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) High Thoroughbred Ballot.
Week 3 of the 2025 NTRA High 3-Yr-Previous Thoroughbred Ballot, covers races by Feb. 9. The chief within the ballot stays 2-year-old champion Citizen Bull, who received his 3-year-old debut within the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 1. New within the ballot this week at No. 7 is John Hancock after his win within the Sam F. Davis Stakes, Feb. 8 at Tampa Bay Downs.
The three-year-old ballot represents horses competing as much as and thru the Triple Crown. Rankings are primarily based 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 FEB. 10, 2025
1. Citizen Bull (25 first-place votes)
House owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Decided Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Coach: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Martin Garcia
2025 file: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Feb. 1 at Santa Anita Park
Subsequent race: TBD, probably DK Horse San Felipe Stakes, March 1 at Santa Anita Park
2. Barnes (1 first-place vote)
Proprietor: Zedan Racing Stables
Coach: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
2025 file: 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 file: 0 begins – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 9th, FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile introduced by TAA, Nov. 1, 2024 at Del Mar
Subsequent race: Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes, Feb. 15 at Honest Grounds
4. Burnham Sq.
Proprietor: Whitham Thoroughbreds
Coach: Ian Wilkes
Jockey: Edgard Zayas
2025 file: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Holy Bull Stakes, Feb. 1 at Gulfstream Park
Subsequent race: Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 1 at Gulfstream Park
5. Disco Time
Proprietor: Juddmonte
Coach: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
2025 file: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Lecomte Stakes, Jan. 18 at Honest Grounds
Subsequent race: TBD, probably Louisiana Derby, March 22 at Honest Grounds
6. Velocity King
Proprietor: Triton Thoroughbreds
Coach: Ron Moquett
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano
2025 file: 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
7. John Hancock
House owners: CHC and WinStar Farm
Coach: Brad Cox
Jockey: Flavien Prat
2025 file: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Sam F. Davis Stakes, Feb. 8 at Tampa Bay Downs
Subsequent race: TBD
8. Coal Battle
Proprietor: Norman Stables
Coach: Lonnie Briley
Jockey: Juan Vargas
2025 file: 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
9. 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 file: 0 begins – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Los Alamitos Futurity, Dec. 14 at Los Alamitos
Subsequent race: DK Horse San Felipe Stakes, March 1 at Santa Anita Park
10. Captain Prepare dinner
Proprietor: St. Elias Secure
Coach: Richard Dutrow Jr.
Jockey: Manny Franco
2025 file: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Withers Stakes, Feb. 1 at Aqueduct
Subsequent race: Wooden Memorial Stakes, April 5 at Aqueduct
