Each week, members of the national media vote on the nation's top contenders on the Triple Crown trail in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top Thoroughbred Poll.

Week 8 of the 2024 Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the NTRA covers racing performances through March 18, 2024.

The 3-year-old poll represents horses competing up to and through the Triple Crown. Rankings are based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 voting system. First place votes are in parentheses.

AMERICA’S TOP 3-YEAR-OLD THOROUGHBREDS FOR MARCH 19, 2024

Sierra Leone. (Lou Hodges, Jr. /Hodges Photography)

1. Sierra Leone (10 first-place votes)

Owners: Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing, Peter M. Brant

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Risen Star Stakes, Feb. 17 at Fair Grounds

Next race: Toyota Blue Grass Stakes,  April 6 at Keeneland

Timberlake. (Eclipse Sportswire)

2. Timberlake (2 first-place votes)

Owners: WinStar Farm and Siena Farm

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey:  Florent Geroux

2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Rebel Stakes, Feb. 24 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: Arkansas Derby, March 30 at Oaklawn Park

Nysos. (BENOIT photo)

3. Nysos (17 first-place votes)

Owner: Baoma Corp.

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Feb. 3 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: TBD, sidelined due to minor injury reported March 12

Dornoch. (Ryan Thompson)

4. Dornoch (1 first-place vote)

Owners: West Paces Racing, R.A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeders, Two Eight Racing, Pine Racing Stables

Trainer: Danny Gargan

Jockey: Luis Saez

2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 2 at Gulfstream Park

Next race:  Florida Derby, March 30  at Gulfstream Park or Toyota Blue Grass Stakes,  April 6 at Keeneland

Track Phantom. (Ben Breland/Eclipse Sportswire)

5. Track Phantom

Owners: L and N Racing, Clark O. Brewster, Jerry Caroom, Breeze Easy

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Joel Rosario

2024 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 2^nd, Risen Star Stakes, Feb. 17 at Fair Grounds

Next race: Louisiana Derby, March 23 at Fair Grounds

Muth. (BENOIT photo)

6. Muth 

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey:  Juan Hernandez

2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, San Vicente Stakes, Jan. 6 at Santa Anita Park

Next race:  TBD

Fierceness. (Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire)

7. Fierceness 

Owner: Repole Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

2024 record: 1 start – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 3^rd, Holy Bull Stakes, Feb. 3 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Florida Derby, March 30  at Gulfstream Park

Hades. (Lauren King)

8. Hades

Owners: D. J. Stable and Robert Cotran

Trainer: Joe Orseno

Jockey: Paco Lopez

2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Holy Bull Stakes, Feb. 3 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Florida Derby, March 30  at Gulfstream Park

BENOIT photo

9. Mystik Dan

Owners: Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby III

Trainer: Ken McPeek

Jockey: Brian Hernandez

2024 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Southwest Stakes, Feb. 3 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: Arkansas Derby, March 30 at Oaklawn Park

Deterministic. (Chelsea Durand/NYRA)

10. Deterministic

Owners: St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, C. Steven Duncker, and Vicarage Stable

Trainer: Christophe Clement

Jockey: Joel Rosario

2024 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Gotham Stakes , March 2 at Aqueduct

Next race: TBD

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