Power Rankings: Major Shakeup on Kentucky Derby Trail Led by Journalism, Sovereignty

Racing
NTRA 3-year-old poll, Sovereignty, River Thames, 2025 Kentucky Derby, Triple Crown, America's Best Racing, horse racing, ABR
Sovereignty passed River Thames near the finish line of the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes March 1 at Gulfstream Park on the road to the 2025 Kentucky Derby. (Coglianese Photos)

Each week, members of the national media vote on the nation's top contenders on the Triple Crown trail in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top Thoroughbred Poll.

Week 6 of the 2025 NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll, covers races through March 2. The leader in the poll remains 2-year-old champion Citizen Bull, who won his 3-year-old debut in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 1. This week's big upward movers are DK Horse San Felipe Stakes winner Journalism who rose from No. 7 to No. 2, and Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes first- and second-place finishers Sovereignty and River Thames, who went from unranked to No. 3 and No. 9, respectively. Meanwhile, San Felipe Stakes runner-up Barnes dropped from second in the rankings to fifth, while Burnham Square dropped from fourth out of the top 10 after an unplaced finish in the Fountain of Youth.

The 3-year-old poll represents horses competing up to and through the Triple Crown. Rankings are based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 voting system. First place votes are in parentheses.


AMERICA’S TOP 3-YEAR-OLD THOROUGHBREDS FOR MARCH 3, 2025

Citizen Bull. (Jon Putman/Eclipse Sportswire)

1. Citizen Bull (17 first-place votes)

Owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan 

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Martin Garcia

2025 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Feb. 1 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Santa Anita Derby, April 5 at Santa Anita Park


Journalism. (Richard Steele/Eclipse Sportswire)

2. Journalism (9 first-place votes)

Owners: Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC and LaPenta, Robert V.

Trainer: Michael McCarthy

Jockey: Umberto Rispoli

2025 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, DK Horse San Felipe Stakes, March 1 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Santa Anita Derby, April 5 at Santa Anita Park


Sovereignty. (Juliana Colombo/Eclipse Sportswire)

3. Sovereignty (1 first-place vote)

Owners: Godolphin

Trainer: Bill Mott

Jockey: Junior Alvarado

2025 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1stCoolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 1 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Curlin Florida Derby, March 29 at Gulfstream Park


Coal Battle. (Ben Breland/Eclipse Sportswire)

4. Coal Battle (2 first-place votes)

Owner: Norman Stables

Trainer: Lonnie Briley

Jockey: Juan Vargas

2025 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Rebel Stakes, Feb. 22 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: Arkansas Derby, March 29 at Oaklawn Park


Barnes. (Lindsay Affleck/Eclipse Sportswire)

5. Barnes 

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Juan Hernandez

2025 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 2nd, DK Horse San Felipe Stakes, March 1 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Arkansas Derby, March 29 at Oaklawn Park


John Hancock. (Juliana Colombo/Eclipse Sportswire)

6. John Hancock 

Owners: CHC and WinStar Farm

TrainerBrad Cox

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2025 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Sam F. Davis Stakes, Feb. 8 at Tampa Bay Downs

Next race: Louisiana Derby, March 22 at Fair GroundsArkansas Derby, March 29 at Oaklawn Park, or Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 5 at Keeneland


Disco Time. (Casey Laughter/Eclipse Sportswire)

7. Disco Time

Owner: Juddmonte

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Florent Geroux

2025 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Lecomte Stakes, Jan. 18 at Fair Grounds

Next race: Louisiana Derby, March 22 at Fair GroundsArkansas Derby, March 29 at Oaklawn Park, or Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 5 at Keeneland


Flood Zone. (Sophie Shore/Eclipse Sportswire)

8. Flood Zone

Owner: Wathnan Racing

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Reylu Gutierrez

2025 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Gotham Stakes, March 1 at Aqueduct

Next race: TBD, possibly Wood Memorial Stakes, April 5 at Aqueduct


River Thames. (Coglianese Photos/Gulfstream Park)

9. River Thames

Owner: CHC and Winstar Farm

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

2025 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 2nd, Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 1 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Florida Derby, March 29 at Gulfstream Park


Captain Cook. (Jason Moran/Eclipse Sportswire)

10. Captain Cook

Owner: St. Elias Stable

Trainer: Richard Dutrow Jr.

Jockey: Manny Franco

2025 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Withers Stakes, Feb. 1 at Aqueduct

Next race: Wood Memorial Stakes, April 5 at Aqueduct


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