J.N. Campbell’s NTRA Thoroughbred Poll Submissions: Week 2 ... Mystic Guide abdicates to Queen Letruska
J.N. Campbell’s NTRA Thoroughbred Poll Submissions: Week 21
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s Top Thoroughbred and Top 3-Year-Old Categories are determined by weekly polls of the nation’s leading writers and broadcasters that regularly cover the sport. Eligible media cast votes for their “Top 10” horses, with points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.
The NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll is conducted weekly from February through the Monday following the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll is conducted weekly from February through the Monday following the Belmont Stakes, which concludes the Triple Crown Trail.
As a member of the turfwriting media, I will be posting my weekly contributions, and offering editorials about horses that rise or fall in the polls. You can look for a full list of the Polls at the following NTRA website. It should make for another exciting season of Thoroughbred racing in North America!
Here is my 21th submission for this week’s action…
Top Thoroughbred Poll w/Notes …
1. LETRUSKA: Fausto Gutierrez’s ace looked like she was going to run out of her horseshoes in both the Houston Ladies Classic (G3) @SHRP, all the way to the Apple Blossom (G1) @OP; she did not disappoint, besting Monomoy Girl down the stretch in that last one. Then she took on some of the best in the division in the Ogden Phipps (G1) at Belmont. It was one of the highlights of the day. Gutierrez then got bold, sending her unexpectedly to the Grade II Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs. She won easily, scoring an automatic bid to the Breeders’ Cup. Now, moving forward she has the potential for both a run at Saratoga and to be the favorite in the Distaff (G1) at Del Mar. Sky is the limit attains the top spot …
2. SILVER STATE: The victor in the celebrated Met Mile (G1) was the ultimate high for this Steve Asmussen runner. Jockey Ricardo Santana guided him home in impressive fashion against a couple of short-priced favorites. When you win a race as big as this one, then you have achieved something very special. Most bettors thought Knicks Go would be the champ, but this seasoned runner proved them all wrong in the end. A budding star with a powerful kick, it will be interesting to see him emerge in the 2nd half of the year.
3. DOMESTIC SPENDING: Last fall, this Del Mar entrant came across the country for Chad Brown and was awfully good in the Hollywood Turf Cup (G1). After a winter layoff, he arrived at Churchill with hope for much success. Flavien Prat subbed in for Irad Ortiz, and he chased the Eclipse jock all the way to the wire. Sticking his horse’s nose just in time, it was a thrilling end to the TC. Then, Brown sent him to the Manhattan S. (G1) at Belmont. It was an impressive array of timing, power, and finesse down the stretch. Prat lived up to the billing, and proved his mount is the class of this grass division. BC Turf is the long game, and he can get there …
4. ESSENTIAL QUALITY: Brad Cox had many thinking that we might not see “EQ” until the Travers (G1) in the late summer at Saratoga. The discussions were reversed, as Belmont (G1) was put back on the table. Maybe some defections and/or the prospect of winning the last leg were just too inviting for the “Boys in Blue.” Cox predicted that “The Beast” would be a perfect fit for the Tapit router. He was right … The gray worked at Churchill and looked impressive, taking on stablemate Bonny South. Clearly, he was ready, going off as the favorite in the Belmont Stakes (G1). A bit of a slow start did not faze him, and Luis Saez kept inching him closer along the back stretch. A powerful move helped him catch Hot Rod Charlie, and soon he was blazing past him in the 2-path. A favorite move we have seen time and time again over the course of the past year. See him in the Jim Dandy (G2) or even the Travers (G1)?
5. MAXFIELD: Brendan Walsh and Godolphin Racing possess a superb runner in “Max,” and it looks like he can run with authority during the 2nd half of races. A useful skill to be sure … His only foible so far was in the Big ‘Cap at Santa Anita, when he just didn’t seem to take to the track. His late gait, a valuable resource, was non-existent. Rebounding on the Oaks undercard, he rolled in the Alysheba (G2), and decimated the field that assembled in the Stephen Foster (G1). Both performances beg the question … how good is this runner? Pretty good … short answer. Moving forward, Walsh has him elevating, and that makes him a candidate for the BC Classic. It’s the long game.
6. MYSTIC GUIDE: Mike Stidham’s colt has had a great 2021, as he triumphed in the Dubai World Cup. It is always a challenge coming back home after running abroad, and I am fairly certain that it is a foregone conclusion that the “next out” has the potential to be a miss. That is precisely what occurred in the Suburban (G2) with Luis Saez once again in the saddle. Maybe the colt didn’t like the conditions or just was not as sharp as he could be. Still, it was not a poor performance per se, since he was simply bested by the smarter Maxplayer. He drops a few spots in this Poll, but remains a strong contender for the BC Classic. I am sure Godolphin is hopeful as well.
7. MALATHAAT: A perfect 5/5 in her career, this Todd Pletcher filly deserves to be on the list now that the regular 3-yr-old Poll was laid to rest last month. She is quite accomplished after a superb spring that saw her coronation in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). That was quite a contest up against Search Results. Next, appears to be the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga. She will be formidable (work tab reflects it ...), and I am sure her soon-to-be HOF conditioner will have her ready for a fight. That should be an excellent contest, and another chance for her to pad her resume for what promises to be a run at the Breeders’ Cup in November.
8. MAX PLAYER: The Steve Asmussen-trainee out of Honor Code cracks the Top Ten after a command performance in the Suburban (G2) at Belmont. It was an impressive win, as he was taking on fellow 4-yr-olds Mystic Guide and Happy Saver. Jockey Ricardo Santana wait for just the right moment as the stretch arrived for the “ask,” and his mount did not disappoint. Now, with BC Classic tickets in his saddle, Asmussen has options moving forward. He can test the waters of Saratoga, and that makes him a dangerous runner as we head towards the second half of the summer. Maybe he is a “player” that we need to consider as a major contender in the Classic ranks.
9. BY MY STANDARDS: The Bret Calhoun hoss is one big horse. Once he gets moving, he can be a force to be reckoned with. The 5-yr-old out of Goldencents came off the bench in the Oaklawn Mile and won. That was impressive, especially since at the end of last year he missed in the BC Classic (G1) @KEE and the Clark Hcp (G1) @CD. Clearly this one is progressing, since the Met Mile (G1) was a quality effort—2nd. He easily outran his odds. His conditioner will have some major opportunities moving forward. Another run in the BC Classic (G1)?
10. COUNTRY GRAMMAR: Bob Baffert’s senior members of his barn are few and far between. With the retirements of Authentic and Max Security, he tried to reload, but it didn’t take. Others have tried to go forth, like Gamine or Roadster, but they do not seem to be up to scratch. This one, out of Tonalist, looks most promising. Last out, in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), the colt was superb. Winstar Farm has quite a talent on their hands, and I would imagine we are going to be hearing from this one later in the season. That is, as long as California will let Baffert run. We will see …
Summary: Top spot holder Mystic Guide was defeated by Max Player in the Suburban S. (G2) on Saturday in his 1st start since winning the Dubai WC. Asmussen’s charge won convincingly, but I do not think that was enough to either eject Stidham’s Godolphin runner from the list, nor to elevate “Max” above him. Still, they both remain in the Top Ten, and that means we could see these go hoof-to-hoof once again at Del Mar. This reshuffle elevates Fausto Gutierrez’s “Queen” Letruska to the throne, and it is well-deserved. As for the rest of the tab, we welcome Malathaat to the stage, as she seems poised for more greatness after a run through the Kentucky Oaks. So, much more to come as the Haskell Day card materializes, and we await the return of racing in Southern California and in Upstate New York. Nothing like those celebrated tracks who are due to come online.