Forte, With Travers Next, Primed to Move in NTRA Poll

Forte , ranked No. 7 in the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association's top thoroughbred poll, has a chance to make noise this weekend and improve his standing with voters.

The son of Violence   began the year in torrid fashion, winning the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. Those wins made him the hands-down favorite heading into the Kentucky Derby (G1), but he was scratched the morning of the race and was forced to miss the Preakness Stakes (G1).

He returned in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and showed his potential in a second-place finish. Now, coming off a triumph in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) by a nose, the colt will line up for a shot at the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 26.

Forte held on to his No. 7 ranking from the previous poll. However, he lost one of his two first-place votes. That first-place vote now belongs to Elite Power , who with 26 first-place votes sits atop the poll with a commanding lead over stablemate Cody's Wish . Bill Mott trains both horses.

The rest of the top 10 remains mostly unchanged. with the top eight the same. In Italian , who had sole possession of the No. 9 spot a week ago, is now in a tie with Goodnight Olive , who was in a tie for 10th.

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