It was a great weekend for fans of runaway winners as three such horses impressed the members of the national media who vote in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top Thoroughbred poll enough to crack the Top 10.
Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) winner Master of The Seas began his 6-year-old campaign where he left off. The Godolphin homebred surged up the rail and spurted away to a 2 1/4-length victory in the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (G1T) April 12 at Keeneland.
The victory launched the Dubawi gelding into fourth place in the poll. The next day, a pair of Oaklawn Park stakes winners would make their case.
Michael Lund Petersen's Adare Manor overwhelmed a competitive field in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1). Establishing herself on the lead, the 5-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo pulled away down the lane to win by 5 1/2 lengths.
Just a few races earlier, Red Lane Thoroughbreds' Skelly made a triumphant return to the United States. Recovering from a tardy start, the 5-year-old Practical Joke gelding flew to the lead and never looked back, winning the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) by three lengths.
Adare Manor and Skelly ranked seventh and 10th, respectively, in the Top Thoroughbred poll.
See the full NTRA Thoroughbred Poll for Week 12.
