lynch

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. 

2025 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, March 8 at Tampa Bay Downs

Next race: Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 5 at Keeneland

John Hancock. (Juliana Colombo/Eclipse Sportswire)

7. John Hancock 

Owners: CHC and WinStar Farm

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Flavien Prat

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

Last race: 1^st, Sam F. Davis Stakes, Feb. 8 at Tampa Bay Downs

Next race: Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 22 at Fair Grounds

American Promise. (Coady Media)

8. American Promise

Owner: BC Stables

Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas

Jockey: Nik Juarez

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

Last race: 1^st, Virginia Derby, March 15 at Colonial Downs

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

Disco Time. (Casey Laughter/Eclipse Sportswire)

9. Disco Time

Owner: Juddmonte

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Florent Geroux

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

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

Next race: Arkansas Derby, March 29 at Oaklawn Park, or Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 5 at Keeneland

Flood Zone. (Sophie Shore/Eclipse Sportswire)

10. Flood Zone

Owner: Wathnan Racing

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Reylu Gutierrez

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

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

Next race: UAE Derby, April 5 at Meydan Racecourse