Gary and Mary West's West Will Power raced into the NTRA Poll's top 10 on July 1 with his half-length victory over a fast-closing Rattle N Roll in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes — run this year at Ellis Park after the final weeks of the Churchill Downs meet were moved to the Henderson, Ky., track.
Under Flavien Prat, West Will Power was winning his first career Grade 1 stakes, defeating fellow G1 winners Rattle N Roll, Proxy, and Stilleto Boy, among others. Both Proxy (previously No. 8) and Smile Happy (No. 9) were knocked out of the top 10 with their losing performances in the Stephen Foster. Goodnight Olive moved up to the 10 spot.
West Will Power was sent away the 2-1 favorite in the 1 1/8-mile contest.
Cody's Wish, unbeaten in two starts this year, remains at the top of the NTRA Poll with 26 first-place votes.
This is Week 23 of the 2023 NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), covering racing performances through July 2. Voting is conducted by national media.
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 is done 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.
Other horses receiving votes: RATTLE N ROLL (38), FORTE (17), PRETTY MISCHIEVOUS (16), MAGE (11), SMILE HAPPY (8), TWO PHIL'S (8), PROXY (8), GUNITE (7), ARCANGELO (7), ARABIAN LION (7), TAIBA (4), MODERN GAMES (3), COUNTRY GRAMMER (2), EMMANUEL (2), NEST (2), ZOZOS (2), PLAYED HARD (1)
The post NTRA Poll: West Will Power Moves Into No. 4 Spot With Stephen Foster Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
