Angel of Empire, the longest price at 13-1 of three Brad Cox-trained Risen Star Stakes (G2) starters, edged clear in the stretch to defeat Sun Thunder in the 1 1/8 mile race at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Photo: Hodges Photography
NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll – February 21, 2023
Week 4 of the 2023 NTRA Top Three-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll and the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), covering racing performances through February 20. Voting is conducted by national media.
The Three-Year-Old poll represents horses competing up and through the Triple Crown.
The Top Thoroughbred poll represents horses competing for Horse of the Year. The Top Thoroughbred Poll concludes on Tuesday, November 7 following the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Rankings on both polls are on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 basis with first place votes in parentheses, 2023 record and total points. A-S: Age-Sex, Sex: C-colt, G-gelding, H-horse, F-filly, M-mare, R-ridgling.
TOP THREE-YEAR OLD POLL
| HORSE | A-S | STATS | POINTS | PVS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FORTE (18) | 3-C | 0-0-0-0 | 307 | 1 |
| 2 | ARABIAN KNIGHT (13) | 3-C | 1-1-0-0 | 293 | 2 |
| 3 | INSTANT COFFEE | 3-C | 1-1-0-0 | 229 | 3 |
| 4 | CAVE ROCK | 3-C | 0-0-0-0 | 163 | 4 |
| 5 | ANGEL OF EMPIRE | 3-C | 2-1-1-0 | 111 | - |
| 6 | ROCKET CAN | 3-C | 1-1-0-0 | 109 | 5 |
| 7 | HIT SHOW | 3-C | 1-1-0-0 | 100 | 7 |
| 8 | REINCARNATE | 3-C | 1-1-0-0 | 77 | 8 |
| 9 | BLAZING SEVENS | 3-C | 0-0-0-0 | 68 | 9 |
| 10 | LITIGATE | 3-C | 2-1-1-0 | 61 | 10 |
Other horses receiving votes: TAPIT TRICE (37), HAVNAMELTDOWN (27), NATIONAL TREASURE (24), VICTORY FORMATION (22), NEWGATE (20), VERIFYING (19), FAUSTIN (19), PRACTICAL MOVE-1 (15), RED ROUTE ONE (12), LOGGINS (12), PRETTY MISCHIEVOUS (12), HEJAZI-1 (10), VICTORIA ROAD (8), BISHOPS BAY (6), LUGAN KNIGHT (6), MAJOR DUDE (6), SUN THUNDER (5), GENERAL JIM (5), HARD TO FIGURE (5), CHASE THE CHAOS (4), THE ALYS LOOK (3), HOOSIER PHILLY (3), CARMEL ROAD (3), GIANT MISCHIEF (3), CAGLIOSTRO (2), GROVELAND (2), TWO PHIL’S (2), JACE’S ROAD (2), DENINGTON (1), WONDER WHEEL (1), DUBYUHNELL (1)
TOP THOROUGHBRED POLL
| HORSE | A-S | STATS | POINTS | PVS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ART COLLECTOR (19) | 6-H | 1-1-0-0 | 303 | 1 |
| 2 | TAIBA (9) | 4-C | 0-0-0-0 | 258 | 2 |
| 3 | COUNTRY GRAMMER (3) | 6-H | 0-0-0-0 | 180 | 4 |
| 4 | DEFUNDED | 5-G | 1-0-1-0 | 163 | 3 |
| 5 | CODY'S WISH | 5-H | 0-0-0-0 | 130 | 6 |
| 6 | ATONE | 6-G | 1-1-0-0 | 121 | 5 |
| 7 | NEST | 4-F | 0-0-0-0 | 115 | 7 |
| 8 | ELITE POWER | 5-H | 0-0-0-0 | 80 | 8 |
| 9 | CLAIRIERE | 5-M | 0-0-0-0 | 64 | 9 |
| 10T | GUNITE | 4-C | 1-1-0-0 | 35 | 11 |
| 10T | GOODNIGHT OLIVE | 5-M | 0-0-0-0 | 35 | 12 |
| 10T | QUEEN GODDESS | 5-M | 1-1-0-0 | 35 | 10 |
Other horses receiving votes: LAST SAMURAI (31), CHARGE IT (30), IN ITALIAN (21), WAR LIKE GODDESS (19), NEWGRANGE-1 (18), PIONEER OF MEDINA (17), PROXY (17), FUN TO DREAM (17), REPO ROCKS (16), IVAR (15), MODERN GAMES-1 (14), STILLETO BOY (12), ARABIAN KNIGHT (9), WELL DEFINED (9), TWO EMMYS (7), ENDORSED (6), SIBELIUS (5), INTERSTATEDAYDREAM (5), A MO REAY (5), RED KNIGHT (5), PERSONAL BEST (5), FORTE (3), WEST WILL POWER (3), SECRET OATH (2), PAULINE’S PEARL (2), EMMANUEL (1), HOPKINS (1), THE CHOSEN VRON (1)