Justify leads final pre-Derby NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll
From a National Thoroughbred Racing Association release
Undefeated Justify will enter Saturday’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) as the clear leader of his division based on the results of the latest NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll. The Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner is expected to be both the morning line and post time favorite for the Run for the Roses.
All of the top 10 horses in the NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll will make their next start in the Derby, and this week’s rankings, determined by a vote of racing media, offer some indication as to which will garner the most support from horseplayers.
Justify garnered 16 of 33 first-place votes and 300 points overall. Florida Derby (G1) winner Audible moved into second with 243 points (4 first-place votes), supplanting Todd Pletcher stablemate and Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Magnum Moon (3 first-place votes; 235 points).
Spots four through eight remained the same as last week: UAE Derby (G2) winner Mendelssohn (8; 221); last year’s Champion 2-Year-Old Good Magic (1; 220); multiple Grade 1 winner at two, Bolt d’Oro (209); Wood Memorial (G2) winner Vino Rosso (129); and Louisiana Derby (G2) hero Noble Indy.
Blue Grass runner-up Flameaway (47) jumped into the top 10 from 12th last week, taking the ninth slot and pushing Lexington Stakes winner My Boy Jack (43) to 10th.
The NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll is the sport’s most comprehensive survey of experts ranking the generation of Thoroughbreds that includes all Triple Crown contenders. Every week eligible journalists and broadcasters cast votes for their top 10 horses, with points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. The Top 3-Year-Old Poll concludes June 11, after the Belmont Stakes.
In the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll for horses of all ages, the top 10 was comprised with the same horses as last week. Dubai World Cup (G1) runner-up West Coast, last year’s Champion 3-Year-Old Male, remains the clear leader among all horses Gun Runner, the 2017 Horse of the Year who won the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) in January before being retired to stud, dropped from seventh to ninth.
The NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll concludes November 5 after the Breeders’ Cup.
