American Pharoah Tops NTRA Poll
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Zayat Stables' homebred American Pharoah, the likely morning-line favorite for the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), tops the National Thoroughbred Racing Assocation's 3-year-old poll released five days before the Run for the Roses. The winner of the April 11 Arkansas Derby (gr. I) received 22 first-place votes.
Kaleem Shah's unbeaten Dortmund is second in the poll, receiving nine first-place votes. The top two contenders are trained by Bob Baffert.
The eighth week of the poll was released April 27. Conducted by the NTRA, the poll surveys 33 media and industry players. The rankings, on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis, with first place votes in parantheses, are below. The poll concludes June 8 following the running of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
Horse (first-place votes), Points, Previous Ranking
1. American Pharoah (22), 315, 1
2. Dortmund (9), 303, 2
3. Carpe Diem (1), 262, 3
4. International Star (1), 175, 4
5. Materiality, 171, 5
6. Frosted, 166, 6
7. Firing Line, 125, 7
8. Upstart, 115, 8
9. Far Right, 50, 9
10. El Kabeir, 42 10
Others receiving votes: Lady Eli (13), Bolo (10), I'm a Chatterbox (10), Stanford (10), Mubtaahij (9), Condo Commando (8), Tencendur (8), Keen Ice (6), Danzig Moon (5), Stellar Wind (4), Itsaknockout (3), War Story (2), Lovely Maria (1), One Lucky Dane (1), Whiskey Ticket (1).