MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm's Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah) vaulted to second in the NTRA Top 3-Year-Old poll this week, following his dominant Saturday performance in the G2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park. Prior to that first two-turn test of his career, Forbidden Kingdom was ranked 15th for his Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella.
The Three-Year-Old poll represents horses competing up and through the Triple Crown. Voting is conducted by national media.
Epicenter (Not This Time) retained his position atop the poll this week with eight first-place votes. The Steve Asmussen trainee has won three of his five starts and tops the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 64 points earned. He is expected to target the G2 Louisiana Derby on March 26.
Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Simplification (Not This Time) moved up to the third spot from 18th last week. The Antonio Sano-trained colt has won three of his six starts and possesses 54 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
The full 3-year-old rankings, along with points earned* and previous week's ranking, are as follows:
- Epicenter (295 – 1st)
- Forbidden Kingdom (281 – 15th)
- Simplification (220 – 18th)
- Messier (206 – 3rd)
- Smile Happy (174 – 2nd)
- Classic Causeway (161 – 4th)
- White Abarrio (129 – 5th)
- Morello (103 – n/a)
- Secret Oath (88 – 7th)
- Zandon (63 – 9th)
Meanwhile, Pegasus World Cup winner Life Is Good, trained by Todd Pletcher, continues to lead the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll. The Top Thoroughbred poll represents horses competing for Horse of the Year. The Top Thoroughbred Poll concludes on Tuesday, Nov. 8 following the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
The full Top Thoroughbred rankings, along with points earned* and previous week's ranking, are as follows:
- Life Is Good (354 – 1st)
- Letruska (268 – 2nd)
- Colonel Liam (206 – 3rd)
- Express Train (204 – 10th)
- Hot Rod Charlie (203 – 4th)
- Flightline (154 – 5th)
- Mandaloun (94 – 6th)
- Speakers Corner (84 – 27th)
- Midnight Bourbon (79 – 7th)
- Country Grammer (75 – 8th)
*Points earned on both polls are on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 basis.
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