Three New Contenders Crack Latest Triple Crown Top Ten 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 6 of NTRA’s Best 3 Year Old Thoroughbreds Poll of 2023 covers race performances through March 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 3 YEAR OLD THROUGHBloods FOR MARCH 28, 2023
1. Strength (34 First Place Votes)
Owner: Repole Stable and St Elias Stable
Trainer: death plecher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Record 2023: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1StFountain of Youth Stakes, March 4th at Gulfstream Park
Next race: Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Xalapa, April 1 at Gulfstream Park
2. Practical move (1 first vote)
Owner: Leslie Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr and Roger Beasley
Trainer: Tim Yakteen
Jockey: Ramon Vazquez
Record 2023: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1StSan Felipe Stakes, March 4th at Santa Anita Park
Next race: Santa Anita Derby, April 8th at Santa Anita Park
3. Tapit Trice
Owner: Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable
Trainer: death plecher
Jockey: Luis Saez
Record 2023: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1StLambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, March 11 at Tampa Bay Downs
Next race: Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 8 at Keeneland Race Course
4. King’s Barn (1 first vote)
Owner: spendthrift farm
Trainer: death plecher
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Record 2023: 3 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1StTwinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 25 at the Fairgrounds
Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6th at Churchill Downs
5. 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, Possibly Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 8 at Keeneland Race Course
6. Two Phils
Owner: Patricia’s Hope and Phillip Sagan
Trainer: Larry Rivelli
Jockey: Jareth Loveberry
Record 2023: 3 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 1 third
Last race: 1StJeff Ruby Steaks, March 25 at Turfway Park
Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6th at Churchill Downs
7. Rocket can
Owner: Frank Fletcher racing operations
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Record 2023: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 2ndFountain of Youth Stakes, February 4th at Gulfstream Park
Next race: Arkansas Derby, April 1 at Oaklawn Park
8. (tie) 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: Arkansas Derby, April 1 at Oaklawn Park
8. (Draw) hit show
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 Resorts World Casino, April 8th at Aqueduct
10. Derma Sotogake
Owner: Hiroyuki Asanuma
Trainer: Hidetaka Otonashi
Jockey: Christopher Lemaire
Record 2023: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third
Last race: 1StUAE Derby Sponsored by Atlantis the Royal, March 25th at Meydan Racecourse
Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6th at Churchill Downs