Verrazano and Game On Dude remain atop NTRA Polls

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Week 3 of the NTRA Polls shows few changes among their respective Top 10s as Verrazano remains first in the NTRA 3-Year- Old Poll and Game On Dude leads the national rankings.

Verrazano, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby, received 25 first-place votes, a drop of two, but picked up 16 more points for a total of 491. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the colt will make his next start in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 6.

The next six spots in the poll remain unchanged from last week with Holy Bull Stakes champ Itsmyluckyday (11, 421) second followed by Orb (6, 387), Vyjack (8, 325), Shanghai Bobby (255), Revolutionary (2, 224) and Hear the Ghost (197).

Moving up a rung to eighth is Flashback (152). Appearing in the poll in ninth is Rebel Stakes winner Will Take Charge (149) with Rebel runner-up Oxbow (127) completing the Top 10.

"The hill gets a little steeper from this point," said Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas who had the first two across the finish line in the Rebel.

The first seven spots in the National Poll are unchanged from last week.

Santa Anita Handicap winner Game On Dude pulled in 32 top votes and 503 points. Trained by Bob Baffert, the 6-year-old gelding is expected to start in the Charles Town Classic on April 20.

Sabin Stakes champ Royal Delta (5, 427) is second followed by 2012 Horse of the Year Wise Dan (12, 345), Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap winner Point of Entry (2, 336), Breeders' Cup Classic champ Fort Larned (3, 240), Donn Handicap winner Graydar (192) and Suggestive Boy (151).

Animal Kingdom switched places with Ron the Greek in the voting. The 2011 Kentucky Derby winner is eighth with 123 points followed by Ron the Greek (117) and Discreet Dancer (62).