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

“America’s Horse” just keeps getting better every time he hits the track. His 1-1/4 mile undressing of Beholder and Dortmund in the GI Pacific Classic on Aug 20 was truly sublime. How good? “This is the best horse I’ve ridden,” said Espinoza, who just won the Triple Crown a year ago with American Pharoah. Chrome is a rare athlete who could win at 7 furlongs on Friday, and at two turns on Saturday. Credit to his team for keeping him happy and healthy all year. They have indeed created a monster.

Next up: Awesome Again Stakes (10/1 @ Santa Anita), OR Breeders’ Cup Classic (11/5 @ Santa Anita)

 

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: Woodward Stakes (9/3 @ Saratoga)

 

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, staking her claim as the top miler in the world. Men fear her, women want to be her. Her most recent 5 furlong bullet in 58.4 on Monday at Saratoga sent shivers through the shedrow.

Next up: Woodbine Mile, (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 and Castellano on his back, 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. As he showed in last week’s Sword Dancer, he can push the button anytime he needs to.

Next up: TBD

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 10 of her career starts, she’s never really been tested. Fact is, there isn’t a 3-year-old filly in her class on the planet. She’s not just the sport’s top filly for her age, she’s the best 3-year-old, period. Pure class. She’ll put her form to the test against older company for the first time in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Next up: Breeders’ Cup Distaff (11/4 @ Santa Anita)

 

6. Arrogate

3 yo colt by Unbridled’s Song, Bubbler (Elusive Quality)

Juddmonte Farms / Bob Baffert / Mike Smith or Rafael Bejarano

We’ve had a few days to fully digest what this colt did in the Travers last weekend, and it still has us all tied up. This supersonic but relatively untested colt just swoops in from California for his first stakes test and goes all Secretariat on everyone. It’s one thing to dismantle a quality field by 13 lengths, but to set the track record in the process is just preposterous. Baffert plans to train this youngster up to the Classic, which is shaping up to be…well, a classic. He has the ability, no question, but does he have the fortitude to rumble with the heavyweights?

Next Up: Breeders’ Cup Classic (11/5 @ Santa Anita)

7. Beholder

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

Spendthrift Farm / Richard Mandella / Gary Stevens

Yeah, she’s on a two race skid, but it’s hard to knock this champion mare for the runner-up effort to California Chrome in the Pacific Classic. She might not be quite what she was at 5, but she’s still capable of putting up a big figure. Mandella hinted he may opt for the Ladies’ Classic instead of the main event.

Next up: TBD

 

8. Lady Eli 
4 yo filly by Divine Park, Sacre Coeur (Saint Ballado)

Sheep Pond Partners / Chad Brown / Irad Ortiz

Sure, this miracle filly came up a bit short in her much anticipated comeback last week, but we know what she’s capable of. Her trainer seems to think she’ll be right back to where she was before her near fatal bout with laminitis, which is at the top of her division. Good enough for us.

Next up: TBD

 

9. A.P. Indian
6 yo gelding by Indian Charlie, Ender’s Sister (A.P. Indy)

Green Lantern Stables / Arnaud Delacour / Joe Bravo

What a story this little gelding has become. While his potential has always been there, racing luck was no where to be found. Repeated setbacks threatened to derail his career before ever taking off, until finally it all came together this Spring. All he’s done since is reel off 5 wins in a row, including last weekend’s Grade I Forego Stakes, in which he set a new track record for 7 furlongs. At Saratoga. That’s special.

Next up: TBD

 

10. 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 shipping back East for the Pennsylvania Derby in September.

Next up: Pennsylvania Derby (9/24 @ Parx Racing)

 

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

Kaleem Shah / Bob Baffert / Rafael Bejarano

Give this imposing chestnut credit—his four career losses have come at the hooves of just two horses: American Pharoah (twice) and California Chrome (twice). No shame in being a notch below those two titans. After repeated setbacks early in his career, he’s finally strung together some consistent training. It will be interesting to see if Baffert keeps this 17+hh behemoth on track for Classic, or if he dials him down a couple panels. Why test Chrome (and workmate Arrogate) again, when the dirt mile is there for the taking?

Next up: TBD

 

12. Cavorting
4 yo filly by Bernardini, Promenade Girl (Carson City)

Stonestreet Stables / Kiaran McLaughlin / Javier Castellano

This stretch running sensation picked up her second straight Grade I over a quality field in last week’s Personal Ensign, proving she’s more than a one-turn specialist. She’s developed quite a nose for the line this year and you get the feeling she has another gear in there.

Next up: Breeders’ Cup Distaff (11/4 @ Santa Anita)

 

*It’s worth noting that the world’s fastest horse, Runhappy, put in his first workout of the year last week. Look for his return to this list when he finally hits the starting gate.

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