America's Best Thoroughbreds for March 23
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Firing Line made a huge jump from ninth to fifth in this week's 3-year-old Poll after his win in the Sunland Derby. (Photo by Coady Photography, all others by Eclipse Sportswire unless noted)
Each week media members around the country vote on the top Thoroughbreds and top three-year-old Thoroughbreds in the nation and give readers a sneak peak at who they are impressed with early in the season and considering as top contenders for the Triple Crown races. Get to know the horses they have named the top in the nation below and vote for your favorites on America's Best Racing's Fan Poll.
Don't forget to share your own Poll on Facebook and Twitter!
AMERICA'S TOP THREE-YEAR-OLD THOROUGHBREDS
No. 1: Dortmund (21 first place votes)
Owner: Kaleem Shah
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Martin Garcia
2015 stats: 2 starts, 2 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous Race: 1st, San Felipe Stakes, Santa Anita Park, March 7
Possible next race: Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita Park, April 4
No. 2: American Pharoah (13 first place votes)
Owner: Zayat Stables
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
2015 stats: 1 starts, 1 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous Race: 1st, Rebel Stakes, Oaklawn Park, March 14
Possible next race: Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn Park, April 11
No. 3: Carpe Diem (5 first place votes)
Photo by SV Photography
Owner: WinStar Farm and Stonestreet Stables
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
2015 stats: 1 starts, 1 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous Race: 1st, Tampa Bay Derby, Tampa Bay Downs, March 7
Possible next race: Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, Keeneland, April 4
No. 4: Upstart
Photo by Coglianese Photos/Natalie Fawkes
Owner: Ralph Evans
Trainer: Richard Violette Jr.
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
2015 stats: 2 starts, 1 wins, 1 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous Race: 2nd, Fountain of Youth, Gulfstream Park, Feb. 21
Possible next race: Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park, March 28
No. 5: Firing Line
Photo by Coady Photography
Owner: Arnold Zetcher
Trainer: Simon Callaghan
Jockey: Gary Stevens
2015 stats: 2 start, 1 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds
Previous Race: 1st, Sunland Derby, Sunland Park, March 22
Possible next race: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 2
No. 6: El Kabeir
Owner: Zayat Stables
Trainer: John Terranova II
Jockey: C.C. Lopez
2015 stats: 3 starts, 2 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds
Previous Race: 1st, Gotham Stakes, Aqueduct, March 7
Possible next race: Wood Memorial, Aqueduct, April 4
No. 7: International Star (1 first place vote)
Owner: Ken and Sarah Ramsey
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: Miguel Mena
2015 stats: 2 starts, 2 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous Race: 1st, Risen Star, Fair Grounds, Feb. 21
Possible next race: Louisiana Derby, Fair Grounds, March 28
No. 8: Far From Over (1 first place vote)
Photo by NYRA/Coglianese Photos
Owner: Black Rock Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Manuel Franco
2015 stats: 1 starts, 1 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous Race: 1st, Withers Stakes, Aqueduct, Feb. 21
Possible next race: Louisiana Derby, Fair Grounds, March 28
No. 9: Itsaknockout
Owner: Starlight Racing
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Luis Saez
2015 stats: 2 starts, 2 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous Race: 1st, Fountain of Youth, Gulfstream Park, Feb. 21
Possible next race: Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park, March 28
No. 10: Prospect Park
Photo by Benoit and Associates
Owner: Pam and Martin Wygod
Trainer: Clifford Sise Jr
Jockey: Kent Desormeaux
2015 stats: 2 start, 1 wins, 1 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous Race: 2nd, San Felipe Stakes, Santa Anita Park, March 7
Possible next race: Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita Park, April 4
AMERICA'S TOP THOROUGHBREDS
No. 1 : Shared Belief (41 first place votes)
Owner: Jungle Racing LLC, KMN Racing LLC, Hollendorfer, Litt, Solis II and Todaro
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Jockey: Mike Smith
Age/Gender: 4/Gelding
2015 stats: 2 starts, 2 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous Race: 1st, Santa Anita Handicap, Santa Anita Park, March 7
Possible next race: Oaklawn Handicap, Oaklawn Park, April 11 or Charles Town Classic, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, April 18
No. 2: Main Sequence
Photo by Coglianese Photos/Lauren King
Owner: Flaxman Holdings
Trainer: Graham Motion
Jockey: Rajiv Maragh
Age/Gender: 6/Gelding
2015 stats: 1 starts, 1 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Mac Diarmida, Gulfstream Park, Feb. 21
Next Race: Dubai Sheema Classic, Meydan, March 28
No. 3: California Chrome
Owner: Steve Coburn and Perry Martin
Trainer: Art Sherman
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
Age/Gender: 4/Colt
2015 stats: 1 starts, 0 wins, 1 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous race: 2nd, San Antonio Stakes, Santa Anita Park, Feb. 7
Next Race: Dubai World Cup, Meydan, March 28
No. 4: Honor Code
Owner: Lane's End Racing and Dell Ridge Farm
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Age/Gender: 4/Colt
2015 stats: 1 start, 1 win, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous Race: 1st, Gulfstream Park Handicap, Gulfstream Park, March 7
Possible next race: Metropolitan Handicap, June 6, Belmont Park
No. 5: Constitution
Owner: WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Age/Gender: 4/Colt
2015 stats: 1 starts, 1 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous Race: 1st, Donn Handicap, Gulfstream Park, Feb. 7
Possible next race: TBD
No. 6: Bayern
Owner: Kaleem Shah
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Martin Garcia
Age/Gender: 4/Colt
2015 stats: 0 starts, 0 wins, 0 second, 0 third
Previous race: 1st, Breeders' Cup Classic, Santa Anita, Nov. 1
Possible next race: TBD
No. 7: Lea
Owner: Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Age/Gender: 6/Horse
2015 stats: 2 starts, 1 wins, 1 second, 0 third
Previous Race: 2nd, Donn Handicap, Gulfstream Park, Feb. 7
Possible next race: Dubai World Cup, Meydan, March 28
No. 8: Dortmund
Photo by Benoit and Associates
Owner: Kaleem Shah
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Martin Garcia
Age/Gender: 3/Colt
2015 stats: 2 starts, 2 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous Race: 1st, San Felipe Stakes, Santa Anita Park, March 7
Possible next race: Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita Park, April 4
No. 9: Salutos Amigos
Photo by NYRA/Susie Raisher
Owner: David Jacobson and Southern Equine Stable
Trainer: David Jacobson
Jockey: Cornelio Velasquez
Age/Gender: 5/Gelding
2015 stats: 2 starts, 2 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Tom Fool Handicap, Aqueduct, March 7
Possible next race: Dubai Golden Shaheen, Meydan, March 28
No. 10: Wise Dan
Owner: Morton Fink
Trainer: Charlie LoPresti
Jockey: John Velazquez
Age/Gender: 8/Gelding
2015 stats: 0 starts, 0 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous Race: 1st, Shadwell Turf Mile, Keeneland, Oct. 4
Possible next race: TBD