NTRA top 3-year-old poll: 2 runners join top 10
Citizen Bull added to his lead as the top 3-year-old in this week's National Thoroughbred Racing Association poll.
The Bob Baffert trainee and 2024 juvenile male champion, received 276 points, including 24 first-place votes. With his win Saturday in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis, Citizen Bull earned a spot in the starting gate for Kentucky Derby 2025.
Barnes, also a Baffert trainee, remained in second place with 226 points and two first-place votes.
Two horses joined the top 10. Burnham Square, trained by Ian Wilkes won the Holy Bull (G3) on Saturday, and Captain Cook, trained by Rick Dutrow, won the Withers.
NTRA top 3-year-old poll
| Horse | 2025 record | Points | Previous | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Citizen Bull (24) | 1: 1-0-0 | 276 | 1 | Bob Baffert |
| 2. Barnes (2) | 1: 1-0-0 | 226 | 2 | Bob Baffert |
| 3. East Avenue | 0: 0-0-0 | 143 | 3 | Brendan Walsh |
| 4. Burnham Square | 1: 1-0-0 | 127 | N/A | Ian Wilkes |
| 5. Disco Time | 1: 1-0-0 | 119 | 4 | Brad Cox |
| 6. Speed King | 1: 1-0-0 | 103 | 5 | Ron Moquett |
| 7. Coal Battle | 1: 1-0-0 | 84 | 6 | Lonnie Briley |
| 8. Captain Cook | 1: 1-0-0 | 80 | N/A | Rick Dutrow |
| 9. Journalism (1) | 0: 0-0-0 | 70 | 7 | Michael McCarthy |
| 10 Sandman (1) | 1: 1-0-0 | 53 | 9 | Mark Casse |
The NTRA poll of top Thorougbreds remained unchanged from last week. Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) winner White Abarrio, trained by Saffie Joseph, added to his lead with 254 points and 14 first-place votes. He's one of three horses in the top 10 who are trained by Joseph, along with Skippylongstocking and Be Your Best.
Thorpedo Anna, 2024 horse of the year, remained in second place. The Kenny McPeek trainee is expected to make her 2025 debut in the Azeri (G2) at Oaklawn on March 8.
NTRA top Thoroughbred poll
| Horse | Age-sex | 2025 record | Points | Previous | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. White Abarrio (14) | 6-H | 1: 1-0-0 | 254 | 1 | Saffie Joseph Jr. |
| 2. Thorpedo Anna (14) | 4-F | 0: 0-0-0 | 225 | 2 | Kenny McPeek |
| 3. Sierra Leone | 4-C | 0: 0-0-0 | 203 | 3 | Chad Brown |
| 4. Locked | 4-C | 1: 0-1-0 | 168 | 4 | Todd Pletcher |
| 5. Fierceness | 4-C | 0: 0-0-0 | 145 | 5 | Todd Pletcher |
| 6. Spirit of St Louis | 6-G | 1: 1-0-0 | 101 | 6 | Chad Brown |
| 7. Straight No Chaser | 6-H | 0: 0-0-0 | 79 | 7 | Dan Blacker |
| 8. Skippylongstocking | 6-H | 1: 0-0-1 | 58 | 8 | Saffie Joseph Jr. |
| 9. Be Yor Best | 5-M | 1: 1-0-0 | 42 | 9 | Saffie Joseph Jr. |
| 10. Hit Show | 5-H | 1: 1-0-0 | 41 | 10 | Brad Cox |
Voting for the NTRA polls is conducted by national media. The 3-year-old poll represents horses competing up and through the Triple Crown. The top Thoroughbred poll represents horses competing for horse of the year and will conclude Tuesday, Nov. 4, after the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.