A quiet week for the top level of racing led to little change in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top Thoroughbred Poll released June 17, with the Top 10 horses remaining the same group with some minor changes in their order.
Yuesheng Zhang and Craig Dado's Raging Torrent retained his top spot in the rankings voted on by national media following his gate-to-wire triumph over second-ranked Fierceness and eighth-ranked White Abarrio in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course June 7.
The Maximus Mischief colt is 2-for-2 this year and received 10 first-place votes from the national media who vote on the poll. He holds a 28-point lead over Fierceness, who received two votes for the top spot.
However, it was 3-year-old Sovereignty, winner of the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1), who received the most votes for first place with 12. As his performance in the Belmont settled in with voters, he swapped with Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) winner Mindframe for third place in this week's rankings.
It was Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Journalism, runner-up to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont, who saw the biggest change in his placement this week. The 3-year-old son of Curlin was elevated from ninth to sixth, pushing Thorpedo Anna, White Abarrio, and Kopion down one spot.
