The latest NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll is out, and while Nysos remains firmly atop the rankings, a closer look at the ballots from Racing Dudes co-founders Aaron Halterman and myself, along with veteran handicapper Jon White, reveals some fascinating differences of opinion regarding the best horses currently in training.
The official poll features a familiar top four of Nysos, Magnitude, White Abarrio, and Sovereignty, but the biggest debate surrounds Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo, who continues to divide voters despite winning two legs of the Triple Crown.
Official NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll
| Rank | Horse |
|---|---|
| 1 | Nysos (13) |
| 2 | Magnitude (11) |
| 3 | White Abarrio (5) |
| 4 | Sovereignty (1) |
| 5 | Forever Young |
| 6 | Golden Tempo (1) |
| 7 | Book’em Danno |
| 8 | Deterministic |
| 9 | Skippylongstocking |
| 10 | Nitrogen |
Rankings are on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 basis with first place votes in parentheses.
Golden Tempo made the biggest move of the week, climbing from 11th to 6th following his victory in the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. Nitrogen also cracked the Top 10 after a dominant score in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1).
How Racing Dudes Voters Ranked the Top Horses
| Rank | Jared Welch | Aaron Halterman | Jon White |
| 1 | Nysos | Magnitude | Nysos |
| 2 | Magnitude | White Abarrio | Golden Tempo |
| 3 | White Abarrio | Nysos | Magnitude |
| 4 | Sovereignty | Sovereignty | White Abarrio |
| 5 | Forever Young | Skippylongstocking | Forever Young |
| 6 | Book’em Danno | Deterministic | Sovereignty |
| 7 | Golden Tempo | Burnham Square | Deterministic |
| 8 | Deterministic | Corporate Power | Nitrogen |
| 9 | Skippylongstocking | Knightsbridge | Book’em Danno |
| 10 | Englishman | Book’em Danno | Skippylongstocking |
Golden Tempo Sparks the Biggest Debate
No horse generated a wider range of opinions than Golden Tempo.
Fresh off victories in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, Golden Tempo sits sixth in the official poll. Yet even after adding a second Triple Crown race to his résumé, voters remain divided on where he belongs among the sport’s elite.
Jon ranked Golden Tempo second overall, placing him behind only Nysos. Among the three Racing Dudes-affiliated voters, White was clearly the most bullish on the colt’s accomplishments.
I placed Golden Tempo seventh, recognizing the significance of his Triple Crown success while still favoring several accomplished older horses.
Aaron left Golden Tempo off his Top 10 altogether, illustrating just how difficult it can be to compare a talented but still-developing 3-year-old against proven older runners who have competed at the highest levels throughout the season.
The disparity highlights one of the most interesting debates in racing right now: Should a horse that has won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes already be considered one of the best horses in America, regardless of age?
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Nysos Continues to Earn Respect
While Golden Tempo generated the most discussion, there was strong agreement at the very top.
Nysos remains the No. 1 horse in the nation according to the official poll and received first-place votes from both myself and Jon. Aaron ranked him third behind Magnitude and White Abarrio, but all three voters clearly view Nysos as one of the sport’s elite performers.
Since returning from injury, Nysos has done nothing but validate the hype that surrounded him earlier in his career. His combination of brilliance, versatility, and consistency has made him the standard by which every other horse is currently measured.
Magnitude and White Abarrio Remain Major Players
The older horse division continues to be loaded with talent.
Magnitude sits second in the official rankings and earned a first-place vote from Aaron. White Abarrio remained third overall and appeared among the top four on all three ballots.
Those horses, along with Nysos, have established themselves as the leading older runners in training heading into the heart of the summer stakes season.
Unique Selections Stand Out
The individual ballots also revealed several horses that voters believe deserve more recognition.
Jared was the only one of the three to rank Englishman, placing the Woody Stephens Stakes winner tenth following his explosive performance and 115 Beyer Speed Figure at Saratoga.
Aaron included Burnham Square and Corporate Power, neither of whom cracked the official Top 10.
Jon was the highest voter on Nitrogen, ranking the standout filly eighth overall after her dominant Ogden Phipps victory.
Those differences are what make the poll interesting. While consensus exists at the top, the middle and bottom portions of the rankings remain highly fluid as horses continue to establish their credentials throughout the summer.
Summer Stakes Season Will Shape the Rankings
The next several weeks could dramatically reshape the poll.
The Haskell Stakes, Whitney Stakes, Pacific Classic, Travers Stakes, and other major summer events will give many of these horses opportunities to strengthen their cases.
Can Golden Tempo continue his rise and force his way into the Top 5? Will Nysos maintain his grip on the No. 1 ranking? Can Magnitude or White Abarrio overtake him with another Grade 1 victory?
Those questions remain unanswered, but one thing is certain: the battle for supremacy among America’s top thoroughbreds is far from settled.
