Preakness Quick Sheet: Get to Know the 2021 Preakness Horses
A 'Confident' New Contender Cracks the Latest Kentucky Derby Poll
RacingEach 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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