Tapit Trice and Verifying Move Up Kentucky Derby Contenders Poll as Forte Continues to Lead

Racing
Tapit Trice, verifying, Forte, Triple Crown, 2023 Kentucky derby, Toyota blue grass stakes
Tapit Trice and Verifying Battled through the stretch and finished 1-2 in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. Both horses moved up in the latest NTRA 3-year-old poll. (Candace Chavez/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.

Week 11 of the 2023 Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the NTRA covers racing performances through April 9, 2023.

The 3-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 APRIL 10, 2023

Forte. (Liz Lamont/Eclipse Sportswire)

1. Forte (32 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: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6 at Churchill Downs


Tapit Trice. (Matt Wooley/Eclipse Sportswire)

2. Tapit Trice (4 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: 1stToyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 8 at Keeneland Race Course

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6 at Churchill Downs


Practical Move. (Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire)

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: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1stSan Felipe Stakes, March 4 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Santa Anita Derby, April 8 at Santa Anita Park


Angel of Empire. (Ben Breland/Eclipse Sportswire)

4. Angel of Empire

Owner: Albaugh Family Stables

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Luis Saez

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


Kingsbarns. (Ben Breland/Eclipse Sportswire)

5. Kingsbarns (1 first-place vote)

Owner: Spendthrift Farm

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Flavien Prat

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

Last race: 1stTwinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 25 at Fair Grounds

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6 at Churchill Downs


Derma Sotogake. (Shamela Hanley/Eclipse Sportswire)

6. Derma Sotogake

Owner: Hiroyuki Asanuma

Trainer: Hidetaka Otonashi

Jockey: Christophe Lemaire

2023 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 1stUAE Derby Sponsored by Atlantis the Royal, March 25 at Meydan Racecourse

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6 at Churchill Downs


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

7. 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: 1stJeff Ruby Steaks, March 25 at Turfway Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6 at Churchill Downs


Verifying. (Candice Chavez/Eclipse Sportswire)

8. 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


Mandarin Hero. (Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire)

9. Mandarin Hero

Owners: Hiroaki Arai

Trainer: Terunobu Fujita

Jockey: Kazushi Kimora

2023 record: 2 starts – 0 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 2ndSanta Anita Derby, April 8 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6 at Churchill Downs, or Preakness Stakes, May 20 at Pimlico


Confidence Game. (Ted McClenning/Eclipse Sportswire)

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: TBD, possibly Stonestreet Lexington Stakes, April 15 at Keeneland Race Course or Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 6 at Churchill Downs


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