Every week, members of the nationwide media vote on the nation’s prime contenders on the Triple Crown path within the Nationwide Thoroughbred Racing Affiliation (NTRA) Prime Thoroughbred Ballot.
Week 7 of the 2025 NTRA Prime 3-12 months-Outdated Thoroughbred Ballot, covers races by March 9. The chief within the ballot stays Citizen Bull, who gained the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 1. This week’s large change within the rankings comes courtesy of Owen Almighty, who enters the highest 10 after a dominant win within the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs March 8.
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 MARCH 11, 2025
1. Citizen Bull (15 first-place votes)
Homeowners: 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 document: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Feb. 1 at Santa Anita Park
Subsequent race: Santa Anita Derby, April 5 at Santa Anita Park
2. Journalism (10 first-place votes)
Homeowners: Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Steady, Eclipse Thoroughbred Companions, Elayne Stables 5 LLC and LaPenta, Robert V.
Coach: Michael McCarthy
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
2025 document: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, DK Horse San Felipe Stakes, March 1 at Santa Anita Park
Subsequent race: Santa Anita Derby, April 5 at Santa Anita Park
3. Sovereignty (1 first-place vote)
Homeowners: Godolphin
Coach: Invoice Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
2025 document: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 1 at Gulfstream Park
Subsequent race: Curlin Florida Derby, March 29 at Gulfstream Park
4. Coal Battle (1 first-place vote)
Proprietor: Norman Stables
Coach: Lonnie Briley
Jockey: Juan Vargas
2025 document: 2 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Insurgent Stakes, Feb. 22 at Oaklawn Park
Subsequent race: TBD, presumably the Arkansas Derby, March 29 at Oaklawn Park, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 5 at Keeneland, or Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve, Could 3 at Churchill Downs
5. Barnes
Proprietor: Zedan Racing Stables
Coach: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
2025 document: 2 begins – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Final race: 2nd, DK Horse San Felipe Stakes, March 1 at Santa Anita Park
Subsequent race: TBD
6. Owen Almighty
Proprietor: Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing
Coach: Brian Lynch
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
2025 document: 3 begins – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, March 8 at Tampa Bay Downs
Subsequent race: TBD, presumably the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve or the Pat Day Mile Stakes, each Could 3 at Churchill Downs
7. John Hancock
Homeowners: CHC and WinStar Farm
Coach: Brad Cox
Jockey: Flavien Prat
2025 document: 2 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Sam F. Davis Stakes, Feb. 8 at Tampa Bay Downs
Subsequent race: Louisiana Derby, March 22 at Honest Grounds
8. 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 Honest Grounds
Subsequent race: TBD, Louisiana Derby, March 22 at Honest Grounds, Arkansas Derby, March 29 at Oaklawn Park, or Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 5 at Keeneland
9 (tie). Captain Prepare dinner
Proprietor: St. Elias Steady
Coach: Richard Dutrow Jr.
Jockey: Manny Franco
2025 document: 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
9 (tie). Flood Zone
Proprietor: Wathnan Racing
Coach: Brad Cox
Jockey: Reylu Gutierrez
2025 document: 2 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Gotham Stakes, March 1 at Aqueduct
Subsequent race: UAE Derby, April 5 at Meydan Racecourse
