Hit Show and Litigate joined the top 10 in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s new poll of the top 3-year-olds.
Hit Show, the Candy Ride colt trained by Brad Cox, is there by virtue of his 5 1/2-length win in the Withers (G3). Overall, he has three wins from four starts.
Litigate earned his top 10 spot with a 1 1/4-length win in the Sam F. Davis (G3). The son of Blame trained by Todd Pletcher now has an overall record of 3: 2-1-0.
Both colts earned 20 qualifying points for Kentucky Derby 2023 with their wins.
Forte, a champion as a juvenile but unraced this year, remained No. 1 in the poll.
NTRA top 3-year-olds poll
| Horse (first-place votes) | Age-sex | 2023 record | Points | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Forte (17) | 3-C | 0: 0-0-0 | 303 | 1 |
| 2. Arabian Knight (14) | 3-C | 1: 1-0-0 | 302 | 2 |
| 3. Instant Coffee (1) | 3-C | 1: 1-0-0 | 229 | 3 |
| 4. Cave Rock | 3-C | 0: 0-0-0 | 127 | 4 |
| 5. Rocket Can | 3-C | 1: 1-0-0 | 117 | 6 |
| 6. Victory Formation | 3-C | 1: 1-0-0 | 107 | 7 |
| 7. Hit Show | 3-C | 1: 1-0-0 | 97 | – |
| 8. Reincarnate | 3-C | 1: 1-0-0 | 86 | 8 |
| 9. Blazing Sevens | 3-C | 0: 0-0-0 | 77 | 9 |
| 10. Litigate | 3-C | 2: 1-1-0 | 71 | – |
The NTRA’s top Thoroughbred poll showed little change from the previous week.
Queen Goddess, winner of the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G3), joined the board at No. 10, as Gunite, winer of the King Cotton last out, fell out of the top 10.
Art Collector, winner of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), remained No. 1 in the poll.
NTRA top Thoroughbreds poll
| Horse (first-place votes) | Age-sex | 20. 23 record | Points | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Art Collector (20) | 6-H | 1: 1-0-0 | 313 | 1 |
| 2. Taiba (9) | 4-C | 0: 0-0-0 | 247 | 2 |
| 3. Defunded | 5-G | 1: 0-1-0 | 181 | 3 |
| 4. Country Grammer (3) | 6-H | 0: 0-0-0 | 167 | 4 |
| 5. Atone | 6-G | 1: 1-0-0 | 140 | 5 |
| 6. Cody’s Wish | 5-H | 0: 0-0-0 | 117 | 6 |
| 7. Nest | 4-F | 0: 0-0-0 | 110 | 7 |
| 8. Elite Power | 5-H | 0: 0-0-0 | 71 | 8 |
| 9. Clairiere | 5-F | 0: 0-0-0 | 59 | 9 |
| 10. Queen Goddess | 5-M | 1: 1-0-0 | 57 | 11 |
