Photo:
Tommy Land / Eclipse Sportswire
Coal Battle jumped to no. 3 in the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association poll of the nation’s top 3-year-olds after his win in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes on Saturday at Oaklawn.
The Coal Front colt trained by Lonnie Briley has won four straight, and he was no. 9 in last week’s poll.
New to the top 10 this week are Withers winner Captain Cook at no. 8; undefeated Good Cheer, winner of the Rachel Alexandra (G2) and the only filly here; and Sunland Park Derby winner Getaway Car.
Citizen Bull and Barnes remained in the two top spots for trainer Bob Baffert.
Dropping out of the top 10 were Magnitude impressive winner of the Risen Star (G2) but sidelined with an injury; Speed King, who was 10th in the Rebel: and Sandman, who was third in the Rebel.
| Horse | 2025 record | Points | Previous | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Citizen Bull (19) | 1: 1-0-0 | 262 | 1 | Bob Baffert |
| 2. Barnes (2) | 1: 1-0-0 | 212 | 2 | Bob Baffert |
| 3. Coal Battle (5) | 2: 2-0-0 | 211 | 9 | Lonnie Briley |
| 4. Burnham Square | 1: 1-0-0 | 139 | 3 | Ian Wilkes |
| 5. Disco Time | 1: 1-0-0 | 107 | 5 | Brad Cox |
| 6. John Hancock | 2: 2-0-0 | 85 | 7 | Brad Cox |
| 7. Journalism (1) | 0: 0-0-0 | 84 | 6 | Michael McCarthy |
| 8. Captain Cook | 1: 1-0-0 | 60 | 12 | Richard Dutrow |
| 9. Good Cheer | 1: 1-0-0 | 44 | 11 | Brad Cox |
| 10. Getaway Car | 1: 1-0-0 | 39 | 14 | Bob Baffert |
For the top Thoroughbred poll, Forever Young joined the top 10 after his win in the Saudi Cup (G1) over Romantic Warrior.
That bumped Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G2) winner Be Your Best out of the top 10.
White Abarrio and Thorpedo Anna retained the two top slots.
| Horse | Age | 2025 record | Points | Previous | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. White Abarrio (12) | 6-H | 1: 1-0-0 | 243 | 1 | Saffie Joseph Jr. |
| 2. Thorpedo Anna (12) | 4-F | 0: 0-0-0 | 212 | 2 | Kenny McPeek |
| 3. Sierra Leone | 4-C | 0: 0-0-0 | 176 | 3 | Chad Brown |
| 4. Straight No Chaser (1) | 6-H | 1: 1-0-0 | 165 | 7 | Dan Blacker |
| 5. Locked | 4-C | 1: 0-1-0 | 133 | 4 | Todd Pletcher |
| 6. Fierceness | 4-C | 0: 0-0-0 | 115 | 5 | Todd Pletcher |
| 7. Spirit of St Louis | 6-G | 1: 1-0-0 | 85 | 6 | Chad Brown |
| 8. Forever Young (2) | 4-C | 1: 1-0-0 | 51 | 18 | Yoshito Yahagi |
| 9. Hall of Fame | 4-C | 2: 2-0-0 | 50 | 9 | Steve Asmussen |
| 10. Skippy Longstocking | 6-H | 1: 0-0-1 | 41 | 8 | Saffie Joseph Jr. |
Voting for the NTRA polls is conducted by national media. The 3-year-old poll represents horses competing up and through the Triple Crown. The top Thoroughbred poll represents horses competing for horse of the year and will conclude Tuesday, Nov. 4, after the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
