In the first NTRA Top Thoroughbred poll of the year on March 4, two standouts appeared on the polls voted on by the media. While many of the Top 10 in both the Top Thoroughbred and Top 3-Year-Old polls were not surprising, Game On Dude and Itsmyluckyday were the winners in their divisions.
Top Thoroughbred Poll
Last weekend’s Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner Game On Dude earned the most votes in the Top Thoroughbred Poll with 31 first place votes for 468 overall points. Game On Dude has been undefeated since finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Classic with three wins including two in 2013. The gelding has been a repeat winner in both his races this year, also winning the Santa Anita Handicap in 2011 and the San Antonio Stakes in 2012 and 2013. He was followed by Royal Delta with 342 points and Point of Entry with 277. Both horses have won their only start in 2013.
Week one of the 2013 NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), covering racing performances through March 3. Current Horse of the Year ranking of the Top Thoroughbred on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis with first place votes in parentheses, 2013 record and total points. Poll Concludes Monday, Nov. 4. A-S: Age-Sex, Sex: C-colt, G-gelding, H-horse, F-filly, M-mare, R-ridgling.
| Rank | Name (First place votes) | Age/Gender | 2013 Record | Overall points |
| 1 | Game On Dude (31) | 6-G | 2-2-0-0 | 468 |
| 2 | Royal Delta (4) | 5-M | 1-1-0-0 | 342 |
| 3 | Point Of Entry (1) | 5-H | 1-1-0-0 | 277 |
| 4 | Wise Dan (10) | 6-G | 0-0-0-0 | 264 |
| 5 | Fort Larned (3) | 5-H | 0-0-0-0 | 211 |
| 6 | Graydar (0) | 4-C | 1-1-0-0 | 177 |
| 7 | Ron The Greek (0) | 6-H | 2-1-0-0 | 140 |
| 8 | Suggestive Boy (0) | 5-H | 2-2-0-0 | 125 |
| 9 | Animal Kingdom (0) | 5-H | 1-0-1-0 | 102 |
| 10 | Little Mike (1) | 6-G | 0-0-0-0 | 69 |
Other horses receiving votes: Mizdirection (61), Mark Valeski (46), Comma To The Top (41), Groupie Doll (39), Itsmyluckyday (32), Vyjack (30), Beholder (29), Orb (26), Mucho Macho Man (19), Bourbon Courage (18), Dullahan (18), Flat Out (17), Data Link (16), Sahara Sky (16), Called To Serve (14), Successful Dan (13), Optimizer (12), Fort Loudon (11), Super Ninety Nine (11), Kauai Katie (10), Paynter (10), Shanghai Bobby (10), Verrazano (7), Great Hot (6), Joyful Victory (6), Revolutionary (6), Summer Applause (6), Clubhouse Ride (5), Golden Ticket (5), Swift Warrior (5), Flashback (4), Goldencents (4), Normandy Invasion (4), Teddy’s Promise (4), Discreet Dancer (3), Take Charge Indy (3), Cigar Street (2), Don’t Tell Sophia (2), Golden Mystery (2), Jeranimo (1), Live Lively (1)
Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll
Itsmyluckyday spoiled Shanghai Bobby’s undefeated record in the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park in his first graded stakes win. The Lawyer Ron colt broke the track record in the race, covering the 1 1/16 miles in a time of 1:41.81 to beat Shanghai Bobby by two lengths. Itsmyluckyday received 15 first place votes and earned 358 points with Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Orb receiving seven first place votes for 352 points and Gotham (G2) winner Vyjack earning 324 points to settle in third.
Week one of the 2013 NTRA Top Three-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), covering racing performances through March 3. Current ranking of the top Three-Year-Old Thoroughbred on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis with first place votes in parentheses, 2013 record and total points. Poll concludes Monday, June 10. A-S: Age-Sex, Sex: C-colt, G-gelding, H-horse, F-filly, M-mare, R-ridgling
| Rank | Name (First place votes) | Age/Gender | 2013 Record | Overall points |
|
1 |
Itsmyluckyday (15) | 3-C | 2-2-0-0 |
358 |
|
2 |
Orb (7) | 3-C | 2-2-0-0 |
352 |
|
3 |
Vyjack (10) | 3-G | 2-2-0-0 |
324 |
|
4 |
Verrazano (3) | 3-C | 2-2-0-0 |
265 |
|
5 |
Shanghai Bobby (3) | 3-C | 1-0-1-0 |
264 |
|
6 |
Flashback (3) | 3-C | 1-1-0-0 |
240 |
|
7 |
Revolutionary (4) | 3-C | 1-1-0-0 |
214 |
|
8 |
Goldencents (1) | 3-C | 1-1-0-0 |
169 |
|
9 |
Super Ninety Nine (1) | 3-C | 2-2-0-0 |
167 |
|
10 |
Beholder (1) | 3-F | 2-1-1-0 |
55 |
Other horses receiving votes: Normandy Invasion (49), Ive Struck A Nerve (40), Oxbow (34), Code West (30), Rydilluc (30), Treasury Bill (20), Falling Sky (16), Power Broker (15), Kauai Katie (14), Uncaptured (14), Dynamic Sky (12), Mac The Man (9), Palace Malice (7), Shakin It Up (6), Balance The Books (5), Live Lively (5), Overanalyze (5), Sahara Sky (5), Swift Warrior (4), West Hills Giant (4), Den’s Legacy (3), Unlimited Budget (3), Will Take Charge (3), General Election (2), Capo Bastone (1), Clearly Now (1), Delhomme (1), Departing (1), Dice Flavor (1), Salutos Amigos (1), Tiz The Truth (1)
NTRA Thoroughbred Poll Summary
NTRA Thoroughbred Poll Detail by Horse