Sahara Sky joins NTRA Poll off Met Mile win

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Sahara Sky jumped into the NTRA National Poll this week off his nose victory in the Met Mile at Belmont Park on Memorial Day. The 5-year-old is the only new addition in both the national rankings and 3-year-old poll.

Trained by co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer, Sahara Sky caught Cross Traffic at the wire to win the $750,000 Met Mile and vault into seventh-place in the latest poll.

"My partner (co-owner Kim Lloyd) and I talked it over, and one of our goals was to win the Metropolitan Mile," said the Hall of Fame trainer. "I'd never won it, and I wanted a chance to win it, and Kim did, also. We had a little added confidence because we thought our horse ran good in New York over at Aqueduct and with a little bit better trip we might have even won that race."

Sahara Sky received 119 points, far behind the leader Wise Dan.

Wise Dan picked up 32-of-45 first-place votes and 424 points as the 6-year- old continues to lead the NTRA National Poll.

Keeping his place in second is Game On Dude with nine top votes and 393 points. Animal Kingdom remains third with three first-place votes and 342 points.

Still fourth in the poll is Point of Entry with a single first-place vote and 273 points.

Royal Delta and Graydar exchanged places from last week in the voting. Royal Delta got 147 points versus 142 points for Graydar.

Filling in the final three spots in the top-10 are Orb (88), Take Charge Indy (88) and Suggestive Boy (75).

Kentucky Derby winner Orb and Preakness champ Oxbow maintain their top positions in the current NTRA 3-year-old Poll.

Orb garnered 39 top votes and 444 points to extend his lead over Oxbow. The Preakness winner received five first-place votes and 382 points to trail Orb by 62 points. Last week's difference was 59 points.

Revolutionary continues in third with one first-place vote and 324 points.

Completing the top-10 are Itsmyluckyday (257), Normandy Invasion (198), Mylute (185), Golden Soul (181), Verrazano (124), Princess of Sylmar (94) and Beholder (70).