Angel of Empire Ascends in Latest Poll of Kentucky Derby Hopefuls
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 4 of the 2023 NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll, conducted by the (NTRA), covers race performance through February 20, 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. 21st, 2023
1. Strength (18 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: Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 4 at Gulfstream Park
2. Arabian Knight (13 First Place Votes)
Owner: Zedan racing stables
Trainer: Bob Baffert
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
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. 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
5. 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
6. 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: open
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 presented by NYRA Bets on April 1st at the Aqueduct
8. Reincarnate
Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan
Trainer: Tim Yakteen
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Record 2023: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1StSham Stakes, January 8th at Santa Anita Park
Next race: Rebel Stakes, February 25 at Oaklawn 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: open
10. Legal Proceedings
Owner: Centennial 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
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