The latest NTRA Top Thoroughbred Voting update, initially published by the Paulick Report, highlights Sovereignty as the new frontrunner following his impressive win at the Grade 2 Jim Dandy. This Godolphin homebred, who has already claimed victories in the G1 Kentucky Derby and G1 Belmont Stakes, is seen as a prime candidate for this year’s Horse of the Year, having recently topped NTRA’s three-year-old poll.
Trainer Bill Mott has bolstered Sovereignty’s profile with wins in the G2 Fountain of Youth and a runner-up finish in the G1 Florida Derby. The son of Into Mischief is slated to compete next in the G1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga on August 23.
MindFrame, owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias LLC, follows closely in second place after previously leading the voting. Having secured victories in the G1 Churchill Downs Stakes and G1 Stephen Foster, MindFrame is preparing for the Whitney Stakes on August 2 but might not run unless ranked at least fourth.
Coming in third is Journalism, winner of the G1 Haskell Stakes and set to make his next start in two weeks. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism also boasts wins in the G1 Preakness Stakes and G1 Santa Anita Derby and placed second in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, distinguishing him from Sovereignty.
Journalism’s ownership includes Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert V. Lapenta, Elayne Stables, John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, and Derrick Smith.
Baoma Corp.’s NySOS, a four-year-old son of Nyquist, ranks sixth after recent triumphs in the G2 San Diego Stakes and G3 Triple Bend. NySOS is trained by Bob Baffert. Other contenders such as MindFrame, Fierceness, Sierra Leone (8th), and White Abrario (10th) are also entered in the upcoming 1° Mile Whitney.
Additional horses in the voting include She is Pretty (23 votes), Farbridge (16), Baeza (16), Methods and Means (14), Magnitude (12), Excellent Truth (7), and several others with fewer votes.
The weekly Top Thoroughbred Voting reflects the leading Horse of the Year contenders, with rankings determined on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 points system, with the number of first-place votes noted in parentheses.
This report was first featured in the Paulick Report on July 29, 2025.
Fan Take: This update is crucial for horse racing enthusiasts as it highlights the emerging rivalries and top contenders shaping the sport’s current season. Tracking these developments adds excitement and anticipation for upcoming high-stakes races, potentially signaling dramatic shifts in the sport’s competitive landscape.
