AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION—MAY 16, 2019—The first AQHA Racing National Polls for 2019 have been released, and undefeated horses topped the rankings for both older horses and 2-year-olds.

In a tight finish among horses ages 3 and up, Powerful Favorite took the No. 1 ranking by a nose over Apocalyptical Jess. Powerful Favorite, a 3-year-old gelding by Favorite Cartel trained by Chris O’Dell for Rosenthal Ranch LLC, has won all four of his starts in 2019, including the Los Alamitos Winter Derby (G1) and El Primero del Ano Derby (G3).

Bill Robbins’ Apocalyptical Jess, last year’s champion 2-year-old gelding and winner of the All American Futurity (G1), is also undefeated this year with wins in the trials and final of the Remington Park Derby (RG3). The gelded son of Apollitical Jess runs for trainer Trey Wood. The Oklahoma-bred was conditioned by Blane Wood, Trey’s father, at Ruidoso Downs for his All American win.

In the 2-year-old poll, Trump My Record grabbed the top spot, thanks to a perfect record with four wins in as many starts. Owned by Cruz Nava and trained by Arturo Davila III, the Texas-bred colt by Apollitical Blood has won trials and the finals of the Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity (G3) at Louisiana Downs and Sam Houston Futurity (G2) in Texas, and has earnings of $302,532.

The No. 2-ranked juvenile is Elizabeth Logan’s EC Revenge, a Hes Relentless gelding who has won all three of his starts at Remington Park for trainer Dee Keener. The Oklahoma-bred captured the Oklahoma Futurity (G2) in March and last week won his trial for the Heritage Place Futurity (G1) and qualified for the Heritage Place Juvenile Invitational.

In a change from previous years, the racing polls will be conducted twice a month instead of weekly. New polls will be released at approximately the beginning and middle of each month, with some variation depending on where major stakes fall on the calendar. To be eligible for the polls, a horse must have made at least one start in 2019 and follow the qualifications outlined in the AQHA Awards and Publicity Policy.

The poll voters for this year are: Ed Burgart, Martha Claussen, Michael Cusortelli, Mark Herron, Curtis Treece, Kelly O’Hara, Dutch Jumonville, Tammy Knox, David Smith and Bob Broadstock.

NATIONAL RANKINGS, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND OLDER

1. POWERFUL FAVORITE (63)
2. APOCALYPTICAL JESS (62)
3. ZOOMIN FOR SPUDS (55)
4. LD IS BACK (39)
5. (tie) EYE N CAPO (36)
5. (tie) POLITICAL ATTRACTION (36)
7. NEW NEWS (29)
8. RYANSMANONTHEMOON (25)
9. JESS PROVED YOUWRONG (22)
10. TERRIFIC FIRST DOWN (16)

KAS TEMPTING (10), ADMIRAL STING (8), THERMONUCLEAR ENERGY (8), MS ESTHER (6), HES LIMITLESS (5), EYE EYE CAPTAIN (4), JACKY MARTIN 21 (3), RUN RAGING RHINO RUN (3), VF JEDI RETURNS (3), PARTI WAGON (2), WAHENE VERSION (2), JESS BEIN THE HERO (1), MAJOR BITES (1).

NATIONAL RANKINGS, 2-YEAR-OLDS

1. TRUMP MY RECORD (80)
2. EC REVENGE (69)
3. PERRYS SECRET (58)
4. HONKY TONK DADDY (57)
5. HH GAILFORCE (44)
6. LOTA SHAKIN GOIN ON (32)
7. PA CHA CHING (21)
8. UPTOWNE BABE (19)
9. PEPPER RYAN (17)
10. BIG DADDY JEWEL (11)

JOHN CARTER CASH (6), COLBY JAMES (4), KOOCHI KOO (4), RELENTLESS GUN (4), FMM ROCKING CARTEL (3), A TRES OF SIGN (2), JAY NUMBER 7 (2), NO SANDBAGGIN (2), CHAYITO CARTEL (1), KISSMELIKETHAT (1), RETURN OF BROWN EYES (1).

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The integrity of American Quarter Horse racing is of utmost importance to AQHA. As part of a multifaceted effort to ensure integrity, AQHA has instituted a policy concerning awards and publicity that makes horses with racing medication positives and horses trained by trainers with racing medication positives ineligible for the AQHA Racing National Polls. Read the complete policy here.

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AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHARacing on Twitter, watch the AQHA Racing Newscast and visit aqha.com/racing.