Nest Debuts in NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll in Third

With her season-opening victory in the July 23 Shuvee Stakes (G2), Nest  has supplanted Clairiere  as the highest-ranked female in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred Poll. She debuts in week 26 of the poll in third place, trailing only Cody's Wish  and Elite Power .

Nest, a 4-year-old daughter of Curlin   owned by Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Michael House, scored a 2 1/4-length victory over Clairiere in the 1 1/8-mile Shuvee at Saratoga Race Course in her first start since a fourth-place finish at Keeneland last fall in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). The latter race, to be held this year at Santa Anita Park Nov. 4, is again a goal for the Todd Pletcher trainee, as it is for Stonestreet Stables' Clairiere, trained by Steve Asmussen.

Late-running Clairiere, previously the top-ranked female in the poll, dips from third to sixth following her runner-up finish in a slow-paced Shuvee.

No 3-year-olds are among the top 10 in the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll, though Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Geaux Rocket Ride  is just outside in 11th place. His 40-point vote total leads 14th-place Mage  (25), 16th-place Forte  (18), and 17th-place Arcangelo  (14).

Voting in the Top Thoroughbred Poll is conducted by national media and covers racing performances through July 23. The poll, which concludes Nov. 7 following the Breeders' Cup, represents horses competing for Horse of the Year. 

Full poll results and votes by voter can be found online.