From a National Thoroughbred Racing Association release

Undefeated Dortmund, an easy winner of his final Kentucky Derby prep race in Saturday’s $1 million Santa Anita Derby (G1), remains the clear leader of his division according to  the latest NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll, results of which were released today. The son of 2008 Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown tallied 465 points, including 35 first-place votes, to maintain his lead over stablemate American Pharoah (402 points, 8 first-place votes), who races this weekend in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park.

Eligible media cast votes for their top 10 horses, with points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. The NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll is conducted weekly through the Monday following the Belmont Stakes.

Last weekend’s results from three of the most important Kentucky Derby preps did little to change the minds of voters as to who the main Triple Crown contenders are. Impressive $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) winner Carpe Diem (390, 4) was already third in last week’s poll and holds that spot again this week.

Only two new Kentucky Derby probables made their way into the top 10 – Frosted (219 points), sixth, winner of the $1 million Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct, and Far Right (42 points), 10th, the Southwest Stakes (G3) winner expected for Saturday’s Arkansas Derby.

In the concurrent NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll open to horses of all ages, Dortmund (175 points) was the only name from among the top 10 in action this weekend and moved up one spot to seventh. Shared Belief once again was the unanimous leader with 48 first-place votes, good for 480 points. The 4-year-old gelding was a dominant winner of his most recent start in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap (G1). Scored following the same points system as the Top 3-Year-Old Poll, the Top Thoroughbred Poll is conducted weekly through the Monday following the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

Despite not racing in the past seven days, American Pharoah (56 points) rode a crescendo of buzz to his first appearance in the top 10, assuming the bottom spot from two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan, who is in light training but has yet to race in 2015.

[columns] [column width=”one-half”]

NTRA TOP THOROUGHBRED POLL

  1. Shared Belief
  2. California Chrome
  3. Main Sequence
  4. Honor Code
  5. Constitution
  6. Lea
  7. Dortmund
  8. Bayern
  9. Secret Circle
  10. American Pharoah[/column]
[column width=”one-half”]

NTRA TOP 3-YEAR-OLD POLL

  1. Dortmund
  2. American Pharoah
  3. Carpe Diem
  4. International Star
  5. Materiality
  6. Frosted
  7. Firing Line
  8. Upstart
  9. El Kabeir
  10. Far Right[/column]
[/columns]

Note: The Racing Biz writers Nick Hahn and Frank Vespe are voters in the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll.