DeRosa: How I rank the top 3-year-olds of 2023 so far

Decreeing that The Travers Stakes is shaping up to be a great race immediately after the Belmont Stakes is as much a part of Triple Crown tradition as a mint julep at Churchill Downs, painting the weathervane at Pimlico and the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga.

Unfortunately, such showdowns rarely come to pass, but there is reason to believe in 2023.

For one, the connections of the top two 3-year-olds, Mage and Forte, are committed to the midsummer classic at Saratoga on Aug. 26. I have no fear that the connections of either horse would abscond to the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) or worse, and I think all parties realize the Eclipse Award for champion 3-year-old male could come down to a showdown at the OK Canoe.

Some might take umbrage with calling Mage and Forte the top two 3-year-olds, and indeed, there is nuance to the ranking, depending on whether we're talking accomplishments or talent.

On the latter, I give Mage the edge by virtue of sandwiching a Kentucky Derby win between placing in a Grade 1 prep for the world's most prestigious horse race as well as the Preakness Stakes as the only Derby starter to run back in two weeks. Indeed, Mage is the only 3-year-old to place in a pair of classics this year.

Talent-wise is trickier. Forte holds the 2-0 lead head to head, but they did not face each other in a Triple Crown race because the reigning champion did not resurface until the Belmont Stakes, finishing second to Arcangelo off a 10-week break after scratching from the Kentucky Derby.

Still, if I were to make a future book for the Travers, I'd open Forte as the slight favorite, so from that standpoint I have to recognize him as the most talented.

This takes nothing away from Preakness-winning National Treasure, Arcangelo or Derby runner-up Two Phil's, whom we'll see again in the Ohio Derby (G3) on June 24 at Jack Thistledown. Throw in Derby fourth-place finisher Disarm coming back to win the Matt Winn Stakes (G3), and this is a solid bunch with a lot to race for the rest of the year.

One 3-year-old I am not throwing into the "best 3-year-old" mix is Pretty Mischievous, who, despite winning the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Acorn Stakes (G1) in consecutive starts, does not wow me as one who could run with any of the horses above.

Obviously, I greatly disagree with the results of the poll above.

But I don't disagree with the Paddock Prince, who also IDs Forte as the top 3-year-old right now but is looking forward to a summer of competitive racing.