IN A NUTSHELL: The National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s latest Top Thoroughbred poll was released today, with Wise Dan — winner of this weekend’s Grade 2 Bernard Baruch — remaining in the top spot. Indeed, the top five were identical to last week’s, and this week’s poll included nine of the top 10 from last week.
NEW ARRIVAL: Itsmyluckyday was the poll’s lone new arrival. The Eddie Plesa trainee, second in the Grade 1 Whitney early in the Saratoga meet, locked down sixth place by taking down Moreno to win the Grade 1 Woodward at meet’s end. Itsmyluckyday had been 21st in the prior poll.
FILLIES: Two fillies are on the list: Close Hatches, the overwhelming winner of the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on Travers weekend, and three-year-old Untapable, whose lone defeat in five starts came against males in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational.
UNCERTAIN: Five different horses received at least two votes for first place in the poll. Wise Dan’s 28 votes were the most, followed by six for Shared Belief.
SOPHOMORES: Four of the top 10 — Shared Belief, California Chrome, Wicked Strong, and Untapable — are three-year-olds. The rest are older.
NTRA TOP THOROUGHBRED POLL
- Wise Dan
- Shared Belief
- California Chrome
- Close Hatches
- Palace Malice
- Itsmyluckyday
- Wicked Strong
- Moreno
- Untapable
- Main Sequence
Note: The Racing Biz writers Nick Hahn and Frank Vespe are voters in the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll.
