Verrazano and Orb lead 3-year-old poll

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Verrazano and Orb are separated by only two points in Week 7 of the NTRA 3-year-old poll. Meanwhile, Game On Dude continues to lead the National Poll as reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan got back into action last week.

Wood Memorial winner Verrazano and Florida Derby champ Orb continue to duke it out at the top of the 3-year-old rankings.

Verrazano and Orb received the same number of first-place votes as last week, 23 and 17, respectively, but the margin between the two fell from five to two points. Wood Memorial winner Verrazano has 454 points to the Florida Derby champ's 452.

Louisiana Derby winner Revolutionary remains in third with six top votes and 345 points followed by Santa Anita Derby champ Goldencents (304), Wood Memorial runner-up Normandy Invasion (230) and Florida Derby runner-up Itsmyluckyday (2, 200).

Entering the top-10 are Arkansas Derby winner Overanalyze (137) and Blue Grass Stakes champ Java's War (125).

"Who doesn't want to win at Keeneland, anyway? Let's keep our fingers crossed that the next three weeks go well," said Java's War's trainer Ken McPeek after the Blue Grass.

Vyjack, third in the Wood Memorial, fell two spots to ninth with 120 points and leading 3-year-old filly Dreaming of Julia also fell two rungs with 112 points.

In the national rankings, Santa Anita Handicap winner Game On Dude saw his lead diminish with the return of Wise Dan.

Game On Dude is first with 15 first-place votes and 441 points, just 12 points better than 2012's Horse of the Year. Wise Dan, off his Maker's 46 Mile victory, received 19 top votes and 429 points.

"It just shows that he has a desire to win and he's a really good horse," trainer Charlie Lopresti said after Wise Dan's win.

Animal Kingdom, winner of the Dubai World Cup, slipped to third with 15 first- place votes and 406 points.

Point of Entry (1, 311) and Graydar (183) remain fourth and fifth, respectively, while Royal Delta (169), Suggestive Boy (110) and Ron the Greek (90) hold down the next three positions.

Appearing in the top-10 for the first time are Oaklawn Handicap winner Cyber Secret (85) and Las Cienegas Stakes champ Mizdirection (77).

"I knew he was sitting on a big, big race. I couldn't be any happier with him. He's just done everything right this whole meet," said Lynn Whiting, trainer of Cyber Secret.