Champion juvenile colt Forte secured his place atop Week 10 of the NTRA's Top 3-Year-Old Poll with a one-length win in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, overcoming traffic trouble to pass Mage in late stretch. The Todd Pletcher-trained son of Violence completed 1 1/8 miles over Gulfstream's fast main track in 1:49. 37. Last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner, Forte has led every edition of the poll thus far.
The biggest mover of the week was Angel of Empire, a dominant 4 1/4-length winner of the G1 Arkansas Derby for trainer Brad Cox. The son of Classic Empire previously captured the G2 Risen Star at the Fair Grounds and finished second in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn.
Practical Move, impressive winner of the G2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita, dropped to third position this week. The Tim Yakteen-trained son of Practical Joke is expected to start in this Saturday's G1 Santa Anita Derby.
G2 Tampa Bay Derby winner Tapit Trice sits in fourth (Todd Pletcher); G2 Louisiana Derby winner Kingsbarns is fifth (Pletcher); G3 Jeff Ruby Steaks winner Two Phil's is sixth (Larry Rivelli); G2 Rebel winner Confidence Game is seventh (Keith Desormeaux); G2 UAE Derby winner Derma Sotogake (Hidetaka Otonashi) and G3 Withers winner Hit Show (Cox) are tied in eighth; and G2 San Felipe runner-up Geaux Rocket Ride is tenth (Richard Mandella)
The 3-Year-Old poll represents horses competing up and through the Triple Crown.
TOP THREE-YEAR OLD POLL
The post NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll: Forte Secures Lead, Angel Of Empire Jumps To Second Spot appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
