As the sport's top runners have already completed their finals preps for the Oct. 31-Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top Thoroughbred Poll saw minimal change when released Oct. 15.
Godolphin's dual classic winner Sovereignty remains the clear leader as he prepares for his first challenge against older horses in the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Sovereignty received 26 of the first-place votes cast by members of the national media, with the final participant voting dual grade 1 winner Mindframe in the top spot.
Overall, Mindframe places third on the leaderboard with Repole Stable and Todd Pletcher-trained stablemate Fierceness sitting at No. 2. Mindframe is also involved in one of the leaderboard's minor changes this week, as he was tied for the No. 3 spot with Sierra Leone one week ago. This week, he sits eight points ahead of the defending Breeders' Cup Classic winner. One less voter submitted their rankings this week compared to last.
The only other change came at the bottom of the top 10 as reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna dropped from eighth to 10th as connections continue to contemplate retirement. The news of her retirement officially came Wednesday, a few hours after the poll's release.
