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No Change In Top Three Of NTRA Thoroughbred Poll; Knicks Go Leads Two Weeks Ahead Of Breeders’ Cup

There was no change in the top three positions in this week's NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll as Korea Racing Stable's 5-year-old horse Knicks Go retained his top ranking for the twelfth consecutive week in the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll with 23 first place votes and 339 points. Knicks Go is expected to be sent off the favorite in the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

St. George Stable's 5-year-old mare Letruska remained in second place in the poll with six first place votes and 313 points. Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, Letruska is a leading contender for the Grade 1, $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Godolphin's 3-year-old standout colt Essential Quality, who like Knicks Go is trained by 2020 Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox, remained in third place in this week's poll with seven first place votes and 299 points. Essential Quality also is being pointed for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

The lone change in this week's poll saw Roadrunner Racing, William Strauss, Boat Racing and Gainesway Stable's Hot Rod Charlie, another leading Classic contender, jump one spot to fourth place in this week's poll with 163 points. Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior, a leading contender for the Grade 1, $2,000,000 Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint, fell to fifth place in the voting with 159 points.

Michael Lund Petersen's Gamine, who is being pointed for the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, was sixth in the poll with 130 points. Zedan Racing Stable's Breeders' Cup Classic hopeful, Medina Spirit (122 points), remained in seventh-place, followed by Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector (92 points), George Hall's Max Player (83 points) and Klaravich Stable's Domestic Spending (70 points).

Click here for this week's complete poll results.

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No Shortage Of Pace In BC Classic If Knicks Go, Medina Spirit Start

If everything holds together and all things being equal, one thing seems certain: the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic won't be lacking for pace.

With committed front runners Medina Spirit, Knicks Go, and Art Collector all pointing to the mile and one-quarter Classic at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., Nov. 6, Vegas books might ponder offering a prop bet on which one takes the lead, if they haven't already.

Private clocker and bloodstock agent Gary Young, with an opinion usually at the ready on any racing question, was tactfully terse when asked for an analysis of the Classic now less than two weeks hence.

“There's speed in the race, but I don't know if there's Knicks Go-type of speed,” said Young, his vested interest aside since it was he who recommended owner Amr Zedan purchase Medina Spirit for the bargain price of $35,000 at last year's Ocala Two-Year-Old In Training Sale.

“Obviously, Medina's a fast horse, and Hot Rod Charlie's not a slow horse, but Knicks Go is a very fast horse. You couldn't ask for Medina Spirit to be in better hands than Johnny V's (regular rider John Velazquez).

“Medina Spirit ran well in the Sham against Life Is Good (second all the way, beaten three-quarters of a length in the one-mile race on Jan. 2), so I don't think he needs the lead to run well.

“There are some who point out he's four for four when he makes the lead, and gotten beat every time he doesn't make the lead (in three races; he did lead after bobbling in the Preakness, eventually finishing third by 5 ½ lengths).

“But I find it hard to believe a horse with his desire to win has to have the lead to do it. Usually, he's fast enough to be in front.”

Asked if speed would benefit a proven stretch runner like Essential Quality, Young said, “It all depends on how the pace plays out. I suppose the pace could be fast, but let's not forget this:

“The only other time they ran the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar (in 2017), Gun Runner, Collected and West Coast pretty much ran around there one, two, three (in the Classic). Medina Spirit seems to be doing very well, but we'll see what happens.”

Addressing Horse of the Year, despite his affinity for Medina Spirit, Young feels that all but a vacuous effort by the brown or dark bay colt would warrant the prestigious award.

“If he wins the Breeders' Cup Classic and they don't give him Horse of the Year, they might as well throw the trophy away,” Young said. “That said, he could win the Breeders' Cup Classic by five lengths and there are still going to be some haters who will not vote for him.

“But if he wins the race, I don't know how you cannot vote him Horse of the Year, I really don't.”

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‘Hot Rod’ Tunes Up at Santa Anita

Top sophomore and last month's GI Pennsylvania Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) put in his penultimate work for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Saturday, breezing seven panels at Santa Anita in 1:26.60 (1/1). Regular rider Flavien Prat was aboard.

“He galloped out good and we're feeling good,” said trainer Doug O'Neill. “He'll ship Wednesday to Del Mar where he'll have his final work.”

The Classic looks likely to have plenty of early pace, which could prove advantageous to a stalker like Hot Rod Charlie.

“Today he sat off a workmate and there were a couple others out there from other barns, so he kind of sat in behind three horses, split 'em turning for home and finished up good,” O'Neill said. “He had a taste of what the Classic could look like… He's versatile, so we have options.”

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Hot Rod Charlie Works Ahead Of Breeders’ Cup Classic Try

Hot Rod Charlie had his penultimate workout this morning for the $6 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., going seven furlongs under regular rider Flavien Prat in 1:26 and change, according to Doug O'Neill.

The son of Oxbow's time on Santa Anita's official work tab was 1:26.80.

“He galloped out good and we're feeling good,” said Santa Anita's leading trainer. “He'll ship Wednesday to Del Mar where he'll have his final work.”

With the likes of committed speedsters Medina Spirit, Knicks Go, and Art Collector pointing to the Classic, it could prove beneficial for Hot Rod Charlie's stalking style, although he has speed should he choose to use it early on.

“He's versatile, so we have options.”

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