Forte Tops NTRA Triple Crown Poll Heading Into Belmont Stakes

Racing
2023 Belmont Stakes, Triple Crown, National Treasure, Forte
Five of the top 10 horses in the latest NTRA Triple Crown poll will face off in the Belmont Stakes. (Dan Heary/Eclipse Sportswire)

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.

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 JUNE 5, 2023

Forte. (Coady Photography)

1. Forte (17 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: 1stCurlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa, April 1 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, June 10 at Belmont Park


Mage. (Jessica Morgan/Eclipse Sportswire)

2. Mage (8 first-place votes)

Owners: OGMA Investments, Restrepo, Sterling Racing, CMNWLTH

Trainer: Gustavo Delgado

Jockey: Javier Castellano

2023 record: 5 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 third

Last race: 3rd, Preakness Stakes, May 20 at Pimlico

Next race: TBD


National Treasure. (Evers/Eclipse Sportswire)

3. National Treasure (4 first-place votes)

Owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, et. al.

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: John Velazquez

2023 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 1st, Preakness Stakes, May 20 at Pimlico

Next race: Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, June 10 at Belmont Park


Two Phil's. (Jessica Morgan/Eclipse Sportswire)

4. Two Phil’s  (1 first-place vote)

Owners: Patricia’s Hope and Phillip Sagan

Trainer: Larry Rivelli

Jockey: Jareth Loveberry

2023 record: 4 starts – 1 win – 2 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 2nd, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6 at Churchill Downs

Next race: Ohio Derby, June 24 at Thistledown


Angel of Empire. (Ben Breland/Eclipse Sportswire)

5. Angel of Empire

Owner: Albaugh Family Stables

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2023 record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 third

Last race: 3rd, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6 at Churchill Downs

Next race: Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, June 10 at Belmont Park


Blazing Sevens. (Jason Moran/Eclipse Sportswire)

6. Blazing Sevens

Owner: Rodeo Creek Racing

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

2023 record: 3 starts – 0 wins – 1 second – 1 third

Last race: 2nd, Preakness Stakes, May 20 at Pimlico

Next race: TBD


7. Tapit Trice

Owners: Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Luis Saez

2023 record: 4 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 7th, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6 at Churchill Downs

Next race: Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, June 10 at Belmont Park


Practical Move. (Evers/Eclipse Sportswire)

8. 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: 1stRunhappy Santa Anita Derby, April 8 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: TBD


9. Arabian Lion (1 first-place vote)

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: John Velazquez

2023 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Sir Barton Stakes, May 20 at Pimlico

Next race: Woody Stephens Stakes, June 10 at Belmont Park


Hit Show. (Candice Chavez/Eclipse Sportswire)

10. Hit Show

Owners: Gary and Mary West 

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Manny Franco

2023 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 5th, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6 at Churchill Downs

Next race: Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, June 10 at Belmont Park


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