The latest Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred/The Racing Biz Top Midlantic-Bred Poll, announced today, looks substantially similar to that of last week. But, with a monster weekend of racing upcoming, that’s likely to change for the next poll.
Ben’s Cat remained atop the Older Horse poll, while Storming Inti — the only poll member in action last weekend — held down the top slot among sophomores.
Pennsylvania-bred Storming Inti did enough to maintain a clear lead over second-place Favorite Tale in the poll. Storming Inti ran third in Saturday’s $500,000 Penn Mile, finishing behind favorite Bobby’s Kitten and Global View, who had bested him earlier this year in the American Turf at Churchill.
For the year, Storming Inti has a ledger of 5-1-1-2 and earnings of $191,555.
Among older horses, the week’s big mover was Maryland-bred Delaunay, who flew from the “others receiving votes” category all the way up to second-place. He earned his second win of 2014 with an easy score in the Grade 3 Aristides at Churchill Downs.
For his career, the gelded son of Smoke Glacken out of the stakes-winning Coronado’s Quest mare Perilous Night has a record of 45-16-10-3 and earnings of just shy of $1 million — a mark he will likely hit in his next start.
For all that, perhaps the big story isn’t in the voting, it’s in what lies ahead. Particularly among older horses, three of the top five in the poll — and another runner just outside the top five — are expected to line up in races at Belmont Park. All four appear to have legitimate shots, with #1 Ben’s Cat and #3 Princess of Sylmar the favorite and second favorite in their respective races.
POLL LEADERS IN ACTION THIS WEEKEND
Older Horses
- #1 BEN’S CAT, 5-2 favorite, Grade 3 Jaipur at Belmont Park
- #3 PRINCESS OF SYLMAR, 9-5 second choice, Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park
- #4 WATERWAY RUN, 6-1, Grade 1 Just a Game at Belmont Park
- REAL SOLUTION (others receiving votes), 5-1, Grade 1 Manhattan at Belmont Park
Three year-olds
- #2 FAVORITE TALE, 12-1, Grade 2 Woody Stephens at Belmont Park
The twin lists contained five Pennsylvania-breds, three Maryland-breds, and two Virginia-breds. Half of the list were males, and half were females. Oddly enough, the top three three year-olds were all Pennsylvania-breds, while the top two older horses were both Maryland-breds.
This marked the sixth semi-monthly edition of the poll.
Horses that have run in 2014 and were bred in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, and the Carolinas were eligible.
POLL RESULTS
TOP MIDLANTIC-BRED THREE YEAR-OLDS
- Storming Inti (41) — Pennsylvania
- Favorite Tale (21) — Pennsylvania
- On the Backstreets (24) — Pennsylvania
- Daring Dancer (17) — Maryland
- Thank You Marylou (15) — Virginia
Others receiving votes: Noble Moon, Miss Behaviour, Gracer, Long on Value, Steady N Love, Giovanni Boldini, D’yaknowwhatimean, El Capitan
TOP MIDLANTIC-BRED FOUR YEARS OLD AND UP
- Ben’s Cat (47) — Maryland
- Delauanay (42) — Maryland
- Princess of Sylmar (30) — Pennsylvania
- Waterway Run (18) — Pennsylvania
- Blueskiesnrainbows (12) — Virginia
Others receiving votes: Divine Fortune, Purely Hot, Hard Enough, Green Gratto, Zippity Goomba, Falling Sky, Bold Curlin, Where’s Rosie B, Emotional Kitten
Participating Voters: Ted Black (freelance writer), Michael Campbell (Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey), Cindy Deubler (Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred), Linda Dougherty (freelance), Debbie Easter (Virginia Thoroughbred Association), Anne Frederick (Maryland Horse Breeders Association), Cricket Goodall (Maryland Horse Breeders Association), Jim Hague (freelance), Nick Hahn (freelance), Jeff Nations (freelance), Kate Painter (West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders Association), Vinnie Perrone (freelance), Frank Petramalo (Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association), David Richardson (Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association), John Scheinman (freelance), Dan Tordjman (freelance), Frank Vespe (The Racing Biz), Bill Watson (freelance), Lydia Williams (freelance), Bobby Zen (freelance).
Note — Not all participating voters will vote in every poll.
(Featured image, of Ben’s Cat, by Laurie Asseo.)
