Knicks Go Continues to Lead NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll

For the fourth consecutive week, Korea Racing Authority's 5-year-old Knicks Go  is the No. 1 ranked horse in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred Poll, while the 4-year-old filly Gamine , winner of the Ketel One Ballerina Handicap (G1) Aug. 28 at Saratoga Race Course, moved into fourth place.

Knicks Go, trained by Brad Cox, received 19 first-place votes and 325 points. This year, he has won the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park, the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3), and the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga in his most recent start Aug. 7. 

St. George Stable's 5-year-old mare Letruska  remained in second place with six first-place votes and 307 points. Letruska won her fifth race of 2021 on Saturday, taking the Personal Ensign Stakes Presented by Lia Infiniti (G1) at Saratoga by a half-length. Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, Letruska also has won two other top-level stakes this season in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park and the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.

Godolphin's 3-year-old Essential Quality retained third place in the poll following his neck win over Midnight Bourbon  in Saturday's Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. Also trained by Cox, Essential Quality, who won the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) in June and took Saratoga's Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) earlier this month, has 10 first-place votes and 294 points.

Michael Lund Petersen's Gamine rose from seventh to fourth place with 183 points. Trained by Bob Baffert, Gamine remained unbeaten in four starts this year when she scored a 1 3/4-length triumph in the Ballerina.

NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll

Rank, Horse, Points (first-place votes)

1. Knicks Go    325 (19)

2. Letruska    307 (6)

3. Essential Quality    294 (10)

4. Gamine    183

5. Maxfield     166

6. Domestic Spending     119

7. Jackie's Warrior     115

8. Malathaat     90

9. Silver State     69

10. Hot Rod Charlie     43