National Poll unchanged going into big weekend

By: SPORTS NETWORK

 

New York, NY (Sports Network) - With several major stakes races on the docket this coming weekend, the top 10 horses in the latest NTRA Poll are basically unchanged for the week ending Sunday, September 25.

Four-year-old filly Havre de Grace remains in the top position for the fourth straight week. Trained by Larry Jones, the Woodward champion received 11 first-place votes and 184 points. Owned by Rick Porter, Havre de Grace will again face other fillies and mares in Saturday's Beldame at Belmont Park.

Six-year-old Tizway keeps his spot behind Havre de Grace with six top votes and 173 points. Trained by James Bond, the veteran runner is being kept out of Saturday's Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park after spiking a fever last week.

Blind Luck, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, is third in the voting with a single first-place vote and 155 points. Co-owned by Hollendorfer, the four- year-old filly is set to start Saturday at Santa Anita Park in the Lady's Secret, a stakes won the last three years by Zenyatta.

Also receiving a first-place vote is Pacific Classic winner Acclamation who stays in the fourth spot with 118 points. The five-year-old is expected to start in Sunday's running of the Clement L. Hirsch Turf at Santa Anita.

Turf specialist Cape Blanco is fifth with 108 points and is scheduled to start on Saturday at Belmont Park in the Turf Classic. Travers champ Stay Thirsty picked up 90 points to remain in sixth-place as he is a likely favorite for the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Competing the top 10 are Flat Out (45), Goldikova (1, 40), Twirling Candy (29) and The Factor (28).