Contact: Joan Lawrence, NTRA Communications, (646) 335-6833, jlawrence@ntra.com
CALIFORNIA CHROME IN FIRST PLACE ON NTRA TOP THOROUGHBRED POLL
Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Monday, August 15, 2016) – California Chrome the leading Thoroughbred in North America remains in first-place in this week’s NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll. The all-time leading money earner in the U.S., California Chrome has led the poll for all 24 weeks of 2016 voting, clinching this week’s tally with 32 first-place votes and 418 points overall. It is expected that California Chrome will start in the 1Million TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar this coming Saturday, August 20.
The NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll is the sport’s most comprehensive survey of experts ranking active North American-based Thoroughbreds. Every week journalists and broadcasters cast votes for their top 10 horses, with points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. The NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll concludes Monday, November 7, following the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.
The Whitney Stakes winner Frosted (6 first-place votes; 358 points) remains in second after his two length margin of victory in the Grade I, 1 1/8 miles “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Classic two-weeks ago at Saratoga. Frosted has already earned entrance into the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile having won the Met Mile for Godolphin Racing and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Options under consideration for the son of Tapit’s next start could be the Woodward, the Jockey Gold Cup with the Breeders’ Cup his main goal, according to McLaughlin.
Tepin (5 first-place votes; 351) holds onto third while the undefeated 3-year-old filly Songbird, (264) remains in fourth. It is anticipated that the Eclipse Award champion will make her next start in the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes this coming Saturday at Saratoga.
The Bowling Green Stakes (Grade 2) winner Flintshire (227) remains in fifth for Juddmonte Farms and trainer Chad Brown. Ranked sixth is the three-time Eclipse Award champion Beholder (172). The defending Pacific Classic winner of 2015, Beholder is expected to enter in the $1Million race against the likes of California Chrome and Dortmund (63 and ranked tenth) at Del Mar. Haskell winner Exaggerator (169) drops down a notch to seventh.
The remaining top 10 is rounded out by: Melatonin (93) and Catch A Glimpse (87).