Each week, members of the national media vote on the nation’s top contenders on the Triple Crown trail in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top Thoroughbred Poll.

Week 5 of the 2023 NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the (NTRA) covers racing performances through Feb. 28, 2023.

The 3-year-old poll represents horses competing up to and through the Triple Crown. Rankings are based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 voting system. First place votes are in parentheses.

AMERICA’S TOP THOROUGHBREDS FOR FEB. 27, 2023

1. Forte (22 first-place votes)

Owners: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

2023 record: N/A

Last race: 1^st, FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Nov. 4 at Keeneland Race Course

Next race: Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 4 at Gulfstream Park

2. Arabian Knight (11 first-place votes)

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Tim Yakteen

Jockey: John Velazquez

2023 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Southwest Stakes, Jan. 28 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: Arkansas Derby, April 1 at Oaklawn Park

3. Instant Coffee (1 first-place vote)

Owner: Gold Square

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Luis Saez

2023 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Lecomte Stakes, Jan. 21 at Fair Grounds

Next race: Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 25 at Fair Grounds

4. Confidence Game

Owner: Don’t Tell My Wife Stables

Trainer: Keith Desormeaux

Jockey: James Graham

2023 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 1st, Rebel Stakes, Feb. 25 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: TBD, either the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 25 at Fair Grounds, or Arkansas Derby, April 1 at Oaklawn Park, or Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 8 at Keeneland Race Course

5. Cave Rock

Owners: Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Juan Hernandez

2023 record: N/A

Last race: 2^nd, FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Nov. 4 at Keeneland Race Course

Next race: TBD

6. Angel of Empire

Owner: Albaugh Family Stables

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Luis Saez

2023 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Lincoln and Lamarque Crescent City Ford , Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds

Next race: TBD, either Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 25 at Fair Grounds, or Arkansas Derby, April 1 at Oaklawn Park, or Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 8 at Keeneland Race Course

7. Hit Show

Owners: Gary and Mary West

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Manny Franco

2023 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Withers Stakes, Feb. 11 at Aqueduct

Next race: Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, April 1 at Aqueduct

8. Rocket Can

Owner: Frank Fletcher Racing Operations

Trainer: Bill Mott

Jockey: Junior Alvarado

2023 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Holy Bull Stakes, Feb. 4 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 4 at Gulfstream Park

9. Blazing Sevens

Owner: Rodeo Creek Racing

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2023 record: N/A

Last race: 4^th, FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Nov. 4 at Keeneland Race Course

Next race: Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 4 at Gulfstream Park

10 (tie). Litigate

Owner: Centennial Farms

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey:  Luis Saez

2023 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Sam F. Davis Stakes, Feb. 11 at Tampa Bay Downs

Next race: TBD

10 (tie). Reincarnate

Owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan

Trainer: Tim Yakteen

Jockey: John Velazquez

2023 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 3^rd, Rebel Stakes, Feb. 25 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: TBD, possibly the Arkansas Derby, April 1 at Oaklawn Park

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