Forte Tops NTRA Poll of Top 10 Triple Crown Contenders

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 10 of the 2023 Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the NTRA covers racing performances through April 3, 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 3, 2023

1. Forte (37 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: 1^st, Curlin 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

2. 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

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: 1^st, San Felipe Stakes, March 4 at Santa Anita Park

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

4. Tapit Trice

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: 1^st, Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, March 11 at Tampa Bay Downs

Next race: Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 8 at Keeneland Race Course

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: 1^st, Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 25 at Fair Grounds

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

6. 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: 1^st, Jeff Ruby Steaks, March 25 at Turfway Park

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

7. 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

8. (tie) Hit Show

Owners: Gary and Mary West

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Manny Franco

2023 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Withers Stakes, Feb. 11 at Aqueduct

Next race: Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino, April 8 at Aqueduct

8 (tie). Derma Sotogake

Owner: Hiroyuki Asanuma

Trainer: Hidetaka Otonashi

Jockey: Christophe Lemaire

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

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

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

10. Geaux Rocket Ride

Owner: Pin Oak Stud

Trainer: Richard Mandella

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2023 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 2nd, San Felipe Stakes, March 4 at Santa Anita Park

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

6 Beginner Betting Tools

1. Start simple with an easy guide for how to bet on horse racing.
2. Not sure what that word means? Horse racing terminology is a language of its own. Allow us translate for you.
3. What the heck is a speed figure? This beginner’s guide to speed figures has everything you need to know.
4. Betting on horse racing can be intimidating. Team ABR put together some Dos and Don’ts for the new fan getting started betting on racing.
5. We all make mistakes when it comes to betting on horse racing, here are eight lessons learned from experience.
6. Figure out how much each bet will cost in advance with our Gambling Calculator, presented by NYRA Bets.