Zenyatta solidifies spot atop poll

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Undefeated mare Zenyatta remains atop the latest NTRA Thoroughbred Poll following her record 16th consecutive victory on Friday. The two-time female champion easily won the $500,000 Apple Blossom Invitational at Oaklawn Park.

Zenyatta, unbeaten in all 16 career starts, received 18 of 20 first-place votes and a total of 196 points. Owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, the six-year-old joins Citation and Cigar with 16 straight wins. She defeated four rivals last Friday by 4 1/4-lengths for her second win of the Apple Blossom.

Four-year-old colt Quality Road kept hold of the second spot in the poll with two first-place votes and 176 points. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Quality Road has won both starts this year, the Hal's Hope Stakes and Donn Handicap.

Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra is third with 132 points. The four-year-old filly is currently stabled at Churchill Downs and is training for a return to the races. She was second in her only start of 2010, the New Orleans Ladies Classic.

Completing the top 10 are Wood Memorial winner Eskendereya, Santa Anita Handicap champ Misremembered, Zardana, Lookin At Lucky, Gio Ponti, Bold Chieftain and Kinsale King.

Eskendereya continues in first-place in the NTRA Three-year-old Poll. The colt has 17 first-place votes and 197 points. The top three-year-old in the Pletcher stable is expected to be the favorite for the Kentucky Derby.

Lookin At Lucky, 2009 champion two-year-old colt, is second with 162 points and two first-place votes. Trained by Bob Baffert, the colt finished a troubled third in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby earlier in April.

Santa Anita Derby winner Sidney's Candy is third with 148 points, but no first-place votes.

The final first-place vote went to Florida Derby champ Ice Box. The colt received 119 points, good for the fourth spot in the poll.

Sitting in fifth is Sunland Derby winner Endorsement followed by Gotham Stakes winner Awesome Act, Arkansas Derby champ Line of David, Louisiana Derby winner Mission Impazible, Arkansas Derby runner-up Super Saver and Blue Grass Stakes winner Stately Victor.