By 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 racing performances through Feb. 28, 2023.
The 3-year-old poll represents horses competing up to and through the Triple Crown. Rankings are based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 voting system. First place votes are in parentheses.
AMERICA’S TOP THOROUGHBREDS FOR FEB. 27, 2023
1. Forte (22 first-place votes)
Owners: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
2023 record: N/A
Last race: 1st, FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Nov. 4 at Keeneland Race Course
Next race: Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 4 at Gulfstream Park
2. Arabian Knight (11 first-place votes)
Owner: Zedan Racing Stables
Trainer: Tim Yakteen
Jockey: John Velazquez
2023 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Southwest Stakes, Jan. 28 at Oaklawn Park
Next race: Arkansas Derby, April 1 at Oaklawn Park
3. Instant Coffee (1 first-place vote)
Owner: Gold Square
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luis Saez
2023 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Lecomte Stakes, Jan. 21 at Fair Grounds
Next race: Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 25 at Fair Grounds
Owner: Don’t Tell My Wife Stables
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Jockey: James Graham
2023 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third
Last race: 1st, Rebel Stakes, Feb. 25 at Oaklawn Park
Next race: TBD, either the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 25 at Fair Grounds, or Arkansas Derby, April 1 at Oaklawn Park, or Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 8 at Keeneland Race Course
5. Cave Rock
Owners: Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
2023 record: N/A
Last race: 2nd, FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Nov. 4 at Keeneland Race Course
Next race: TBD
Owner: Albaugh Family Stables
2023 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Lincoln and Lamarque Crescent City Ford , Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds
Next race: TBD, either Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 25 at Fair Grounds, or Arkansas Derby, April 1 at Oaklawn Park, or Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 8 at Keeneland Race Course
7. Hit Show
Owners: Gary and Mary West
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Manny Franco
2023 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Withers Stakes, Feb. 11 at Aqueduct
Next race: Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, April 1 at Aqueduct
8. Rocket Can
Owner: Frank Fletcher Racing Operations
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
2023 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Holy Bull Stakes, Feb. 4 at Gulfstream Park
Next race: Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 4 at Gulfstream Park
Owner: Rodeo Creek Racing
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Flavien Prat
2023 record: N/A
Last race: 4th, FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Nov. 4 at Keeneland Race Course
Next race: Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 4 at Gulfstream Park
10 (tie). Litigate
Owner: Centennial Farms
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Luis Saez
2023 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Sam F. Davis Stakes, Feb. 11 at Tampa Bay Downs
Next race: TBD
10 (tie). Reincarnate
Trainer: Tim Yakteen
Jockey: John Velazquez
2023 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third
Last race: 3rd, Rebel Stakes, Feb. 25 at Oaklawn Park
Next race: TBD, possibly the Arkansas Derby, April 1 at Oaklawn Park
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