Every week, members of the nationwide media vote on the nation’s high contenders on the Triple Crown path within the Nationwide Thoroughbred Racing Affiliation (NTRA) Prime Thoroughbred Ballot.
Week 1 of the 2025 NTRA Prime 3-Yr-Outdated Thoroughbred Ballot, covers races via Jan. 26.
The three-Yr-Outdated ballot represents horses competing up and thru the Triple Crown. Rankings are based mostly 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 JAN. 28, 2025
1. Citizen Bull (12 first-place votes)
House owners: SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, et al.
Coach: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Martin Garcia
2025 document: 0 begins – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile offered by TAA, Nov. 1, 2024 at Del Mar
Subsequent race: Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Feb. 1 at Santa Anita Park
2. Barnes (9 first-place votes)
Proprietor: Zedan Racing Stables
Coach: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
2025 document: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, San Vicente Stakes, Jan. 4 at Santa Anita Park
Subsequent race: Insurgent Stakes, Feb. 22 at Oaklawn Park or DK Horse San Felipe Stakes, March 1 at Santa Anita Park
3. East Avenue
Proprietor: Godolphin
Coach: Brendan Walsh
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
2025 document: 0 begins – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 9th, FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile offered by TAA, Nov. 1, 2024 at Del Mar
Subsequent race: Risen Star Stakes, Feb. 15 at Truthful Grounds
4. Disco Time
Proprietor: Juddmonte
Coach: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
2025 document: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Lecomte Stakes, Jan. 18 at Truthful Grounds
Subsequent race: Risen Star Stakes, Feb. 15 at Truthful Grounds or Insurgent Stakes, Feb. 22 at Oaklawn Park
5. Pace King (1 first-place vote)
Proprietor: Triton Thoroughbreds
Coach: Ron Moquett
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano
2025 document: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Southwest Stakes, Jan. 25 at Oaklawn Park
Subsequent race: Insurgent Stakes, Feb. 22 at Oaklawn Park
6. Coal Battle
Proprietor: Norman Stables
Coach: Lonnie Briley
Jockey: Juan Vargas
2025 document: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Smarty Jones Stakes, Jan. 4 at Oaklawn Park
Subsequent race: Insurgent Stakes, Feb. 22 at Oaklawn Park
7. Journalism (2 first-place votes)
House owners: Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Secure, Eclipse Thoroughbred Companions, Elayne Stables 5 LLC and LaPenta, Robert V.
Coach: Michael McCarthy
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
2025 document: 0 begins – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Los Alamitos Futurity, Dec. 14 at Los Alamitos
Subsequent race: TBD, probably the DK Horse San Felipe Stakes, March 1 at Santa Anita Park
8. Chancer McPatrick
Proprietor: Flanagan Racing
Coach: Chad Brown
Jockey: Flavien Prat
2025 document: 0 begins – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 6th, FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile offered by TAA, Nov. 1, 2024 at Del Mar
Subsequent race: TBD, probably the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, March 8 at Tampa Bay Downs
9. Sandman (1 first-place vote)
House owners: D. J. Secure LLC, St. Elias Secure, West Level Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables
Coach: Mark Casse
Jockey: Cristian Torres
2025 document: 1 begin – 0 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Final race: 2nd, Southwest Stakes, Jan. 25 at Oaklawn Park
Subsequent race: Insurgent Stakes, Feb. 22 at Oaklawn Park
10. Sovereignty
Proprietor: Godolphin
Coach: Invoice Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
2025 document: 0 begins – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Avenue Sense Stakes, Oct. 27, 2024 at Churchill Downs
Subsequent race: TBD
