Following an emphatic victory in the June 27 Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs, Magnitude reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the June 30 NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll. The colt secured the ranking by turning back grade 1 winner Baeza and reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty.
Trained by Steve Asmussen and campaigned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, the son of Not This Time , who had not raced since his win in the March 28 Dubai World Cup (G1), defeated Baeza by 1 1/4 lengths, over a sloppy, sealed track. It was another 4 lengths back to Sovereignty in third. Magnitude has now won eight races from 14 career starts and banked $9,782,365 in earnings.
Magnitude received 287 total points, with Metropolitan Handicap (G1) winner Nysos falling to No. 2 with 254 points. Magnitude picked up 26 first-place votes, and Nysos received two.
White Abarrio, who held the No.1 spot briefly after his victory over Sovereignty in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 18, slipped to No. 7 from No. 3 last week. The 7-year-old son of Race Day finished fourth in the Stephen Foster after stalking Magnitude early in the race.
Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Golden Tempo holds the No. 3 spot with 127 votes, just one point ahead of No. 4, Saudi Cup (G1) winner and Dubai World Cup runner-up Forever Young.
