Happy Saver Jumps Up in NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll

When he surged up the rail and hit the finish line first in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) Oct. 10, Happy Saver inserted himself into the discussion of top tier contenders in the sophomore male division. When the votes were tallied in the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll, the son of Super Saver  found himself among the elite. 

The victory, which marked Happy Saver's first try against graded stakes company in four career starts, earned the colt 174 points this week to move him into the fifth position.

Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Authentic, who was beaten a neck by the filly Swiss Skydiver in the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes (G1), earned 17 first-place votes and 342 points to hold onto the top spot for yet another week.

With sophomore runners taking the top two spots in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the handicap division had no major shifts this week. Multiple grade 1 winner Improbable remains out front in the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll with 32 first-place votes and 365 points as the son of City Zip has won three straight top-level contests. 

NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll

Rank, Horse, Points (first-place votes)

1. Authentic    342 (17)

2. Tiz the Law    328 (8)

3. Swiss Skydiver    326 (12)

4. Art Collector    203

5. Happy Saver    174

6. Honor A. P.     129

7. Gamine    103

8T. Shedaresthedevil    80

8T. Max Player    80

10. Mystic Guide    57

NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll

Rank, Horse, Points (first-place votes)

1. Improbable    365 (32)

2. Maximum Security    271 (2)

3. Tom's d'Etat    218 (2)

4. Vekoma    202 (1)

5. Monomoy Girl    191

6. By My Standards    147

7. Authentic    124

8. Tiz the Law    117

9. Swiss Skydiver    104

10. Rushing Fall    71