Cairo Prince is leading 3-year-old heading into Florida Derby

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New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) – Week 3 of the National Thoroughbred Association 3-year-old Poll has Cairo Prince sitting in first-place just days before the colt is to run in the $1 million Florida Derby.

Cairo Prince, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, leads the way in the voting with 31 first-place votes and 467 points. an increase of 64 from last week. Owned by Godolphin Stable, the Holy Bull Stakes winner will start in the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on Saturday which will serve as his last race before the Kentucky Derby on May 3. Cairo Prince is expected to be the favorite for the race.

California Chrome, winner of the San Felipe Stakes, remains second with seven top votes and 375 points. Trained by Art Sherman, the colt will go in the Santa Anita Derby on April 5 prior to the Run for the Roses.

Candy Boy, another Santa Anita Derby probable, holds on to the third spot with six first-place votes and 330 points.

Samraat, the Gotham Stakes champ, is fourth with two top votes and 276 points. Trained by Richard Violette, the colt will start in the $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 5.

“He’ll have his next breeze on either Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, and then there’s a plane to New York on Tuesday,” Violette said from Florida.

Tapiture, second in the Rebel Stakes to Hoppertunity, picked up one first- place vote and 240 points to remain fifth. Hoppertunity is sixth with a single top vote and 229 points. The two colts are likely to meet again in Oaklawn’s Arkansas Derby on April 12.

Intense Holiday, the Risen Star Stakes champ, is seventh with 214 points and Fountain of Youth Stakes winner Wildcat Red has one first-place vote and 134 points to keep steady in eighth.

Joining the top 10 are Fountain of Youth runner-up General A Rod with 65 points and Sunland Derby winner Chitu with 64 points.

The National Poll had no changes from last week.

Santa Anita Handicap winner Game On Dude maintains a firm grip on first-place with 23 top votes and 463 points.

He is followed by Big ‘Cap runner-up Will Take Charge with three first-place votes and 404 points.

Completing the poll are Lea (4, 347), Wise Dan (19, 328), Mucho Macho Man (278), Palace Malice (1, 253), Sahara Sky (158), Winning Prize (133), Beholder (95) and Close Hatches (50).

Categorized in: Horses

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