Havre de Grace vaults to the lead in NTRA Poll

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Winning the Woodward Stakes over male rivals last Saturday has moved Havre de Grace into the top spot in the current NTRA Thoroughbred Poll. The four-year-old filly had been first in the poll earlier this year.

Owned by Rick Porter, Havre de Grace defeated seven males in the 1 1/8-mile Woodward at Saratoga to join Rachel Alexandra as the only females to win the race. The 1 1/4-length victory was strong enough for voters to give her eight first-place votes and 180 points.

Trainer Larry Jones said Sunday that the filly's next start will at Belmont Park versus other females in the Beldame Stakes on October 1.

"More than likely it will be the Beldame, depending on the next couple of days," Jones indicated. "But she came out of the race very, very well."

Tizway remains the leading male in the poll, but falls from the lead into second. The Whitney winner received seven top votes, a loss of four, and 173 points.

Four-year-old filly Blind Luck, who beat Havre de Grace in the Delaware Handicap in July, also dropped a spot to third with three first-place votes and 159 points. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer she is expected to start in the Lady's Secret at Santa Anita in October.

Pacific Classic champ Acclamation remains in fourth with one top vote and 113 points. Arlington Million winner Cape Blanco holds on to fifth with 99 points and Travers winner Stay Thirsty maintains sixth-place with 78 points.

Champion turf mare Goldikova is seventh in the voting with a first-place vote and 49 points. She is followed by Twirling Candy (39), Turbulent Descent (36) and The Factor.