FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joan Lawrence, NTRA Communications, (646) 335-6833, jlawrence@ntra.com
CALIFORNIA CHROME REMAINS IN FIRST PLACE ON NTRA TOP THOROUGHBRED POLL;
Lady Eli moves into tenth
Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Monday, October 10, 2016) – California Chrome, the leading Thoroughbred in North America with earnings over $13 million, continues to hold the top spot 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 32 weeks of 2016 voting, clinching this week’s tally with all 41 first-place votes and 410 points overall. California Chrome’s next start will be in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
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 undefeated 3-year-old Eclipse Award Champion filly Songbird, (335) with a perfect career total of 11 wins from 11 starts, moved up the ranks to second for Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and owner Rick Porter. It is anticipated that Songbird’s next appearance will come in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
Tepin, (304) the “Queen of the Turf,” trained by Mark Casse, dropped down a notch to third in the rankings for owner Robert Masterson. Tepin finished second to the pace setter Photo Call in the First Lady Stakes (Grade IT), at Keeneland this past Saturday. The five-year-old mare remains on target for the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Unchanged in the rankings this week from fourth through eighth respectively is Frosted, (228); Flintshire, (210); Arrogate (201); Stellar Wind (174) and Beholder (78).
A.P. Indian (61) who has extended his undefeated streak to six wins moves in ninth after his tremendous effort winning by a nose in the “Win and You’re In” Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (Grade 2) Stakes at Keeneland this past weekend against Limousine Liberal. A.P. Indian returned to Fair Hill training center in Maryland where he’ll prepare for his next start in the Grade I TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Entering the top-ten and taking the tenth berth is Lady Eli (53) after her sensational win in the Flower Bowl on Super Saturday at Belmont Park, a “Win and You’re In” designated race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. It was Lady Eli’s first victory since capturing the Belmont Oaks Invitational in July 2015 at Belmont Park.
-30-