Following a “March Madness” style weekend on the track there was plenty of movement in this week’s NTRA Thoroughbred Polls released the afternoon of March 15.
In the national poll, Rachel Alexandra’s shocking defeat to Zardana in the March 13 New Orleans Ladies Stakes at the Fair Grounds dropped her from the second slot to third behind Donn Handicap (gr. I) winner Quality Road . Zenyatta, winner of the Santa Margarita Handicap (gr. I) for her 15th in a row, remained No. 1 in the poll. She received 16 of the 20 first-place votes, with the other four going to Quality Road.
Lookin At Lucky ’s hard-fought victory in the March 13 Rebel Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn vaulted last year’s champion juvenile male to the top slot, replacing runaway Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (gr. II) winner Eskendereya atop the 3-year-old poll. Eskendereya will get his chance to return to the top March 20 when he’ll be the likely favorite for the Florida Derby (gr. I) at Gulfstream.
Odysseus, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III), received one first-place vote and entered the poll in the eighth position. San Felipe (gr. II) winner Sidney's Candy and Rebel runner-up Noble's Promise also entered the top 10 for the first time.
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), Total, Last Week’s #
1, Lookin At Lucky (10), 187, 2
2, Eskendereya (9), 175, 1
3, Conveyance, 94, 3
4, Rule, 87, 4
5, Sidney’s Candy, 77, -
6, Noble’s Promise, 73, -
7, Awesome Act, 67, 9
8, Odysseus (1), 65, -
9, Dublin, 50, 5
10, Discreetly Mine, 44, 8
Other Horses Receiving Votes: D'Funnybone-28; Radiohead-23; Caracortado-18; Schoolyard Dreams-18; Vale of York-17; Jackson Bend-12; Super Saver-10; Connemara-9; Interactif-9; Alphie's Bet-8; A Little Warm-5; Backtalk-5; Buddy's Saint-5; Amen Hallelujah-4; Mendip-3; American Lion-2; Ibboyee-2; Aikenite-1; Lentenor-1; Raise the Bridle-1.
National Poll
Rank, Horse (First-Place Votes, Total, Last Week’s #
1, Zenyatta, (16), 192, 1
2, Quality Road (4), 173, 3
3, Rachel Alexandra, 150, 2
4, Gio Ponti, 101, 4
5, Misremembered, 96, 5
6, Presious Passion, 71, 6
7, Lookin At Lucky, 59, 8
8, Eskendereya, 56, 7
9, Zardana, 47, -
10, Bold Chieftain, 20, 9
Other Horses Receiving Votes: Summer Bird-17; Richard's Kid-11; Neko Bay-8; Munnings-7; St Trinians-7; Court Vision-6; Informed Decision-6; Odysseus-6; Proviso-6; Tuscan Evening-6; Blame-5; Courageous Cat-5; Encaustic-5; You and I Forever-5; Sweet Repent-5; Rule-4; Amen Hallelujah-3; Blind Luck-3; Greenspring-3; Mine That Bird-3; D' Funnybone-2; Fabulous Strike-2; Gabby's Golden Gal-2; Jeranimo-2; Life Is Sweet-2; Stonehouse-2; Awesome Act-1; No Such Word-1.