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 15 of the 2026 NTRA Top 3-year-old Thoroughbred Poll covers races through May 3. Golden Tempo rocketed to the top of the rankings this week following his victory in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve May 2 at Churchill Downs.

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 MAY 4, 2026

Golden Tempo. (Candice Chavez/Eclipse Sportswire)

1. Golden Tempo (22 first-place votes)

Owners: Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable

Trainer: Cherie DeVaux

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

2026 record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 2 thirds

Last race: 1^st, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 2 at Churchill Downs

Next race: Possibly Preakness Stakes, May 16 at Laurel Park, or Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, June 6 at Saratoga

Renegade. (SV Photography)

2. Renegade (9 first-place votes)

Owners: Robert Low, Lawana Low, and Repole Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

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

Last race: 2^nd, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 2 at Churchill Downs

Next race: Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, June 6 at Saratoga

Chief Wallabee. (Coglianese Photos/Gulfstream Park)

3. Chief Wallabee

Owners: Michael Ball and Katherine G. Ball

Trainer: Bill Mott

Jockey: Junior Alvarado

2026 record: 4 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 1 third

Last race: 4th, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 2 at Churchill Downs

Next race: Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, June 6 at Saratoga

Crude Velocity. (Coady Media)

4. Crude Velocity

Owner: CSLR Racing Partners

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Florent Geroux

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

Last race: 1^st, Pat Day Mile Stakes Presented by SAP, May 2 at Churchill Downs

Next race: Possibly Preakness Stakes, May 16 at Laurel Park

Commandment. (Coglianese Photos/Gulfstream Park)

5. Commandment 

Owner: Wathnan Racing

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Luis Saez

2026 record: 4 starts– 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Last race: 7th, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 2 at Churchill Downs

Next race: TBD

Stark Contrast. (Candice Chavez/Eclipse Sportswire)

6. Stark Contrast

Owner: Amerman Racing

Trainer: Michael McCarthy

Jockey: Flavien Prat

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

Last race: 1^st, American Turf Stakes, May 2 at Churchill Downs

Next race: TBD

Always a Runner. (Candice Chavez/Eclipse Sportswire)

7. Always a Runner

Owners: Douglas Scharbauer and Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (Goncalo B. Torrealba)

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

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

Last race: 1^st, Longines Kentucky Oaks, May 1 at Churchill Downs

Next race: Acorn Stakes, June 5 at Saratoga

Further Ado. (Candice Chavez/Eclipse Sportswire)

8. Further Ado 

Owners: Spendthrift Farm

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: John Velazquez

2026 record: 3 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds

Last race: 11th, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 2 at Churchill Downs

Next race: TBD

The Puma. (Coglianese Photos/Gulfstream Park)

9. 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: 2^nd, Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa, March 28 at Gulfstream Park

Next race: Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, June 6 at Saratoga

Incredibolt. (Coady Media)

10. Incredibolt

Owners: Pin Oak Stud

Trainer: Riley Mott

Jockey: Jaime Torres

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

Last race: 6th, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 2 at Churchill Downs

Next race: TBD