Renegade Top Choice Over Commandment, Further Ado in Final Pre-Kentucky Derby Power Rankings

Racing
Renegade, Commandment, Further Ado, Triple Crown Power Rankings, 2026 Kentucky Derby, NTRA 3-year-old poll
Top-ranked Renegade and the rest of the contenders are making final preparations for the Kentucky Derby. (Tere Poplin/Eclipse Sportswire)

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 14 of the 2026 NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll covers races through April 26. The three leaders in the power rankings (each garnering a share of the 28 first-place votes) are Renegade based on his win in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby March 28 at Oaklawn Park, Commandment based on his win in the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa March 28 at Gulfstream Park, and Further Ado based on his win in the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes April 4 at Keeneland. (Note: With the scratch of Silent Tactic April 29 due to a foot bruise, Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino winner Albus moved into the top 10.)

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 APRIL 27, 2026

Renegade, Triple Crown, Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, horse racing, America's Best Racing, ABR
Arkansas Derby winner Renegade (Coady Media)

1. Renegade (17 first-place votes)

Owners: Robert Low, Lawana Low, and Repole Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

2026 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Arkansas Derby, March 28 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 2 at Churchill Downs


Commandment, Triple Crown, Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, horse racing, America's Best Racing, ABR
Florida Derby winner Commandment (Coglianese Photos/Gulfstream Park)

2. Commandment (6 first-place votes)

Owner: Wathnan Racing

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Luis Saez

2026 record: 3 starts– 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1stCurlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa, March 28 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 2 at Churchill Downs


Further Ado, Triple Crown, Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, horse racing, America's Best Racing, ABR
Blue Grass Stakes winner Further Ado (Coady Media)

3. Further Ado (5 first-place votes)

Owners: Spendthrift Farm

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: John Velazquez

2026 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 4 at Keeneland

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 2 at Churchill Downs


The Puma, Triple Crown, Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, horse racing, America's Best Racing, ABR
Tampa Bay Derby winner The Puma (Coady Media)

4. The Puma

Owners: OGMA Investments, JR Ranch, and High Step Racing

Trainer: Gustavo Delgado

Jockey: Javier Castellano

2026 record: 4 starts – 1 win – 2 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 2nd, Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa, March 28 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 2 at Churchill Downs


So Happy, Triple Crown, Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, horse racing, America's Best Racing, ABR
Santa Anita Derby winner So Happy (Coady Media)

5. So Happy

Owners: Norman Stables and Saints and Sinners

Trainer: Mark Glatt

Jockey: Mike Smith

2026 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 1st, Santa Anita Derby, April 4 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 2 at Churchill Downs


Emerging Market, Triple Crown, Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, horse racing, America's Best Racing, ABR
Louisiana Derby winner Emerging Market (Coady Media)

6. Emerging Market 

Owner: Klaravich Stables

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2026 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1st, Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 21 at Fair Grounds

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 2 at Churchill Downs


Chief Wallabee, Triple Crown, Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, horse racing, America's Best Racing, ABR
Florida Derby third-place finisher Chief Wallabee (Coady Media)

7. Chief Wallabee

Owners: Michael and Katherine G. Ball

Trainer: Bill Mott

Jockey: Junior Alvarado

2026 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 1 third

Last race: 3rdCurlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa, March 28 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 2 at Churchill Downs


Potente, Triple Crown, Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, horse racing, America's Best Racing, ABR
Potente, winner of the San Felipe Stakes (Tere Poplin/Eclipse Sportswire)

8. Potente

Owner: Speedway Stables

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Juan Hernandez

2026 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 2nd, Santa Anita Derby, April 4 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 2 at Churchill Downs


Fulleffort, Triple Crown, Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, horse racing, America's Best Racing, ABR
Fulleffort, winner of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (Coady Media)

9. Fulleffort

Owners: St. Elias Stable and Starlight Racing

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

2026 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 2 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1stJeff Ruby Steaks, March 21 at Turfway Park

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 2 at Churchill Downs


Albus, Triple Crown, Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, horse racing, America's Best Racing, ABR
Wood Memorial Stakes winner Albus (Eclipse Sportswire)

10. Albus

Owner: Pin Oak Stud

Trainer: Riley Mott

Jockey: Manny Franco

2026 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 1stWood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino, April 4 at Aqueduct

Next race: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 2 at Churchill Downs


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