Arcangelo Soars to No. 2 in NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll after Travers Stakes Victory. (Janet Garaguso)
NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll – August 29, 2023
NTRA Release/Maribeth Kalinich
Blue Rose Farm’s Arcangelo ascended to the number two position on the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll with his brilliant victory in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes last Saturday at Saratoga.
The win made trainer Jena Anatoucci the second woman in history to win the Travers. It also assured the Arrogate ridgling a battle for 3-year-old of the year honors.
Godolphin’s Cody’s Wish, who maintained a strong second for several weeks, rose to the top of the Poll this week. He was rewarded for his third-place performance in the Grade 1 Whitney where he was leaning on the right side of the stall a bit unprepared for the start when the latch was sprung and lost his hind footing skidding out of the gate and conceding three to four lengths to the front before settling into stride.
Juddmonte’s Elite Power went to number three in the Poll also for trainer Mott based on his victory by a head over Gunite, number six in the Poll, in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga.
L and N Racing LLC and Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC’s Echo Zulu arrived to the top ten in the number four spot for her gallant victory over Goodnight Olive in the Grade 1 Ballerina. The Gun Runner filly, trained by Steve Asmussen, earned a 120 Equibase Speed Figure for her run.
C Two Racing Stable and Antonio Pagnano’s Grade 1 Whitney champ White Abarrio is in the number five position for his new trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr., in his first stakes win at Saratoga since being reinstate.
Up to the Mark, owned by Repole Stable an St. Elias Stable and also trained by Pletcher, who had a brilliant win in the Grade 1 Manhattan, dropped to number seven.
LRE Racing LLC and JEH Racing Stable LLC’s Casa Creed rose to the top ten in position number eight of the Poll with his exciting victory for trainer Bill Mott in the Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap on the turf.
Juddmonte’s Idiomatic popped into the top ten at number nine for her amazing win over both Nest and Clairiere in the Grade 2 Personal Ensign at Saratoga. The Brad Cox-trainee bested Secret Oath by four lengths who just beat Nest for place by a neck.
The lovely Todd Pletcher trainee Nest dropped to number ten for owners Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House. The Curlin filly won the Grade 2 Scuvee over rival Clairiere who sat at number six last week but dropped out of the top 10.
Week 31 of the 2023 NTRA Top Three-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll and the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), covering racing performances through August 20. Voting is conducted by national media.
The Top Thoroughbred poll represents horses competing for Horse of the Year. The Top Thoroughbred Poll concludes on Tuesday, November 7 following the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
TOP THOROUGHBRED POLL
| HORSE | A-S | STATS | POINTS | PVS | |
| 1 | CODY’S WISH (6) | 5-H | 3-2-0-1 | 292 | 2 |
| 2 | ARCANGELO (21) | 3-R | 5-4-0-0 | 290 | 15 |
| 3 | ELITE POWER (3) | 5-H | 4-3-1-0 | 251 | 1 |
| 4 | ECHO ZULU (2) | 4-F | 3-3-0-0 | 216 | 22 |
| 5 | WHITE ABARRIO (1) | 4-C | 4-2-0-1 | 200 | 4 |
| 6 | GUNITE (2) | 4-C | 6-3-2-1 | 190 | 14 |
| 7 | UP TO THE MARK (2) | 4-C | 5-4-0-1 | 140 | 5 |
| 8 | CASA CREED | 7-H | 4-2-1-1 | 79 | 8 |
| 9 | IDIOMATIC | 4-F | 7-6-1-0 | 67 | 36 |
| 10 | NEST | 4-F | 2-1-0-1 | 65 | 3 |
Other horses receiving votes: In Italian (40), Geaux Rocket Ride (36), Pretty Mischievous (21), Caravel (15), Zandon (15), Bolshoi Ballet (12), West Will Power (12), Goodnight Olive (11), Forte (11), New York Thunder (11), Disarm (10), Proxy (8), Rattle N Roll (8), Maple Leaf Mel (8), Clairiere (6), Defunded (6), Mage (4), Next (4), Set Piece (3), Prince Of Monaco (2), Randomized (1), Secret Oath (1)
Rankings on both polls are on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 basis with first place votes in parentheses, 2023 record and total points. A-S: Age-Sex, Sex: C-colt, G-gelding, H-horse, F-filly, M-mare, R-ridgling.
