America’s Finest Horses for March 8

Every week, members of the media across the nation vote on the nation’s prime contenders on the Triple Crown path within the NTRA High Thoroughbred Ballot.

The ballot will run weekly by means of June 5. Discover out the most recent 2022 prime 3-year-old rankings beneath.

AMERICA’S TOP THOROUGHBREDS FOR MARCH 8, 2022

1. Epicenter (9 first-place votes)

Proprietor: Winchell Thoroughbreds

Coach: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Joel Rosario

2022 report: 2 begins – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds

Final race: 1^st, Risen Star Stakes Introduced by Lamarque Ford, Feb. 19 at Honest Grounds

Subsequent race: Louisiana Derby, March 26 at Honest Grounds

2. Forbidden Kingdom (8 first-place votes)

House owners: MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm

Coach: Richard Mandella

Jockey: Juan Hernandez

2022 report: 2 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Final race: 1^st, San Felipe Stakes, March 5 at Santa Anita Park

Subsequent race: Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, April 9 at Santa Anita Park

3. Simplification

Proprietor: Tami Bobo

Coach: Antonio Sano

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

2022 report: 3 begins – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Final race: 1^st, Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 5 at Gulfstream Park

Subsequent race: Curlin Florida Derby, April 2 at Gulfstream Park

4. Messier (12 first-place votes)

House owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Steady and Siena Farm

Coach: Bob Baffert

Jockey: John Velazquez

2022 report: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Final race: 1^st, Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Feb. 6 at Santa Anita Park

Subsequent race: Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, April 9 at Santa Anita Park

5. Smile Comfortable (3 first-place votes)

Proprietor: Fortunate Seven Steady 

Coach: Ken McPeek

Jockey: Corey Lanerie

2022 report: 1 begin – 0 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Final race: 2^nd, Risen Star Stakes Introduced by Lamarque Ford, Feb. 19 at Honest Grounds

Subsequent race: TBD

6. Basic Causeway 

House owners: Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper

Coach: Brian Lynch

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

2022 report: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Final race: 1^st, Sam F. Davis Stakes, Feb. 13 at Tampa Bay Downs

Subsequent race: Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, March 12 at Tampa Bay Downs

7. White Abarrio

House owners: C2 Racing Steady and La Milagrosa Steady

Coach: Saffie Joseph Jr.

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

2022 report: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Final race: 1^st, Holy Bull Stakes, Feb. 5 at Gulfstream Park

Subsequent race: Curlin Florida Derby, April 2 at Gulfstream Park

8. Morello

House owners: Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, Craig Taylor and Diamond T Racing

Coach: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Jose Lezcano

2022 report: 2 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Final race: 1^st, Gotham Stakes, March 5 at Aqueduct

Subsequent race: Wooden Memorial Stakes Introduced by NYRA Bets, April 9 at Aqueduct

9. Secret Oath (3 first-place votes)

Proprietor: Briland Farm 

Coach: D. Wayne Lukas

Jockey: Luis Contreras

2022 report: 2 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Final race: 1^st, Honeybee Stakes, Feb. 26 at Oaklawn Park

Subsequent race: TBD, probably the Fantasy Stakes, April 2 at Oaklawn Park

10. Zandon (1 first-place vote)

Proprietor: Jeff Drown

Coach: Chad Brown

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

2022 report: 1 begin – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third

Final race: 3^rd, Risen Star Stakes Introduced by Lamarque Ford, Feb. 19 at Honest Grounds

Subsequent race: TBD, probably the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 9 at Keeneland Race Course