Horse of the Year Contenders Top NTRA Poll

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Horse of the Year Contenders Top NTRA Poll
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Photo: Coady Photography
Knicks Go breezes Oct. 31 at Churchill Downs

Knicks Go  , Letruska , and Essential Quality  , all leading contenders for divisional championships as well as Horse of the Year honors heading into this weekend's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar, continued their stranglehold on the top three positions in this week's penultimate National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred Poll.

Korea Racing Authority's 5-year-old Knicks Go, trained by 2020 Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox and a leading contender for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), held the top ranking for the 13th consecutive week with 21 first place votes and 302 points.

St. George Stable's 5-year-old mare Letruska remained in second place in the poll with five first place votes and 279 points. Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, Letruska is being pointed for the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).

Godolphin's 3-year-old standout colt Essential Quality, who like Knicks Go is trained by Cox, remained in third place in this week's poll with six first place votes and 265 points. Essential Quality also is being pointed for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Roadrunner Racing, William Strauss, Boat Racing, and Gainesway Stable's Hot Rod Charlie , another leading Classic contender, jumped one spot to fourth place in this week's poll with 145 points. Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior , who is being pointed for $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), held fifth place with 141 points.

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Michael Lund Petersen's Gamine , who is being pointed for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), was sixth in the poll with 118 points. Zedan Racing Stables' Breeders' Cup Classic hopeful, Medina Spirit  (110 points), remained in seventh place, followed by Bruce Lunsford's Classic contender, Art Collector  (81 points).

The final NTRA Top 10 poll of 2021 will be announced Nov. 8.

NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll

Rank, Horse, Points (first-place votes)

1. Knicks Go    302 (21)

2. Letruska    279 (5)

3. Essential Quality    265 (6)

4. Hot Rod Charlie   145

5. Jackie's Warrior    141

6. Gamine    118

7. Medina Spirit    110

8. Art Collector    81

9. Domestic Spending     66

10. Max Player    65