Tapit Trice Vaults Upward in New Kentucky Derby Contenders Poll

Racing
Tapit Trice wins the Tampa Bay Derby and moves up in the NTRA poll of top 3-year-olds of 2023. (Carson Blevins/Ecipse Sportswire)

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 the 2023 Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the NTRA covers racing performances through March 14, 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 3-YEAR-OLD THOROUGHBREDS FOR MARCH 14, 2023

Forte. (Liz Lamont/Eclipse Sportswire)

1. Forte (31 first-place votes)

Owners: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

2023 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1stFountain of Youth Stakes, March 4 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Curlin Florida Derby, March 4 at Gulfstream Park


Jon Putman/Eclipse Sportswire

2. Practical Move (1 first-place vote)

Owners: Leslie Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr. and Roger Beasley

Trainer: Tim Yakteen

Jockey: Ramon Vazquez

2023 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1stSan Felipe Stakes, March 4 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Santa Anita Derby, April 8 at Santa Anita Park


Tapit Trice. (Carson Blevins/Eclipse Sportswire)

3. Tapit Trice

Owners: Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Luis Saez

2023 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, March 11 at Tampa Bay Downs

Next race: Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 8 at Keeneland Race Course


Instant Coffee. (Candice Chavez/Eclipse Sportswire)

4. Instant Coffee 

Owner: Gold Square

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Luis Saez

2023 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1stLecomte Stakes, Jan. 21 at Fair Grounds

Next race: Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 25 at Fair Grounds


Confidence Game. (Carson Blevins/Eclipse Sportswire)

5. Confidence Game

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


Arabian Knight. (Ted McClenning/Eclipse Sportswire)

6. Arabian Knight 

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Tim Yakteen

Jockey: John Velazquez

2023 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1stSouthwest Stakes, Jan. 28 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: TBD


Rocket Can. (Liz Lamont/Eclipse Sportswire)

7. Rocket Can

Owner: Frank Fletcher Racing Operations

Trainer: Bill Mott

Jockey: Junior Alvarado

2023 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 2ndFountain of Youth Stakes, Feb. 4 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Curlin Florida Derby, March 4 at Gulfstream Park


Angel of Empire. (Ben Breland/Eclipse Sportswire)

8. Angel of Empire

Owner: Albaugh Family Stables

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Luis Saez

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


Hit Show. (Jason Moran/Eclipse Sportswire)

9. 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: 1stWithers Stakes, Feb. 11 at Aqueduct

Next race: Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino, April 8 at Aqueduct


Cave Rock. (Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire)

10. Cave Rock

Owners: Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Juan Hernandez

2023 record: N/A

Last race: 2ndFanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Nov. 4 at Keeneland Race Course

Next race: TBD

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