America’s Best Horses for April 26

Each week, members of the media around the country vote on the nation’s top contenders on the Triple Crown trail in the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll.

The poll will run weekly through June 5. Find out the latest 2022 top 3-year-old rankings below.

AMERICA’S TOP THOROUGHBREDS FOR APRIL 26, 2022

1. Epicenter (28 first-place votes)

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Joel Rosario

2022 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 26 at Fair Grounds

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 7 at Churchill Downs

2. Zandon (3 first-place votes)

Owner: Jeff Drown

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2022 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 1st, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 9 at Keeneland Race Course

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 7 at Churchill Downs

3. Mo Donegal (1 first-place vote)

Owner: Donegal Racing 

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

2022 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 1st, Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino, April 9 at Aqueduct

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 7 at Churchill Downs

4. White Abarrio

Owners: C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable

Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

2022 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm at Xalapa, April 2 at Gulfstream Park  

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 7 at Churchill Downs

5. Taiba (1 first-place vote)

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Tim Yakteen

Jockey: Mike Smith

2022 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, April 9 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 7 at Churchill Downs

6. Cyberknife (2 first-place votes)

Owner: Gold Square

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Florent Geroux

2022 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Arkansas Derby, April 2 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 7 at Churchill Downs

7. Messier 

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

Trainer: Tim Yakteen

Jockey: John Velazquez

2022 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 2nd, Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, April 9 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 7 at Churchill Downs

8. Smile Happy 

Owner: Lucky Seven Stable 

Trainer: Ken McPeek

Jockey: Corey Lanerie

2022 record: 2 starts – 0 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 2nd, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 9 at Keeneland Race Course

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 7 at Churchill Downs

9. Simplification

Owner: Tami Bobo

Trainer: Antonio Sano

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

2022 record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 third

Last race: 3rd, Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm at Xalapa, April 2 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 7 at Churchill Downs

10. Charge It

Owner: Whisper Hill Farm

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Luis Saez

2022 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 2 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 2nd, Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm at Xalapa, April 2 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 7 at Churchill Downs