Wise Dan continues on the lead in NTRA Poll

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan maintains his spot atop the NTRA National Poll entering the second half of the 2013 racing season.

Owned by Mortin Fink, Wise Dan received 32 first-place votes for week 17 of the voting and totaled 455 points. The 6-year-old gelding, trained by Charles LoPresti, is scheduled to make his next start in Saturday's Firecracker Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Trailing by 50 points is another 6-year-old gelding, Game On Dude. Trained by Bob Baffert, Game On Dude picked up 11 top votes and 376 points. Co-owned by Joe Torre, the gelding is out to defend his 2012 victory in the Hollywood Gold Cup in July.

Fort Larned, winner of the Stephen Foster Handicap, moved up a rung to third in the rankings. Trained by Ian Wilkes, the 5-year-old garnered one first- place vote and 321 points.

"The Whitney (Aug. 3 at Saratoga) will be next and we'll just take it one race at a time," Wilkes said. "The ultimate goal is getting back to the Breeders' Cup Classic."

Also gaining one spot over last week in the voting are Point of Entry and Sahara Sky.

Point of Entry, winner of the Manhattan Handicap, is fourth with 289 points followed by Sahara Sky with 162.

Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom closed his racing career in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot last week when he finished 11th. The poor showing dropped the 2011 Kentucky Derby champ from third to sixth with 152 points.

Completing the top 10 are Graydar (130), Preakness winner Oxbow (94), Suggestive Boy (54) and Delaunay (46).