Week 11 of the 2023 NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll and the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), covering racing performances through April 9. Voting is conducted by national media.
The 3-Year-Old poll represents horses competing up and through the Triple Crown.
The Top Thoroughbred poll represents horses competing for Horse of the Year. The Top Thoroughbred Poll concludes on Tuesday, Nov. 7 following the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
Rankings on both polls are on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 basis with first place votes in parentheses, 2023 record and total points. A-S: Age-Sex, Sex: C-colt, G-gelding, H-horse, F-filly, M-mare, R-ridgling.
The victory by Tapit Trice in the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes on April 8 gave trainer Todd Pletcher the top two spots and three of the top five in the 3-Year-Old poll, with G1 Florida Derby winner and reigning champion Forte maintaining his No. 1 position. Pletcher-trained Kingsbarns occupies the No. 5 spot following his G2 TwinSpires Louisiana Derby win on March 25.
Two horses moved into the top 10 for the first time. Blue Grass runner-up Verifying jumped up to No. 8 from 32, joining fellow Brad Cox runner Angel of Empire, winner of the G1 Arkansas Derby on April 1 and ranked at No. 4. Japanese-bred Mandarin Hero, who came up a nose short of Practical Move in the G1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 8, made the list for the first time after his U.S. debut.
Other horses receiving votes: MAGE (66 points), HIT SHOW (25), WET PAINT (24), LORD MILES (24), FAIZA (22), ARABIAN KNIGHT (14), CAVE ROCK (12), SKINNER (11), MUNNYS GOLD (9), ROCKET CAN (7), REINCARNATE (5), BLAZING SEVENS (4), DISARM (2), CYCLONE MISCHIEF (2), GEAUX ROCKET RIDE (2), AFFIRMATIVE LADY (1)
In the Top Thoroughbred Poll, 2022 champion male sprinter Elite Power remained at No. 1 off his lone 2023 start, an impressive victory in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint on the Saudi Cup card at King Abdulaziz racecourse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Other horses receiving votes: FORTE (51 points), DEFUNDED (46), SIBELIUS (40), PROXY (37), A MO REAY (34), CARAVEL (34), TAIBA (25), MODERN GAMES (21), CLAIRIERE (17), ENDORSED (15), IN ITALIAN (14), TAPIT TRICE (12), WAR LIKE GODDESS (10), STAINLESS STEEL (9), EMMANUEL (8), PRACTICAL MOVE (8), DOPPELGANGER (8), MATAREYA (7), ATONE (6), GUNITE (4), SPOOKY CHANNEL (2), AMAZING GRACE (1), CHARGE IT (1)
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