Sovereignty Remains First in NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll

Godolphin's Whitney Stakes (G1) winner Sovereignty remains atop the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top Thoroughbred Poll as of Sept. 28. Even though a hoof abscess forced him to miss the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1), he still holds the upper hand over race winner Forever Young (JPN) in voting by national media. Sovereignty holds a slim eight-point lead in the poll, despite Forever Young securing the most first-place votes with 13, compared to Sovereignty's 11. Sovereignty breezed for the first time since August in covering a half-mile Sept. 25 in :49.40 over the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga Race Course. Forever Young jumped from fourth to second place in last week's rankings following a 3 1/4-length win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Last year's Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner remains on track to pursue a repeat victory in the $7 million race when Keeneland stages the race Oct. 31. Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) winner Knightsbridge ranks third with 216 points and two first-place votes. Last year's champion 3-year-old filly Nitrogen (194) holds onto her fourth-place spot after a dominant victory in last weekend's Beldame Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park. The only change in the Top 10 of the poll was a swap between Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Golden Tempo and Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T) winner Notable Speech (GB). Golden Tempo, training at Keeneland toward a start in the Breeders' Cup Classic, moved from eighth last week to seventh place. See the full Week 36 rankings.