Knicks Go, Essential Quality Top First 2021 NTRA Poll

Last month, Brad Cox earned his first Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer as a result of his barn's superior exploits during the 2020 season. The Louisville native looks primed to continue that stellar run this year as his trainees Knicks Go and reigning juvenile male champion Essential Quality rank as the top vote getters in the first editions of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred Poll and NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll, respectively, for 2021.

Knicks Go captured the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in track-record setting fashion last November to cap off his 2020 campaign. The 5-year-old son of Paynter  further signaled his presence as a leader in the handicap division when he began 2021 with a triumph in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 23, an effort that helped earn him 27 first-place votes and 341 total points.

Knicks Go is slated to be among the favorites for the $20 million Saudi Cup Feb. 20.

Godolphin homebred Essential Quality went unbeaten in three starts during his 2-year-old campaign, including victories in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) and TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1). Fittingly, the son of Tapit  heads up the year's first Top 3-Year-Old Poll with 24 first-place votes and 325 points.

NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll

Rank, Horse, Points (first-place votes)

1. Knicks Go    341 (27)

2. Charlatan    250 (4)

3. Maxfield    232 (1)

4. Monomoy Girl    223 (3)

5. Colonel Liam    146

6. Swiss Skydiver    124

7. Jesus' Team    102

8. Gamine    72

9. Channel Maker    56

10. Whitmore    55

NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll

Rank, Horse, Points (first-place votes)

1. Essential Quality    325 (24)

2. Life Is Good    272 (5)

3. Mandaloun    212 (4) 

4. Greatest Honour    204 (1)

5. Medina Spirit    176

6. Caddo River    137 (1)

7. Concert Tour    85

8. Keepmeinmind    84

9. Jackie's Warrior    66

10. Risk Taking    63