A ‘Confident’ New Contender Cracks the Latest Kentucky Derby Poll
Each week, members of the national media vote on the nation’s top contenders on the Triple Crown Trail in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top Thoroughbred Poll.
Week 5 of the 2023 NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll, conducted by the (NTRA), covers race performance through February 28, 2023.
The 3 year survey represents horses competing up to and through the Triple Crown. The leaderboards are based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 voting system. First place votes are in parentheses.
AMERICA’S BEST THROUGHBloods FOR FEB. 27th, 2023
1. Strength (22 First Place Votes)
Owner: Repole Stable and St Elias Stable
Trainer: death plecher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Record 2023: N / A
Last race: 1StFanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance 4th Nov at Keeneland Race Course
Next race: Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 4th at Gulfstream Park
2. Arabian Knight (11 first place votes)
Owner: Zedan racing stables
Trainer: Tim Yakteen
Jockey: John Velazquez
Record 2023: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1StSouthwest Stakes, January 28 at Oaklawn Park
Next race: Arkansas Derby, April 1 at Oaklawn Park
3. Instant coffee (1 first vote)
Owner: Golden Square
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luis Saez
Record 2023: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1StLecomte Stakes, January 21 at the Fairgrounds
Next race: Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 25 at the Fairgrounds
4. Trust game
Owner: Don’t tell my wife Stables
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Jockey: James Graham
Record 2023: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third
Last race: 1st, Rebel Stakes, February 25 at Oaklawn Park
Next race: TBD, either the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby on March 25 at the Fairgrounds, or the Arkansas Derby on April 1 at Oaklawn Park, or the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes on April 8 at Keeneland Race Course
5. Cave Rock
Owner: Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Record 2023: N / A
Last race: 2ndFanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance 4th Nov at Keeneland Race Course
Next race: open
6. Angels of the Empire
Owner: Stables of the Albaugh family
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luis Saez
Record 2023: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Lincoln and Lamarque Crescent City Ford, February 18th at the Fairgrounds
Next race: TBD, either Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 25 at Fairgrounds, or Arkansas Derby, April 1 at Oaklawn Park, or Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 8 at Keeneland Race Course
7. Press View
Owner: Gary and Mary West
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: man Franco
Record 2023: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1StWithers Stakes, February 11 at Aqueduct
Next race: Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, April 1st at Aqueduct
8th. rocket can
Owner: Frank Fletcher racing operations
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Record 2023: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Holy Bull Stakes, February 4th at Gulfstream Park
Next race: Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 4th at Gulfstream Park
9. Flaming sevens
Owner: Rodeo Creek Race
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Record 2023: N / A
Last race: 4thFanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance 4th Nov at Keeneland Race Course
Next race: Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 4th at Gulfstream Park
10 (tie). process
Owner: Centenarian farms
Trainer: death plecher
Jockey: Luis Saez
Record 2023: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 1StSam F. Davis Stakes, February 11 at Tampa Bay Downs
Next race: open
10 (tie). reincarnate
Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan
Trainer: Tim Yakteen
Jockey: John Velazquez
Record 2023: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third
Last race: 3approxRebel Stakes, February 25 at Oaklawn Park
Next race: TBD, possibly the Arkansas Derby, April 1 at Oaklawn Park
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