National Treasure ‘s gutsy win in the May 20 Preakness Stakes (G1) carried him to a third-place posting in this week’s NTRA Top Three-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll. The Quality Road colt had been outside the top 20 after missing the Kentucky Derby (G1) but now is on his way to the Belmont Stakes (G1) as one of the top two early choices for the third leg of U.S. racing’s Triple Crown.
Forte received the most first-place votes, 16, despite not appearing in either the Derby or the Preakness. However, Derby winner Mage retained the top spot in the Three-Year-Old Poll with more total points, 296 to 294. Mage, the beaten favorite in the Preakness, garnered 11 first-place votes.
The Three-Year-Old poll represents horses competing up to and through the Triple Crown. The complete top 10 after Preakness weekend, in descending order (with total points): Mage (296), Forte (294), National Treasure (269), Two Phil’s (253), Angel of Empire (203), Blazing Sevens (147), Practical Move (108), Tapit Trice (107), Arabian Lion (48), and Disarm (43).
In the companion Top Thoroughbred Poll for horses competing for Horse of the Year there were no significant changes, as none of the leading older horses competed last weekend.
Week 17 of the polls conducted by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) covers racing performances through May 21. Voting is conducted by national media. Rankings on both polls are determined by votes on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 basis.
To see the complete results, including votes by voter, click here.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
