Top three hold steady in NTRA Poll

Jul 2, 2012 - 6:24 PM New York, NY (Sports Network) - Ron the Greek, Shackleford and Game On Dude remained in the first three spots in the latest NTRA Poll. The voting covered races through July 1.

Ron the Greek, winner of the Stephen Foster and Santa Anita Handicaps, held on to the top position for the third straight week. The five-year-old received 18 first-place votes and 391 points.

Four-year-old Shackleford is 42 points back in second after picking up seven top votes for 349 points.

Third-place is still in the hooves of Game On Dude. Trained by Bob Baffert, the five-year-old gelding picked up four first-place votes and 295 points. Game On Dude will make his next start in Saturday's $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup.

"His last race (Californian) was so easy. I think I raised my stick and put it in my left hand, but that's all I did," said the gelding's jockey Chantal Sutherland.

Moving up one spot is leading female thoroughbred Royal Delta. Trained by Bill Mott, the four-year-old filly garnered four top votes and 262 points.

The first five in the poll is completed by Wise Dan. The five-year-old gelding received 239 points.

Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I'll Have Another is sixth with 10 first- place votes and 190 points. He's followed by Acclamation (142), Bodemeister (113), Alternation (98) and Belmont Stakes champ Union Rags (93).

Acclamation, Bodemeister and Alternation each received one first-place vote.