Pleasantly Perfect, winner of the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) and second in his comeback effort, the San Diego Handicap (gr. II) on Aug. 1, remains atop the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top 10 poll released on Tuesday.
Rising to second on this week's poll is Pico Central, winner of the Met Mile Handicap (gr. I). Smarty Jones, second in the poll for the last several weeks, was officially retired from racing last week and is no longer eligible to be part of the poll.
Pleasantly Perfect, a son of Pleasant Colony--Regal State, by Affirmed, is owned by Gerald Ford's Diamond A Racing Corp. and is trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella. Last year's Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I) winner is slated to make his next start in the Pacific Classic (gr. I) at Del Mar on Aug. 22.
Pico Central's next start is slated to be this weekend in the seven-furlong Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II), also at Del Mar.
New additions to this week's poll are 3-year-old Lion Heart (No. 6) off his victory Sunday in the Haskell Invitational Handicap (gr. I) at Monmouth Park; Roses in May (No. 7), upset winner of the Whitney Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga on Saturday; and Choctaw Nation (No. 9), who defeated Pleasantly Perfect in the San Diego. In that race, the son of
Louis Quatorze was getting 10 pounds (114-124) from Pleasantly Perfect.
NTRA Poll, released Tuesday, Aug. 10
Rank--Horse (1st place votes) Total Points, Next Start
1--Pleasantly Perfect (13), 144, Pacific Classic (gr. I; 8/22)
2--Pico Central (2), 115, Pat O'Brien BC H. (gr. II; 8/15)
3--Southern Image, 103, Undecided
4--Ashado, 76, Undecided
5--Azeri, 73, Personal Ensign H. (gr. I; 8/27)
6--Lion Heart, 64, Travers (gr. I; 8/28)
7--Roses in May (1), 58, Undecided
8--Birdstone, 54, Travers (gr. I; 8/28)
9--Choctaw Nation, 39, Undecided
10--Peace Rules, 16, Undecided
Others receiving votes: Sightseek-15, Speightstown-10, Purge-9, Bear Fan-7, Funny Cide-7, Megahertz-6, Special Ring-6, Ghostzapper-5, Afleet Alex-4, Wonder Again-4, Ema Bovary-3, Sir Shackelton-3, Perfect Drift-2, A Bit of Gold-1, The Cliff's Edge-1.
Week 25 of the NTRA Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), covers racing performances through Aug. 9. Ranking of the top Thoroughbreds as selected by horseracing media representatives on based on the votes of Thoroughbred media on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.
