The NTRA has its poll, and we have ours. And our poll is longer, stronger and righter.

Horse Network’s Top 12 Racehorses in North America

1. California Chrome
5 yo horse by Lucky Pulpit, Love the Chase (Not for Love)
Owner/trainer/jockey: California Chrome, LLC / Art Sherman / Victor Espinoza

2014’s Horse of the Year is on pace to nab top honors once again in 2016 with 4 wins in all 4 starts thus far. He’s been around the world and back and hasn’t missed a beat, and his form has never been better. He’ll need his best to take down the likes of Beholder, Dortmund and Hoppertunity in Saturday’s Pacific Classic.

Next up: Pacific Classic (GI), Sat. 8/20 @ Del Mar

 

2. Frosted
4 yo colt by Tapit, Fast Cookie (Deputy Minister)
Godolphin / Kiaran McLaughlin / Joel Rosario

The well-bred grey has been on fire since his relatively lackluster spring campaign in Dubai, taking the leap from talented but inconsistent 3-year-old into a monster at 4. His freakish domination of the Met Mile was one of the most impressive efforts you’ll ever see, then he backed it up earlier this month in the Whitney to cement his status as a bona fide superstar.

Next up: TBD. McLaughlin says he might train the colt up to the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 5, or give him a fall prep like the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Oct. 8.

 

3. Tepin
5 yo mare by Bernstein, Life Happened (Stravinsky)

Robert Masterson / Mark Casse / Julien Leparoux

This mile monster just keeps getting better. In June she became the first American based horse to win the vaunted Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, becoming the undisputed top miler in the world. Men fear her, women want to be her.

Next up: Woodbine Mile (GI), 9/17 @ Woodbine

4. Flintshire

6 yo horse by Dansili, Dance Routine (Sadler’s Wells)

Juddmonte Farm / Chad Brown / Javier Castellano

Quite frankly, this Euro-import has no equal here in the States going long on the grass. With Chad Brown now calling the shots, it’s hard to imagine he’ll be put anywhere other than the perfect spot and his devastating turn of foot will take care of the rest.

Next up: Sword Dancer Invitational (GI), 8/27 @ Saratoga

 

5. Songbird
3 yo filly by Medaglia D’Oro, Ivanavinalot (West Acre)

Foxhill Farms / Jerry Hollendorfer / Mike Smith

Not only has this filly won all 9 of her career starts, she’s never really been tested. But the fact is, there isn’t a filly on the planet who can test her. Pure class.

Next up: Alabama Stakes (GI), 8/20 @ Saratoga

 

6. Beholder
6 yo mare by Henny Hughes, Leslie’s Lady (Tricky Creek)

Spendthrift Farm / Richard Mandella / Gary Stevens

Outrun by Stellar Wind in the Vanity last out to break an 8-race win streak. It could be a sign the 6-year-old is slowing a bit, or, maybe she just wasn’t quite tuned up enough. All we know is, when she’s on her game there aren’t many horses who can hang with this freight train. She’ll get her toughest test yet this weekend against the heavyweights at Del Mar.

Next up: Pacific Classic (GI), 8/20 @ Del Mar

Beholder

Beholder

 

7. Exaggerator
3 yo colt by Curlin, Dawn Raid (Vindication)

Big Chief Racing, Head of Plains Partners / Keith Desormeaux / Kent Desormeaux

When it rains, this colt pours it on. His three major wins this year (Santa Anita Derby, Preakness, Haskell) all came in the slop. He bounced back nicely in the Haskell after a disappointing Belmont, and is looking to prove he’s more than a horse for the sloppy course.

Next up: Travers Stakes (GI), 8/27 @ Saratoga

 

8. Catch A Glimpse
3 yo filly by City Zip, Halo River (Irish River)

Gary Barber / Mark Casse / Florent Geroux

Overshadowed by stablemate Tepin, this filly just keeps winning; 8 in a row, with little signs of slowing down.

Next up: Lake Placid Stakes (GII), 8/21 @ Saratoga

 

9. Nyquist
3 yo colt by Uncle Mo, Seeking Gabrielle (Forestry)

Reddam Racing / Doug O’Neill / Mario Gutierrez

When he became just the 8th undefeated winner of the Kentucky Derby in history, it was as if American Pharoah never left. He was game in defeat in Preakness before being sidelined with an illness. He was full of rust in his Haskell comeback and will get a few more weeks of rest in California before potentiall

Next up: Travers Stakes, 8/27 @ Saratoga

nyquist-keeneland-work

Nyquist

 

10. Dortmund
4yo colt by Big Brown, Our Josephina (Tale of the Cat)

Kaleem Shah / Bob Baffert / Rafael Bejarano

Give this imposing chestnut credit—his three career losses have been to American Pharoah (twice) and California Chrome. Nothing to be ashamed of there. After repeated setbacks, he’s finally strung together some consistent training. We’ll find out Saturday if that’s enough to put him over the top.

Next up: Pacific Classic (GI), 8/20 @ Del Mar

 

11. Lord Nelson
4 yo colt by Pulpit, African Jade (Seeking the Gold)

Spendthrift Farm / Bob Baffert / Flavien Prat

This sprinter is a perfect 3-for-3 in 2016, including a jaw-dropping effort last out, setting the stakes record in the GI Bing Crosby.

Next up: TBD

 

12. Stellar Wind
4 yo filly by Curlin, Evening Star (Malibu Moon)

Hronis Racing / John Sadler / Victor Espinoza

After unsuccessfully chasing Beholder around for seemingly her entire career, she finally turned the tables on her older foe with a dazzling run in the Vanity. She clearly has game, and if she moves forward off her latest effort, look out.

Next up: TBD

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