America's Best Thoroughbreds for August 17
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The Pizza Man vaulted into the top 10 after winning the Arlington Million on Saturday to bring his 2015 record to 3-for-3. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire unless noted)
Each week, through the NTRA’s Top Thoroughbred Poll, media members around the country vote on the top racehorses in the nation and give readers a sneak peak at who they are impressed with as top contenders in the road to the Breeders’ Cup. 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.
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AMERICA'S TOP THOROUGHBREDS
No. 1: American Pharoah (43 first place votes)
Owner: Zayat Stables
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
2015 stats: 6 starts, 6 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous Race: 1st, Haskell Invitational,Monmouth Park, Aug. 2
Possible next race: Travers Stakes, Saratoga, Aug. 29 or Pacific Classic, Del Mar, Aug. 22
No. 2: Honor Code
Owner: Lane's End Racing and Dell Ridge Farm
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Age/Gender: 4/Ridgling
2015 stats: 4 starts, 3 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Whitney, Saratoga, Aug 2
Possible next race: Jockey Club Gold Cup, Belmont Park, Oct. 3 or Kelso, Belmont Park, Oct. 3
No. 3: Beholder
Owner: Spendthrift Farm
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Jockey: Gary Stevens
Age/Gender: 5/Mare
2015 stats: 3 starts, 3 wins, 0 second, 0 third
Previous Race: 1st, Clement Hirsch Stakes, Aug. 1, Del Mar
Possible next race: Pacific Classic, Del Mar, Aug. 22
No. 4: Shared Belief
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: 3 starts, 2 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous Race: DNF, Charles Town Classic, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, April 1
Possible next race: TBD
No. 5: Lady Eli
Owner: Sheep Pond Partners
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Age/Gender: 3/Filly
2015 stats: 3 starts, 3 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Belmont Oaks, Belmont Park, July 4
Possible next race: TBD
6. Liam's Map
Photo by NYRA/Susie Raisher
Owner: Teresa Viola Racing Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Mike Smith
Age/Gender: 4/Colt
2015 stats: 2 starts, 1 wins, 1 second, 0 third
Previous Race: 2nd, Whitney, Saratoga, Aug 2
Possible next race: Woodward Stakes, Saratoga, Sept. 5 or Jockey Club Gold Cup, Belmont Park, Oct. 3 or Kelso, Belmont Park, Oct. 3
No. 7: Private Zone
Owner: Good Friends Stable
Trainer: Jorge Navarro
Jockey: Martin Pedroza
Age/Gender: 6/Gelding
2015 stats: 4 starts, 2 wins, 1 second, 1 third
Previous Race: 1st, Belmont Sprint Championships, Belmont Park, July 7
Possible next race: Forego, Saratoga, August 29
No. 8: Texas Red
Owner: Erich Brehm, Wayne Detmar, Lee Michaels, Keith Desormeaux
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Jockey: Kent Desormeaux
Age/Gender: 3/Colt
2015 stats: 3 starts, 1 win, 2 seconds, 0 thirds
Previous race: 1st, Jim Dandy, Saratoga, Aug. 1
Possible next race: Travers Stakes, Saratoga, Aug. 29
No. 9: Tonalist
Owner: Robert Evans
Trainer: Christophe Clement
Jockey: Joe Bravo
Age/Gender: 4/Colt
2015 stats: 4 starts, 1 win, 2 seconds, 1 third
Previous Race: 3rd, Whitney, Saratoga, Aug 2
Possible next race: Woodward Stakes, Saratoga, Sept. 5 or Jockey Club Gold Cup, Belmont Park, Oct. 3
No. 10: The Pizza Man
Owner: Midwest Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Roger Brueggemann
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Age/Gender: 6/Gelding
2015 stats: 3 starts, 3 wins, 0 second, 0 third
Previous Race: 1st, Arlington Million, Arlington Park, Aug. 15
Possible next race: TBD