The top ten poll that was recently released is led by a true superstar and the runners on the list will be major factors in the Breeders’ Cup in a few weeks. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association conducts a poll every week and California Chrome was again number one.
The leading North American money earner has been on top for all 32 weeks this year and he will be a major force when the big guns get together in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita.
The top ten poll is not easy to get on to but California Chrome has just turned into a flat-out monster. Since running second in the $10 million Dubai World Cup in March of 2015, California Chrome is a perfect six for six. He started 2016 with a win at Santa Anita, won a pair of races in Dubai and then won in game style in the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. That win set him up for a victory in the Pacific Classic and he tuned up for the Breeders’ Cup with a tour de force in the Awesome Again Stakes.
Like fine wine he is getting better and the Art Sherman trainee posted a best of 25 morning workout at Los Alamitos on October 15. He will be the favorite and the one to beat in the BC Classic.
A survey of experts comprises the panel that are responsible for the top ten poll conducted by the NYRA and their findings are the real deal.
The top ten poll would not be true to its nature if it did not recognize work by the ladies and Songbird certainly fits the bill. Very few horses in history have gone unbeaten. Even the great Secretariat and the recent Triple Crown winner American Pharoah lost races.
Songbird has made no mistakes so far. She has won all eleven of her starts and she has only been headed three times in her career. The lightning bolt is coming off a win in the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes in Philadelphia. Her next test, the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, will be her toughest race to date. She will be facing older horses but she could very well be up to the task. By Medaglia d’Oro, Songbird cost $400,000 and has already earned over $3.3 million. She will be the one to catch on Breeders’ Cup Day.
The mare Tepin is next in the top ten poll. She has won six of her 7 starts this year and ran second the day she lost. She was upset in her last race but she figures to be on her game for the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Getting Fs in school is a sure way to disaster but horses starting with that letter are 4th and 5th on the top ten poll. Frosted is one of the best horses in the world and he will challenge California Chrome next out. Flintshire had won his first three starts of the year but disliked the yielding course last time in the Turf Classic Invitational and could only managed a second. He will live to fight another day.
The runners that will face Songbird next, Beholder and Stellar Wind are seventh and eighth on the top ten poll. Either is capable of making Songbird taste defeat for the first time.
A. P. Indian is next and will be trying to make it seven for seven this year after winning the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes. He will lead the field in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and his best asset could be that he has valid speed but doesn’t need the lead to succeed.
The last runner on the top ten poll is Lady Eli. She is coming off a sensational victory in the ‘win and you’re in’ Flower Bowl Stakes and will be in the gate next in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
Some quality runners did not make the top ten poll but are deserving of major consideration when they get to Santa Anita next month. Lord Nelson is a speedster that will be a handful in the Breeders’ Cup.
Nyquist just missed the top ten poll but he could very well have the last laugh. He loves Santa Anita and has been freshened since tiring in the Pennsylvania Derby. He did catch a pair of off tracks after winning the Kentucky Derby and his positional speed will make him a master of his own destiny in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The Top Ten Poll Led by a True
