NYQUIST STAYS IN FIRST ON TOP 3-YEAR-OLD POLL; CALIFORNIA CHROME REMAINS IN FIRST PLACE ON TOP THOROUGHBRED POLL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Joan Lawrence, NTRA Communications, (646) 335-6833 

NYQUIST STAYS IN FIRST ON TOP 3-YEAR-OLD POLL;

CALIFORNIA CHROME REMAINS IN FIRST PLACE ON TOP THOROUGHBRED POLL

Saratoga Springs, NY (Monday, May 31, 2016) –  With a three-week break since the running of the Preakness Stakes there is little movement in either direction on both Polls as we wait for the final and last leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes on June 11 in week thirteen of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top 3-Year-Old Poll.

Maintaining the number one slot is Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist (30 first-place votes, 354 points). Ranked second is Preakness winner Exaggerator (3 first-place votes, 319 points) who is currently on the grounds at Belmont Park preparing for the Test of Champions.

Rounding out the top-ten are: Songbird (3 first-place votes, 254); Gun Runner (250); Mohaymen (189); Cathryn Sophia (121); Cherry Wine (120); Suddenbreakingnews (114); Destin (65) and Unified (57).

The NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll is the sport’s most comprehensive survey of experts ranking the generation of Thoroughbreds that includes all Triple Crown contenders. Every week as many as 50 eligible 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 Three-Year-Old Poll concludes Monday, June 13, following the Belmont Stakes, the third jewel of the Triple Crown.

In the Top Thoroughbred Poll, the all-time leading money earner in the U.S., California Chrome, remains on top for the thirteenth straight week with ( 34 first-place votes, 358 points) after his smashing 3 3/4-length victory in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (Group 1). With earnings of $12,532,650, California Chrome surpassed 2008 Dubai World Cup winner Curlin, who retired to stud with earnings of $10,501,800.

North American champion turf female Tepin (1 first-place vote, 305 points) remains second in the rankings for owner Robert Masterson and trainer Mark Casse.

Three-time Eclipse Award Champion, Beholder (237) remains in third place for Richard Mandella and owner, B. Wayne Hughes.

Rounding out the field is: Nyquist (1 first-place vote, 224 points); Exaggerator (169); Songbird (144); Effinex (138);  Hoppertunity (82); Melatonin (62); and Mshawish (55).

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.