Game On Dude, who captured the Feb. 5 San Antonio Stakes (gr. II) by 5 ¼ lengths, is the leader on the first National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred Poll for 2012. The 5-year-old son of Awesome Again earned 393 points in the voting. Last year, he won the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) and Goodwood Stakes (gr. II).
Havre de Grace, the 2011 Horse of the Year, was second in the poll with 350 points. She hasn’t raced yet in 2012. The 5-year-old daughter of Saint Liam was followed by Hymn Book with 206 points and Royal Delta with 186.
Hymn Book scored a nose victory over Mission Impazible in the Feb. 11 Donn Handicap (gr. I). Royal Delta, who was last year’s champion 3-year-old filly, hasn’t raced yet in 2012.
The poll was released Feb. 13.
Algorithms , who triumphed by five lengths in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III), took the No. 1 spot on the first NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll for 2012. The son of Bernardini had 390 points. Union Rags was second with 386 points even though he received more first place votes (23 compared to nine) than Algorithms.
Hansen, who finished second in the Holy Bull and was 2011’s champion 2-year-old male, was ranked sixth with 178 points.
