Following a dominant 5 1/4-length win in the $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park March 21, Daniel Alonso's Skippylongstocking is climbing his way back up the leaderboard in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top Thoroughbred Poll.
The son of Exaggerator kicked off his 7-year-old campaign Jan. 24 with his first grade 1 victory in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park. The first NTRA rankings of the year would be released the following week, Skippylongstocking debuting in second behind reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty.
Between starts, Skippylongstocking would drop down to sixth place on the rankings as Forever Young, Nysos, Knightsbridge, and Magnitude all posted performances that ranked them higher by the national media who vote on the weekly poll. Skippylongstocking's victory Saturday raised him back up to fourth, passing Knightsbridge (fifth) and Magnitude (sixth), and earned him one first-place vote.
After winning the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Saturday, Emerging Market also debuted on the NTRA's Top 3-Year-Old Poll. Klaravich Stables' Candy Ride colt placed sixth on the poll after exiting a debut maiden win to earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
The rankings are in for a likely shakeup this weekend as the six of the top 10-ranked 3-year-olds are entered in either the Florida Derby (G1) or Arkansas Derby (G1). Likewise in the Thoroughbred poll, second-ranked Forever Young and Magnitude are entered in the Dubai World Cup (G1), as is 15th-ranked Hit Show.
