Each week, members of the national media vote on the nation's top contenders on the Triple Crown trail in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top Thoroughbred Poll. Week 5 of the 2023 NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the (NTRA) covers racing performances through March 7, 2023. The 3-year-old poll represents horses competing up to and through the Triple Crown. Rankings are based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 voting system. First place votes are in parentheses.
Month: March 2023
Aidan O’Brien Dominates Derby Nominations At Latest Entry Stage
After the Mar. 7 scratching stage, 83 horses remain signed on for the 2023 G1 Derby at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 3. Worth £1.5 million, the 1 1/2-mile contest is the richest race in Britain.
Of the 83, 45 are trained in Ireland and of that number, a colossal 31 are trained by Ballydoyle supremo Aidan O'Brien for various Coolmore partnerships. Top of the heap are Deep Impact (Jpn)'s G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy hero Auguste Rodin (Jpn) and the late Shadai kingpin's son's Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). The last-named won the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland in November. The winning duo of Alfred Munnings (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Tower Of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) are other potential Classic stars-in-waiting.
O'Brien's sons, Joseph and Donnacha, field eight between them, led by Group 1 winners Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for the latter, and Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) for the former.
There are also three chances for His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen Consort to scoop the Blue Riband this year, with the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas-nominated winner Slipofthepen (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) trained by John and Thady Gosden, the William Haggas-trained group-placed Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and the winning Sir Michael Stoute charge Circle Of Fire (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}) all nominated. Stoute claimed the 2022 Derby with Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), and he also entered Crystal Mariner (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for Robert Ng.
The Gosdens have the largest UK Derby arsenal with 15 colts nominated. Anchoring their brigade is George Strawbridge's 'TDN Rising Star' Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who was second in the Vertem Futurity Trophy S. behind the aforementioned Auguste Rodin.
Of Andrew Balding's quartet, three bear the colours of King Power Racing led by G2 Royal Lodge S. hero The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}).
The second entry stage is set for Tuesday, Apr. 4.
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War Front’s Ancient Rome Returns In Style At Chantilly
Coolmore and Westerberg's dual Group 1-placed 4-year-old colt Ancient Rome (War Front–Gagnoa {Ire}, by Sadler's Wells) returns off a ninth in June's G1 Prix du Jockey Club when last seen and registers a stylish comeback win at Chantilly in his first start for over nine months.
6th-Chantilly, €18,000, Cond, 3-7, 4yo, 9f (AWT), 1:50.78, st.
ANCIENT ROME (c, 4, War Front–Gagnoa {Ire} {MGSW & MG1SP-Fr, G1SP-Ire, $597,492}, by Sadler's Wells) snagged the G3 Prix des Chenes and placed in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International as a juvenile, but had not been seen since running ninth in last June's G1 Prix du Jockey Club on the turf here. Under a tight grip in fourth for the most part, the 1-2 favourite loomed large out wide with 350 metres remaining and coasted home in second gear once cruising to the front approaching the final furlong. At the line, he was value for much more than the half-length margin back to Marvanco (Fr) (George Vancouver). Ancient Rome is the seventh of 10 foals and one of seven scorers from as many runners produced by MGSW G1 Prix Saint-Alary, G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Irish Oaks placegetter Gagnoa (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). He is a full-brother to G3 Naas Juvenile Fillies Sprint victrix Etoile and kin to Listed Prix Amandine third Galateia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and a 2-year-old filly and yearling filly by Justify. The January-foaled dark bay's dam, who was bred to Gun Runner last year, is kin to three black-type winners, namely G1 Derby-winning sire Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), GSW G1 Irish Derby third Dawn Patrol (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Listed Salsabil S. victrix Kissed (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Gagnoa's siblings also include the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Lifetime Record: GSW & MG1SP-Fr, 10-4-2-1, €222,030. Video, sponsored by TVG.
O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Westerberg; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Andre Fabre.
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Forte Tabbed as Morning Line Favorite for KD Future Wager Pool 6
Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's champion and last weekend's GII Fountain of Youth S. winner Forte (Violence) was tabbed as the 4-1 overall morning line betting favorite for Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which is set to open at noon on Friday. The pool will run concurrently with the first and only pool for the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager.
In addition to $2 win and exacta betting, an Oaks/Derby Future Double will be offered. The Kentucky Derby Future Wager closes Sunday at 6 p.m. EST while the Oaks Future Wager will close 30 minutes later at 6:30 p.m. EST.
The complete field for Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (with morning line odds): #1 Angel of Empire (Classic Empire), 30-1; #2 Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo), 10-1; #3 Arabian Lion (Justify), 50-1; #4 Blazing Sevens (Good Magic), 40-1; #5 Cagliostro (Upstart), 99-1; #6 Cairo (IRE) (Quality Road), 50-1; #7 Classic Car Wash (Noble Bird), 99-1; #8 Classic Catch (Classic Empire) 50-1; #9 Confidence Game (Candy Ride {Arg}), 30-1; #10 Congruent (Tapit), 80-1; #11 Cyclone Mischief (Into Mischief); #12 Denington (Gun Runner), 80-1; #13 Disarm (Gun Runner), 99-1; #14 Forte; #15 Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}), 20-1; #16 General Jim (Into Mischief), 80-1; #17 Hejazi (Bernardini), 40-1; #18 Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}), 30-1; #19 Instant Coffee (Bolt d'Oro), 30-1; #20 Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo), 50-1; #21 Litigate (Blame), 50-1; #22 Mage (Good Magic), 80-1; #23 Major Dude (Bolt d'Oro), 50-1; #24 Mandarin Hero (Jpn) (Shanghai Bobby), 50-1; #25 National Treasure (Quality Road), 30-1; #26 Perriere (Jpn) (Henny Hughes), 50-1; #27 Practical Move (Practical Joke), 8-1; #28 Raise Cain (Violence), 50-1; #29 Red Route One (Gun Runner), 40-1; #30 Reincarnate (Good Magic), 30-1; #31 Rocket Can (Into Mischief), 40-1; #32 Skinner (Curlin), 40-1; #33 Sun Thunder (Into Mischief), 99-1; #34 Tapit Trice (Tapit), 15-1; #35 Tapit's Conquest (Tapit), 80-1; #36 Two Eagles River (Cloud Computing), 80-1: #37 Two Phil's (Hard Spun), 80-1; #38 Verifying (Justify), 50-1; #39 Victory Formation (Tapwrit), 80-1; and #40 “All Other 3-Year-Olds”, 5-1.
In the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, champion Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) was made the 8-1 morning line favorite in the field of 39 individual betting interests plus an option for “All Other 3-Year-Old Fillies” from the 2020 foal crop that were not listed.
The $3 million GI Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve will be constest Saturday, May 6 and the $1.25 million GI Longines Kentucky Oaks will run one day prior on Friday, May 5.
More information, Brisnet past performances and real-time odds on both wagers will be available online before the pool opens Friday. The sixth and final pool for the KDFW will open on Mar. 30.
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