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 1 of the 2026 NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll, covers races through Feb. 1. The newest poll is led by convincing Holy Bull Stakes winner Nearly, who replaces the injured former poll leader Ted Noffey atop the rankings.

The 3-Year-Old poll represents horses competing up 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 FEB. 2, 2026

Nearly. (Sophie Shore/Eclipse Sportswire)

1. Nearly (10 first-place votes)

Owner: Centennial Farms

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

2026 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Holy Bull Stakes, Jan. 31 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Curlin Florida Derby, March 28 at Gulfstream Park

Paladin. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)

2. Paladin (6 first-place votes)

Owners: Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Brook Smith, and Summer Wind Equine

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2026 record: 0 starts – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Remsen Stakes, Dec. 6, 2025 at Aqueduct

Next race: Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes, Feb. 14 at Fair Grounds

Golden Tempo. (Bentley Breland/Eclipse Sportswire)

3. Golden Tempo (2 first-place votes)

Owners: Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable

Trainer: Cherie DeVaux

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

2026 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Lecomte Stakes, Jan. 24 at Fair Grounds

Next race: Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes, Feb. 14 at Fair Grounds

Brant. (Richard Steele/Eclipse Sportswire)

4. Brant (5 first-place votes)

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2026 record: 0 starts – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 3^rd, FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by TAA, Oct. 31, 2025 at Del Mar

Next race: TBD

Further Ado. (Candice Chavez/Eclipse Sportswire)

5. Further Ado (1 first-place vote)

Owner: Spendthrift Farm

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

2026 record: 0 starts – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, Nov. 29, 2025 at Churchill Downs

Next race: ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby, March 7 at Tampa Bay Downs

Litmus Test. (BENOIT photo)

6. Litmus Test

Owners: SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Juan Hernandez

2026 record: 0 starts – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Los Alamitos Futurity, Dec. 13, 2025 at Los Alamitos

Next race: TBD

Strategic Risk. (Coady Media)

7. Strategic Risk (1 first-place vote)

Owner: John C. Oxley

Trainer: Mark Casse

Jockey: Javier Castellano

2026 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Smarty Jones Stakes, Jan. 3 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: Southwest Stakes, Feb. 6 at Oaklawn Park

Napoleon Solo. (Jason Moran/Eclipse Sportswire)

8. Napoleon Solo

Owner: Gold Square

Trainer: Chad Summers

Jockey: Joel Rosario

2026 record: 0 starts – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Champagne Stakes, Oct. 4, 2025 at Aqueduct

Next race: Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes, Feb. 28 at Gulfstream Park, or Gotham Stakes, Feb. 28 at Aqueduct, or ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby, March 7 at Tampa Bay Downs

Commandment. (Coglianese Photos/Gulfstream Park)

9. Commandment

Owner: Wathnan Racing

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

2026 record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Mucho Macho Man Stakes, Jan. 3 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes, Feb. 28 at Gulfstream Park

Ted Noffey. (Gary Johnson/Eclipse Sportswire)

10. Ted Noffey (5 first-place votes)

Owner: Spendthrift Farm

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

2026 record: 0 starts – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1^st, FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by TAA, Oct. 31, 2025 at Del Mar

Next race: TBD (off the Triple Crown trail after an injury reported on Jan. 29)