Zenyatta and Blame top thoroughbred poll

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Champion mare Zenyatta and Whitney champ Blame continue to lead the NTRA National Thoroughbred Poll. The top five positions remain unchanged from last week.

Zenyatta, perfect this year in four starts, again received 14 first-place votes, but saw her total points fall from 181 to 174. On Saturday, August 7 the six-year-old mare won the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar for the third straight year. The two-time Eclipse Award winner may make her next start at Santa Anita Park in the renamed Zenyatta Stakes,

Four-year-old colt Blame had moved into second after winning the Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on August 7. This week he again garnered four top votes and added two points over last week to total 160. His next start is expected to be the Jockey Club Gold Cup in October.

Quality Road, second in the Whitney, is third with 133 points followed by Haskell winner Lookin At Lucky with 121 points and 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra with 116 points.

Eclipse Award winner Gio Ponti moved into sixth from the seventh spot with 48 points. The 2009 champion turf and older male will defend his title in this Saturday's Arlington Million.

Three-year-old filly Blind Luck received 42 points to advance one rung to seventh. She will start in Saturday's Alabama Stakes at Saratoga.

Devil May Care, who will also start in the Alabama, dropped from sixth to eighth with 40 points.

Five-year-old mare Proviso posted 28 points to remain ninth in the poll. She has won three of four starts this year.

Rail Trip, second in this year's Hollywood Gold Cup, is back in the top 10 with 27 points. The five-year-old gelding won the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap and the Californian Stakes this year.