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 9 of the 2024 Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the NTRA covers racing performances through March 25, 2024. Sierra Leone, the winner of the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds, leads the poll. Entering the top 10 for the first time this week is Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby winner Catching Freedom, who is ranked No. 5.

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 26, 2024

Sierra Leone. (Ben Breland/Eclipse Sportswire)

1. Sierra Leone (12 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. (Renee Torbit.)

2. Timberlake (1 first-place vote)

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 (14 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:  Toyota Blue Grass Stakes,  April 6 at Keeneland

Catching Freedom. (Ben Breland/Eclipse Sportswire)

5. Catching Freedom (2 first-place votes)

Owner: Albaugh Family Stables

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2024 record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 1st, Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 23 at Fair Grounds

Next race: Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, May 4 at Churchill Downs

Muth. (Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire)

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:  Arkansas Derby, March 30 at Oaklawn Park

Fierceness. (Bailey Ortiz/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: Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa, March 30  at Gulfstream Park

Eclipse Sportswire

8. 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

Hades. (Lauren King)

9. 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: Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa, March 30  at Gulfstream Park

Deterministic. (Dom Napolitano)

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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