Heading Into Belmont Stakes, Mystik Dan Ranks No. 1 in Triple Crown Poll

Racing
2024 Belmont Stakes, Mystik Dan, Seize the Grey, Sierra Leone
Mystik Dan is the NTRA top-ranked 3-year-old heading into the Belmont Stakes. (Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire)

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 19 of the 2024 Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the NTRA covers racing performances through June 2, 2024. The first- and second-place finishers from the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone, and ranked No. 1 and No. 2 heading into the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets.

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. 


AMERICA’S TOP 3-YEAR-OLD THOROUGHBREDS FOR JUNE 3, 2024

Mystik Dan. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)

1. Mystik Dan (24 first-place votes)

Owners: Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby III, and Valley View Farm

Trainer: Ken McPeek

Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

2024 record: 5 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 third

Last race: 2nd, Preakness Stakes, May 18 at Pimlico

Next race: Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, June 8 at Saratoga Race Course


Sierra Leone. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)

2. Sierra Leone (3 first-place votes)

Owners: Peter Brant, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brooke Smith

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2024 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 2ndKentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, May 4 at Churchill Downs

Next race: Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, June 8 at Saratoga Race Course


Seize the Grey. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)

3. Seize the Grey (4 first-place votes)

Owners: MyRacehorse

Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas

Jockey: Jaime Torres

2024 record: 5 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 1stPreakness Stakes, May 18 at Pimlico

Next race: Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, June 8 at Saratoga Race Course


Catching Freedom. (Ben Breland/Eclipse Sportswire)

4. Catching Freedom 

Owner: Albaugh Family Stables

TrainerBrad Cox

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2024 record: 5 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 2 thirds

Last race: 3rdPreakness Stakes, May 18 at Pimlico

Next race: TBD


Forever Young. (Shamela Hanley/Eclipse Sportswire)

5. Forever Young

Owner: Susumo Fujita

Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi

Jockey: Ryusei Sakai

2024 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 3rdKentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, May 4 at Churchill Downs

Next race: TBD


Muth. (BENOIT photo)

6. Muth (1 first-place vote)

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey:  Juan Hernandez

2024 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Arkansas Derby, March 30 at Oaklawn Park

Next race:  TBD


Thorpedo Anna. (Candice Chavez/Eclipse Sportswire)

7. Thorpedo Anna (1 first-place vote)

Owners: Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks, and Magdalena Racing

Trainer: Ken McPeek

Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

2024 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Longines Kentucky Oaks, May 3 at Churchill Downs

Next race: DK Horse Acorn Stakes, June 7 at Saratoga Race Course


Fierceness. (Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire)

8. Fierceness 

Owner: Repole Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

2024 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 15thKentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, May 4 at Churchill Downs

Next race:  NYRA Bets Haskell Invitational Stakes, July 20 at Monmouth Park


Nysos. (Coady Media)

9. Nysos 

Owner: Baoma Corp.

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1stRobert B. Lewis Stakes, Feb. 3 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: TBD, sidelined due to injury reported March 12


Resilience. (Sue Kawczynski/Eclipse Sportswire)

10. Resilience

Owners: Emily Bushnell and Ric Waldman

Trainer: Bill Mott

Jockey: Junior Alvarado

2024 record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 6thKentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, May 4 at Churchill Downs

Next race:  Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, June 8 at Saratoga Race Course


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