
Trainer Mark Casse Not Worried About Quick Preakness Turnaround with Sandman
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 14 of the 2023 NTRA Top Three-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll, covers racing performances through April 30. A flip-flop between the seventh and eighth horses on this list was the only change from the previous week.
The Three-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 3-YEAR-OLD THOROUGHBREDS FOR MAY 1, 2023
1. Forte (28 first-place votes)
Owners: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
2023 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa, April 1 at Gulfstream Park
Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6 at Churchill Downs
2. Tapit Trice (2 first-place votes)
Owners: Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Luis Saez
2023 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 8 at Keeneland Race Course
Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6 at Churchill Downs
3. Practical Move (1 first-place vote)
Owners: Leslie Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr. and Roger Beasley
Trainer: Tim Yakteen
Jockey: Ramon Vazquez
2023 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, April 8 at Santa Anita Park
Next race: TBA (withdrawn from the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 4)
Owner: Albaugh Family Stables
Jockey: Flavien Prat
2023 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Arkansas Derby, April 1 at Oaklawn Park
Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6 at Churchill Downs
5. Kingsbarns (1 first-place vote)
Owner: Spendthrift Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
2023 record: 3 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Last race: 1st, Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 25 at Fair Grounds
Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6 at Churchill Downs
6. Derma Sotogake (1 first-place vote)
Owner: Hiroyuki Asanuma
Trainer: Hidetaka Otonashi
Jockey: Christophe Lemaire
2023 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third
Last race: 1st, UAE Derby Sponsored by Atlantis the Royal, March 25 at Meydan Racecourse
Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6 at Churchill Downs
7. Verifying
Owner: Westerburg, Magnier, Poulin, Smith, Tabor
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
2023 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 2nd, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 8 at Keeneland Race Course
Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6 at Churchill Downs
8. Two Phil’s
Owners: Patricia’s Hope and Phillip Sagan
Trainer: Larry Rivelli
Jockey: Jareth Loveberry
2023 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 1 third
Last race: 1st, Jeff Ruby Steaks, March 25 at Turfway Park
Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6 at Churchill Downs
9. Mage
Owners: OGMA Investments, Restrepo, Sterling Racing, CMNWLTH
Trainer: Gustavo Delgado
Jockey: Javier Castellano
2023 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Last race: 2nd, Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa, April 1 at Gulfstream Park
Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6 at Churchill Downs
10. Confidence Game
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: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6 at Churchill Downs
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