Angel of Empire Ascends in Latest Poll of Kentucky Derby Hopefuls

Racing
Angel of Empire wins the Risen Star Stakes to earn 50 points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby. (Ben Breland/Eclipse 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 4 of the 2023 NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the (NTRA) covers racing performances through Feb. 20, 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. 21, 2023

Forte. (Gary Johnson/Eclipse Sportswire)

1. Forte (18 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: Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 4 at Gulfstream Park


Arabian Knight. (Tommy Land/Eclipse Sportswire)

2. Arabian Knight (13 first-place votes)

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Bob Baffert

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


Instant Coffee. (Carson Blevins/Eclipse Sportswire)

3. Instant Coffee 

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


Cave Rock. (Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire)

4. 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


Angel of Empire. (Ben Breland/Eclipse Sportswire.)

5. 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


Rocket Can. (Liz Lamont/Eclipse Sportswire)

6. 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: TBD


Hit Show. (Candice Chavez/Eclipse Sportswire)

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 presented by NYRA Bets April 1 at Aqueduct


Reincarnate. (Evers/Eclipse Sportswire)

8. Reincarnate

Owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan

Trainer: Tim Yakteen

Jockey: Juan Hernandez

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

Last race: 1st, Sham Stakes, Jan. 8 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Rebel Stakes, Feb. 25 at Oaklawn Park


Blazing Sevens. (Eclipse Sportswire)

9. Blazing Sevens

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: TBD


Litigate. (Carson Blevins/Eclipse Sportswire)

10. Litigate

Owners: 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


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