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It should come as no surprise that there’s a new No. 1 on this week’s NTRA 3-Year-Old Poll. Super Saver , the 2 1/2-length winner of the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) under Calvin Borel, was named on top of 18 of the 20 ballots in the poll released May 3.
Eskendereya , who would have been the Derby favorite prior to his defection from the race the week before the Run for the Roses, received the other two first-place votes while ranking fourth.
Ice Box , the Derby runner-up, is second in the first post-Derby poll, and Lookin At Lucky , the beaten favorite, was third. Blind Luck, the winner of the April 30 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), ranked sixth.
WinStar Farm's homebred Super Saver was ninth in the poll leading up the Derby.
In the National Poll, Zenyatta remains on top while receiving 17 of the 20 first-place votes. Quality Road was second, while getting the other three top tallies. Super Saver ranks third on the poll, and Rachel Alexandra dropped from third to sixth. Rachel Alexandra tasted defeat for the second time in as many start this year April 30, dropping a photo finish to Unrivaled Belle in the La Troienne Stakes (gr. II) at Churchill Downs. Unrivaled Belle makes her NTRA Poll debut at No. 7
The 3-year-old poll runs through the Triple Crown season, ending June 8, the Monday after the Belmont Stakes (gr. I). The national poll runs through the Breeders’ Cup. Voting is done by Thoroughbred media and officials.
Votes are tallied on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.
3-Year-Old Poll
Rank, Horse (first-place votes), Points, Last Week’s Position
1, Super Saver (18), 198, 9
2, Ice Box , 169, 4
3, Lookin At Lucky , 135, 1
4, Eskendereya (2), 123, 3
5, Paddy O'Prado , 117, -
6, Blind Luck, 90, -
7, Noble's Promise , 55 -
8, Sidney's Candy , 49, 2
9, Make Music for Me , 39
10, Evening Jewel, 37
Others: Dublin, 25; Endorsement, 19; Devil May Care, 10; Line of David, 9; A Little Warm, 4; Drosselmeyer, 3; Stately Victor, 3; Alphie’s Bet, 2; Awesome Act, 2; Coracortado, 2; Doubles Partner, 2; Rule, 2; Buckleupbuttercup, 1; Hurricane Ike, 1; Mission Impazible, 1; Pleasant Prince, 1.
National Poll
Rank, Horse (first-place votes), Points, Last Week’s Position
1, Zenyatta (17), 193, 1
2, Quality Road (3), 169, 2
3, Super Saver , 139, -
4, Misremembered , 86, 4
5, Blind Luck, 74, -
6, Rachel Alexandra, 70, 3
7, Unrivaled Belle, 44, -
8, General Quarters , 43, -
9, Gio Ponti , 42, 8
10, Ice Box , 39, -
Others: Tuscan Evening, 30; Eskendereya, 26; Kinsale King, 20; Bold Chieftain, 19; Battle Plan, 11; Arson Squad, 10; Atta Boy Roy, 9; Evening Jewel, 9; Court Vision, 8; Dar Re Mi, 7; Lookin At Lucky, 7; Researcher, 7; Summer Bird, 7; Zardana, 7; Awesome Gem, 6; Presious Passion, 6; Karelian, 3; Bourbon Bay, 2; Proviso, 2; Warrior’s Reward, 2; Duke Of Mischief, 1; Mythical Power, 1; Sidney’s Candy, 1.
