Angel Of Empire's upset win in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes boosted the son of Classic Empire to fifth in Week Four of the NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll. The longest price at 13-1 of three Brad Cox-trained Risen Star starters, Angel of Empire edged clear in the stretch to defeat Sun Thunder in the 1 1/8 mile race at Fair Grounds.
Another Risen Star starter from the Cox barn, the previously undefeated Victory Formation had been ranked in sixth position but dropped out of the top 10 to 14th after fading to finish ninth.
The Top 3-Year-Old Poll of 2023 continues to be led by Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Forte, a son of Violence trained by Todd Pletcher. The colt has not yet started this year, but is expected to target the Florida Road to the Kentucky Derby.
In second position is remains G3 Southwest winner Arabian Knight (trained by Bob Baffert), while G3 Lecomte winner Instant Coffee sits in third (Cox).
The 3-Year-Old poll represents horses competing up and through the Triple Crown.
TOP THREE-YEAR OLD POLL
Week Four of the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll remains mostly unchanged, with Pegasus World Cup winner Art Collector remaining atop the bunch. The Bill Mott trainee kicked off his 6-year-old season with the biggest win of his career, drawing away to win the Grade 1, $3 million Pegasus World Cup by 4 1/2 lengths. Art Collector, sired by Bernardini, now owns 11 wins from 21 starts with earnings over $4 million.
Taiba is next on the Top Thoroughbred Poll, the 4-year-old Gun Runner colt's most recent start a win in the G1 Malibu on Dec. 26. Trained by Bob Baffert, Taiba is expected to target the Saudi Cup. Country Grammer, most recently winner of the Dec. 26 San Antonio Stakes and also trained by Baffert, comes in at third on the poll, while stablemate and Pegasus runner-up Defunded sits in fourth. Taiba and Country Grammer are expected to start in this Saturday's $20 million Saudi Cup.
TOP THOROUGHBRED POLL
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