As a consequence of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, having fun these days has become quite a challenge. But trainer Bob Baffert is one person who did have some fun last Saturday.
Watching on television at his Southern California home not far from Santa Anita, Baffert was understandably elated as to what happened in the two divisions of the Grade I Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.
Baffert swept the two divisions with Charlatan and Nadal, who both kept their unblemished records intact.
It turned out a whole lot better for Baffert this time than it did in last year’s Rebel Stakes at that same Hot Springs oval.
Baffert was represented by the odds-on favorite in each division of the 2019 Rebel. Both colts lost in a photo finish.
Improbable, backed down to 2-5, lost by a neck in the first division when he finished second to 8-1 Long Range Toddy. Game Winner, off at 1-2, lost the first division by a whisker when he ended up second to 4-1 Omaha Beach.
Baffert again sent out the odds-on favorite in each division of last Saturday’s Arkansas Derby. Not only were both colts victorious, they each won by daylight to do a splendid job of practicing equine social distancing.
Unlike Improbable and Game Winner in last year’s Rebel, the only photos associated with Charlatan and Nadal last Saturday came when they were posing in the Larry Snyder Winner’s Circle.
Charlatan, Nadal and Authentic form a powerful Baffert-trained triumvirate of 3-year-old colts.
After Charlatan won a one-mile race at Santa Anita by 10 1/4 lengths on March 14, Baffert described Charlatan, Nadal and Authentic as “pretty wicked amigos.”
In early April, Baffert told Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss in a video for nbcsports.com that Charlatan, Nadal and Authentic “all are superstar material.”
Who is the best of the three? According to Baffert, not even he can say at the present time. In his words, he “can’t separate them.” He has said that he’s “excited about these three.”
The three colts are a combined 10 for 10. They give Baffert a very good chance to register a sixth Kentucky Derby victory later this year when it’s run at Churchill Downs on Sept. 5. Baffert is seeking to equal Ben Jones’ Kentucky Derby record by a trainer.
Jones’ Kentucky Derby winners: Lawrin (1938), Whirlaway (1941), Pensive (1944), Citation (1948), Ponder (1949) and Hill Gail (1952).
Baffert’s Kentucky Derby winners: Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998), War Emblem (2002), American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018).
CHARLATAN GETS TO RUN, CAPITALIZES WITH A WIN
The big story leading up to this year’s Arkansas Derby was whether it would entice enough entries to be split into two divisions. If the race was not contested in divisions, Charlatan would not be able to start due to not having enough earnings. He would have had to stay home at Santa Anita.
But when the Arkansas Derby attracted 22 entries, Oaklawn did split it. Four subsequently were scratched — Shooters Shoot and Wrecking Crew in the first division, Fast Enough and Saratogian in the second division.
Not only did Charlatan get to run in the Arkansas Derby, he was fortunate enough to end up in by far the weaker of the two divisions.
“As I see it, Charlatan is an absolute lock,” I wrote last week before the race. “I’d say you probably have a much better chance of finding some precious toilet paper on a store’s shelf than any of Charlatan’s foes outrunning him Saturday.
“As if Charlatan did not already look practically unbeatable this Saturday, the Kentucky-bred Speightstown colt now will not even have to worry about Shooters Shoot. The defection of Shooters Shoot is especially helpful to Charlatan in terms of the pace. Without Shooters Shoot in the race, it looks like Charlatan will be able to get loose on the lead right away and set an uncontested pace. That will make him mighty difficult to catch.”
Martin Garcia rode Charlatan, who was pounded down to 2-5 favoritism. Breaking alertly, Charlatan had a clear lead about as quickly as you can say his name.
When Charlatan stepped the opening quarter in :22.88, he led by two lengths at that point. He also led by two when going the first half in :46.08. And he likewise was two in front when completing six furlongs in 1:09.68. Yes, those splits of :46.08 and 1:09.68 were rapid, but Charlatan established that hot pace when just going along on cruise control.
Turning for home, it was clear that Charlatan would indeed be mighty difficult to catch. His nearest pursuer was Basin. Ricardo Santana Jr., Basin’s rider, was pumping his arms like crazy while trying to cut into Charlatan’s two-length lead. But instead of Basin closing the gap, Charlatan actually began to increase his advantage turning for home despite Garcia not yet asking Charlatan for run.
Just before straightening away in the stretch, Garcia did go to a strong hand ride on Charlatan, who responded by expanding his lead to 4 1/2 lengths at the eighth pole. As Charlatan was kept to his task in the lane when receiving some left-handed encouragement from Garcia, the chestnut colt ultimately reached the finish six lengths in front. Basin held on well enough to finish second at odds of 9-1. Gouverneur Morris, the 4-1 second choice in the wagering, came in third.
As a guest Monday on Steve Byk’s SiriusXM radio program At the Races, Baffert said the game plan was to send Charlatan immediately to the lead.
“Charltatan can actually rate a little bit, but we didn’t want to take any chances,” Baffert said. “I just told Martin to put him on the lead, let him roll and do his thing and keep him running. I told him that he probably will get a little tired at the end, but that’s okay. Let’s just get the W. Don’t do anything cute, because he’s in the 1 hole.”
Baffert has called Charlatan a smaller version of Justify, the Baffert-trained 2018 Triple Crown winner.
The parallels between Charlatan and Justify through the first three career starts are striking. They both did not race at 2. They both won a Santa Anita maiden sprint in fast time at first asking. They both won a one-mile allowance/optional claiming race impressively second-time out. And they both were victorious by daylight when they stepped up in class to the Grade I level and stretched out to 1 1/8 miles when racing for the third time.
After Justify’s initial three career starts, he swept the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes to become this country’s 13th Triple Crown winner. That occurred three years after American Pharoah had accomplished the difficult feat for Baffert.
NADAL MAKES IT A BAFFERT SWEEP
“I love Nadal in the Arkansas Derby,” I wrote last week. “Not only do I see him having an excellent chance of winning the race, he almost certainly is going to be a better price in the wagering Saturday than Charlatan. I expect Nadal will sit off the early pace this time, unlike his first three races.”
Nadal did sit slightly off the early pace for jockey Joel Rosario. Off at odds of 4-5, Nadal did end up being a better price in the wagering than Charlatan. And Nadal did in fact win.
Wells Bayou, beginning from the outside post, blasted to the front, cleared at once and quickly moved over the inside rail. This aggressive tactic had worked beautifully with jockey Florent Geroux when he guided Wells Bayou to a front-running win in the Grade II Louisiana Derby at 1 3/16 miles on March 21. But it didn’t work this time. Wells Bayou led through fractions of :23.08, :46.21 and 1:09.85 before retreating to finish fifth and lose by a bit more than 10 lengths.
After rating just off the early lead, Nadal took over approaching the quarter pole. The powerfully built Kentucky-bred Blame colt sported a 1 1/2-length advantage with a furlong to go. While then under some right-handed encouragement in the final furlong, he drew farther away to prevail by three lengths. King Guillermo finished second, 1 1/2 lengths clear of one-eyed Finnick the Fierce in third.
Daily Racing Form’s Jay Privman wrote of Nadal that “his ability to press a strong pace and still finish makes him formidable.”
Check out the splits below for each division (all the splits in the first division belonged to Charlatan, while Wells Bayou was responsible for the first three splits in the second division when racing slightly in front of Nadal):
Division 1 splits: — :22.88, :23.20, :23.60, :25.65, :13.16.
Division 2 splits: — :23.08, :23.13, :23.64, :25.78, :12.71.
As shown above, Charlatan ran the final furlong in :13.16 while increasing his lead from 4 1/2 to six lengths.
Nadal ran the final furlong in :12.71 while increasing his lead from 1 1/2 to three lengths.
Nadal’s final time of 1:48.34 was better than Charlatan’s 1:48.49.
So much is made of speed figures these days that I think there are occasions from time to time in which raw time itself does not get the respect it probably deserves. I’ll Have Another’s win in the 2012 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita is an example.
I’ll Have Another’s final time in the 1 1/16-mile Lewis was a terrific 1:40.84. To put that into perspective, Crown of Thorns at that time held the Lewis stakes record of 1:40.76 set in 2008. But keep in mind Crown of Thorns established the stakes record on a synthetic surface. I’ll Have Another’s 1:48.84 had the distinction of being the fastest time by a Lewis winner on the dirt through 2012.
I think two factors that likely contributed as to why I’ll Have Another did not seem to get the credit he should have for his 1:40.84 clocking were his odds and Beyer Speed Figure. He was dismissed in the wagering at 43-1, which probably gave some the impression his win was a fluke. His Beyer Speed Figure was a 96. While a 96 is a strong figure, I felt that I’ll Have Another’s final time quite possibly was a truer measure of his Lewis effort.
I’ll Have Another’s final time in the Lewis was the main reason I got on his bandwagon right after that race. I would pick him in his next three starts, which turned out to be wins in the Santa Anita Derby at odds of 4-1, Kentucky Derby at 15-1 and Preakness Stakes at 3-1.
Nadal was credited with a 98 Beyer Speed Figure for his Arkansas Derby triumph. The 98 matched his career-best Beyer. Charlatan’s 96 Beyer for his Arkansas Derby win was much lower than the 105 and 106 figures in his prior two starts at shorter distances. His 105 and 106 Beyers are the two highest figures by a 3-year-old in 2020 to date.
King Guillermo went into the Arkansas Derby off a 4 3/4-length win in the Tampa Bay Derby in which he received a 99 Beyer, a higher figure than Nadal has ever received. But King Guillermo regressed to a 93 in the Arkansas Derby.
Charlatan’s significant drop to a 96 Beyer in his longest race so far fuels skepticism by some that he might not be at his best going 1 1/8 miles or farther. Another concern as to whether Charlatan has the stamina to win the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby is his sire was a sprint champion.
At this time, yours truly is reserving judgment with respect to Charlatan and 1 1/4 miles. I think there is a possibility he might just possess the sheer talent to win at 1 1/4 miles a la Justify. When Baffert first saw Justify, the trainer thought the large colt had the look of an exceptional sprinter or maybe miler. It turned out that Justify not only proved capable of winning the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby, he even had sufficient stamina to succeed going 1 1/2 miles in the Belmont Stakes.
As for Nadal, I think his Arkansas Derby clocking of 1:48.34, when juxtaposed to other winners of the race going back to 1994, might be a better reflection of his performance than his 98 Beyer. It’s the fastest final time in the Arkansas Derby since Concern’s 1:48.00 all the way back in 1994.
Below is a ranking of the seven-fastest final times in the Arkansas Derby going back to 1994:
1:48.00 Concern (1994)
1:48.34 Nadal (2020)
1:48 39 Sir Cherokee (2003)
1:48.49 Charlatan (2020)
1:48.52 American Pharoah (2015)
1:48.71 Bodemeister (2012)
1:48.80 Afleet Alex (2005)
Concern went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic that same year.
Afleet Alex went on to win the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
To put it into further perspective, Nadal’s 1:48.34 clocking is faster than such other Arkansas Derby winners since 1994 as Victory Gallop, Smarty Jones, Curlin and Creator.
Victory Gallop went on to win the Belmont Stakes to spoil Real Quiet’s bid for Triple Crown immortality.
Smarty Jones went on to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.
Curlin went on to win the Preakness Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic that same year en route to being voted 2007 Horse of the Year. He again was voted Horse of the Year in 2008.
Creator went on to win the Belmont Stakes.
Below are the Beyer Speed Figures for Arkansas Derby winners going back to 1992:
2020 Nadal (98)
2020 Charlatan (96)
2019 Omaha Beach (101)
2018 Magnum Moon (98)
2017 Classic Empire (94)
2016 Creator (96)
2015 American Pharoah (105)
2014 Danza (102)
2013 Overanalyze (89)
2012 Bodemeister (108)
2011 Archarcharch (98)
2010 Line of David (98)
2009 Papa Clem (101)
2008 Gayego (103)
2007 Curlin (105)
2006 Lawyer Ron (98)
2005 Afleet Alex (108)
2004 Smarty Jones (107)
2003 Sir Cherokee (106)
2002 Private Emblem (100)
2001 Balto Star (109)
2000 Graeme Hall (104)
1999 Certain (101)+
1998 Victory Gallop (101)
1997 Crypto Star (108)
1996 Zarb’s Magic (100)
1995 Dazzling Falls (95)
1994 Concern (109)
1993 Zarb’s Magic (103)
1992 Pine Bluff (107)
*Run in divisions.
+Valhol finished first but was disqualified as a result of the stewards ruling that his jockey possessed an electrical device.
MY KENTUCKY DERBY TOP 10 HAS A NEW NO. 1
Even though I had Charlatan ranked No. 1 last week and he won the first division of the Arkansas Derby by six lengths, I am moving Nadal into the top spot this week after his three-length victory in the second division.
Nadal won the much stronger division of the Arkansas Derby in faster time. I also believe Nadal looks more like a Kentucky Derby winner right now than Charlatan inasmuch as Nadal has demonstrated that he can rate off the pace, plus he came home faster than Charlatan last Saturday. Furthermore, Nadal’s pedigree is better suited to 1 1/4 miles than Charlatan’s.
I felt that I should not move Charlatan any lower than No. 2 at this point. After all, he is undefeated while winning his three career starts by a combined 22 lengths.
Here is my current Top 10 for the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby:
1. Nadal
2. Charlatan
3. Tiz the Law
4. Authentic
5. Honor A.P.
6. Maxfield
7. King Guillermo
8. Sole Volente
9. Ete Indien
10. Cezanne
MORNING LINE & MY ODDS VS. FINAL ODDS
Below are Oaklawn’s morning-line prices, plus the odds I tweeted, followed by the final odds for the first division of the Arkansas Derby (listed in post position order, with Charlatan starting from post 1):
ML (My Odds) Final Odds Horse
1-1 (3-5) 2-5 Charlatan
20-1 (30-1) 40-1 My Friends Beer
30-1 (50-1) 48-1 Mo Mosa
9-2 (5-1) 4-1 Gouverneur Morris
30-1 (50-1) 60-1 Jungle Runner
8-1 (12-1) SCR Shooters Shoot
20-1 (20-1) SCR Wrecking Crew
6-1 (8-1) 10-1 Anneau d’Or
15-1 (20-1) 20-1 Winning Impression
20-1 (30-1) 32-1 Crypto Cash
8-1 (6-1) 9-1 Basin
Below are Oaklawn’s morning-line prices, plus the odds I tweeted, followed by the final odds for the second division of the Arkansas Derby (listed in post position order, with Finnick the Fierce breaking from post 1):
ML (My Odds) Final Odds Horse
15-1 (30-1) 62-1 Finnick the Fierce
50-1 (50-1) SCR Saratogian
6-1 (12-1) 14-1 Storm the Court
3-1 (4-1) 4-1 King Guillermo
5-2 (6-5) 4-5 Nadal
50-1 (50-1) 89-1 Code Runner
10-1 (6-1) 7-1 Silver Prospector
12-1 (20-1) SCR Fast Enough
15-1 (15-1) 31-1 Taishan
12-1 (8-1) 6-1 Farmington Road
7-2 (6-1) 6-1 Wells Bayou
WHERE’S THE INFO?
Congratulations again to Oaklawn Park for its decision to move the Arkansas Derby from April 11 to last Saturday after Churchill Downs had shifted the Kentucky Derby from last Saturday to Sept. 5.
The Arkansas Derby was most important event at the Oaklawn meet, which was adjourned at the conclusion of last Saturday’s card. But despite the race’s significance, neither a recap nor any stakes quotes were ever posted on Oaklawn’s website through May 5. Oops.
BIG DAY FOR SECRETARIAT
Bob Baffert was not the only one to have a big day last Saturday. Secretariat managed to win two make-believe races.
I predicted that Secretariat would win Churchill Downs’ first-ever virtual horse race — the Kentucky Derby: Triple Crown Showdown. It was a computer-simulated version of a race consisting of all 13 Triple Crown winners.
“The outstanding Daily Racing Form writer Charles Hatton in 1973 proclaimed Secretariat to be the Horse of the Century,” I wrote last week. “If Secretariat somehow doesn’t win Churchill’s virtual race, the rumble of ground shaking beneath your feet will be because Hatton is turning over in his grave.”
Hatton evidently was satisfied by the winner of this “race.” Below is the complete order of finish:
1. Secretariat
2. Citation
3. Seattle Slew
4. Affirmed
5. American Pharoah
6. Whirlaway
7. Count Fleet
8. Justify
9. Assault
10. War Admiral
11. Omaha
12. Gallant Fox
13. Sir Barton
By the way I couldn’t believe it. A ground-level shot of the horses entering the first turn that’s so awful even was shown during NBC’s telecast of a virtual race.
Secretariat also won last Saturday’s Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN) Fantasy Derby. The “race” was broadcast on Sirius 219 and XM 201, plus on select terrestrial affiliates. Live streaming also was provided on HRRN’s website.
The 20-horse Fantasy Derby field was determined by a voting process asking listeners to select their Top 5 Kentucky Derby winners. The order of finish also was based on these votes.
This was the complete order of finish (my odds that I tweeted on April 22, followed by Jude Feld’s morning line in parentheses):
1. Secretariat (8-5, 5-1)
2. Seattle Slew (10-1, 20-1)
3. American Pharoah (15-1, 6-1)
4. Spectacular Bid (10-1, 20-1)
5. Citation (6-1, 25-1)
6. Affirmed (12-1, 8-1)
7. Sunday Silence (20-1, 20-1)
8. War Admiral (20-1, 50-1)
9. Justify (15-1, 20-1)
10. Barbaro (20-1, 20-1)
11. Whirlaway (20-1, 50-1)
12. Count Fleet (12-1, 50-1)
13. Alysheba (20-1, 10-1)
14. California Chrome (20-1, 10-1)
15. Northern Dancer (30-1, 30-1)
16. Funny Cide (50-1, 50-1)
17. Winning Colors (50-1, 60-1)
18. Mine That Bird (50-1, 80-1)
19. Animal Kingdom (15-1, 30-1)
20. Swale (50-1, 40-1)
Larry Collmus called both the Churchill virtual race and the HRRN Fantasy Derby.
In my opinion, Count Fleet should have finished higher in both “races.”
Also, if the HRRN Fantasy Derby were an actual race, I can’t imagine Mine That Bird finishing anywhere but last.
As mentioned earlier, the two highest Beyer Speed Figures by a 3-year-old so far this year are Charlatan’s 105 and 106. Secretariat’s incredible 31-length Belmont Stakes victory in 1973 pre-dates Beyer Speed Figures. However, years ago Andrew Beyer decided to retroactively come up with a figure for the winner of the 1973 Belmont. Beyer calculated that Secretariat’s figure for that race was a 139. Beyer said at the time it probably was the greatest race a horse has ever run.
WISE DAN, CASSE IN 2020 HALL OF FAME CLASS
Two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan and highly successful trainer Mark Casse are in this year’s class of seven new Hall of Fame members in an announcement made May 6.
The induction ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 7 at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., where the Hall of Fame is located. However, according to Brien Bouyea of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, there is a possibility that this year’s induction ceremony will be postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Bouyea noted Wednesday on Steve Byk’s radio program At the Races that the baseball and boxing Hall of Fames based in New York both have been postponed until 2021. Bouyea said there will not be a virtual induction for racing this year utilizing Zoom or something like that. A decision on the status of the 2020 induction ceremony will be forthcoming, according to Bouyea.
Wise Dan, trained by Charles LoPresti, was voted Horse of the Year in 2012 and 2013. He won 23 of 31 lifetime starts and earned $7,552,920. Morton Fink, who died last November, bred and raced Wise Dan.
Casse, who saddled his first winner in 1979 at Keeneland, has achieved much in both the United States and Canada. He has trained Eclipse Award winners Classic Empire, Shamrock Rose, Tepin and World Appeal. Casse won two legs of this country’s Triple Crown in 2019 when War of Will captured the Preakness Stakes and Sir Winston was victorious in the Belmont Stakes. In Canada, Casse has won the Sovereign Award as outstanding trainer a record 11 times.
Other members of the 2020 Hall of Fame class are jockey Darrel McHargue and racehorse Tom Bowling via the historic review committee, plus Pillar of the Turf selections Alice Headley Chandler; Keene Daingerfield Jr. and George D. Widener Jr.
McHargue was voted a 1978 Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey when his mounts compiled $6,188,353 in purse earnings, a North American record at that time. He led all riders in the nation that same year with 37 stakes wins. According to Equibase, McHargue won 79 graded stakes races from 1976 through 1988. He collaborated with Master Derby to win the 1975 Preakness Stakes. Additionally, McHargue won six graded stakes races aboard the legendary gelding John Henry.
McHargue’s accomplishments as a jockey were such that it is surprising he was not inducted into the Hall of Fame long ago.
After McHargue retired from riding in 1988, he became a racing official. A licensed steward since 1990, he was named chief steward for the California Horse Racing Board in 2015.
I have known McHargue since 1981. It is an understatement for me to say that I have learned much from him through years, most especially when having the honor to work alongside him in the stewards’ stand at Golden Gate Fields and Fairplex Park.
Tom Bowling, a foal of 1870, won 14 of 17 lifetime starts.
Chandler founded Mill Ridge Farm in Kentucky in 1962. Now 94, Chandler bred 1968 Epsom Derby winner Sir Ivor, who became the first American-bred sold at public auction to win that prestigious event in England. Point Given (2001 Horse of the Year), Giacomo (2005 Kentucky Derby winner) and Havre de Grace (2011 Horse of the Year) are among the others raised at Mill Ridge. Chandler received the Eclipse Award of Merit in 2008.
Daingerfield, who died in 1993, is widely recognized as being one of the finest stewards in American racing history. He received the Eclipse Award of Merit in 1985.
Widener was one of the most prominent figures in American racing during the 20th century as an owner, breeder and leader. He served as chairman of The Jockey Club for 14 years. Widener died in 1971. That same year, Widener was named by the Hall of Fame as its first Exemplar of Racing, an honor that subsequently has been bestowed on only four others.
There were 11 finalists in the contemporary category this year from a total of 91 candidates that had been suggested to the nominating committee.
Not receiving enough support from the 167 voters for Hall of Fame induction this year in the contemporary category were five horses (Blind Luck, Game On Dude, Havre de Grace, Kona Gold and Rags to Riches), one jockey (Corey Nakatani) and three trainers (Christophe Clement, Doug O’Neill and David Whiteley).
As I have stated many times, I strongly believe Rags to Riches belongs in the Hall of Fame. The biggest stumbling block seems to be that she made only seven career starts.
But what about Justify? Even though he made just six lifetime starts, I’d say it is an absolute cinch Justify will be elected to the Hall of Fame when he first becomes eligible in 2024. Justify will deservedly go into the Hall of Fame mainly for his feat of sweeping the Triple Crown. Other than American Pharoah and Justify, who both are not yet eligible, all of the Triple Crown winners are in the Hall of Fame.
When Justify does get into the Hall of Fame off only six career starts, it will help show what a travesty it’s been that Rags to Riches evidently has been kept out of Hall of Fame primarily because she had just seven career starts.
In a tremendous achievement, Rags to Riches in 2007 became the first filly to win the Belmont Stakes in 102 years.
Rags to Riches is one of only four fillies to have won a Triple Crown race in the last 95 years! Is that not Hall of Fame worthy? The four fillies are Genuine Risk (winner of the 1980 Kentucky Derby), Winning Colors (1988 Kentucky Derby), Rags to Riches (2007 Belmont Stakes) and Rachel Alexandra (2009 Preakness).
Yes, Rags to Riches started only seven times, but she did win four Grade I races. That’s more Grade I victories than the aforementioned Winning Colors (three Grade I wins) and Genuine Risk (two Grade I wins).
I sincerely hope the day will come when the other three fillies to have won a Triple Crown race in the last 96 years will be joined in the Hall of Fame by Rags to Riches.
THIS WEEK’S NTRA POLLS
Below is the Top 10 for this week’s NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll:
Rank Points Horse (First-Place Votes)
1. 416 Midnight Bisou (32)
2. 334 Mucho Gusto
3. 307 By My Standards (3)
4. 218 Zulu Alpha (1)
5. 202 Ce Ce
6. 134 Tom’s d’Etat
7. 132 Maximum Security (7)
8. 99 Whitmore
9. 84 Mr Freeze
10. 57 Code of Honor
Nadal climbed to No. 1 this week after being No. 3 last week in the NTRA Top Three-Year-Old Poll. Charlatan is No. 3 this week after being No. 4 last week.
Below is the Top 10 for this week’s NTRA Top Three-Year-Old Poll:
Rank Points Horse (First-Place Votes)
1. 401 Nadal (19)
2. 387 Tiz the Law (19)
3. 355 Charlatan (4)
4. 308 Authentic (1)
5. 197 King Guillermo
6. 166 Honor A.P.
7. 116 Sole Volante
8. 111 Ete Indien
9. 76 Maxfield
10. 65 Basin
