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 3 of the 2026 NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll, covers races through Feb. 8. The poll is led by convincing Holy Bull Stakes winner Nearly, and joining the top 10 this week are major prep race winners from the weekend of Feb. 6-7, Renegade, Silent Tactic, and Plutarch.

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. 9, 2026

Nearly. (Coglianese Photos/Gulfstream Park)

1. Nearly (13 first-place votes)

Owner: Centennial Farms

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

2026 record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 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 (5 first-place votes)

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

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

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

Renegade. (SV Photography)

3. Renegade (1 first-place vote)

Owners: Robert Low, Lawana Low, and Repole Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

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

Last race: 1^st, Sam F. Davis Stakes, Feb. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs

Next race: Arkansas Derby, March 28 at Oaklawn Park

Golden Tempo. (Lou Hodges, Jr. /Hodges Photography)

4. Golden Tempo (1 first-place vote)

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

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

Silent Tactic. (Bentley Breland/Eclipse Sportswire)

6. Silent Tactic

Owner: John C. Oxley

Trainer: Mark Casse

Jockey: Cristian Torres

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

Last race: 1^st, Southwest Stakes, Feb. 6 at Oaklawn Park

Next race: Rebel Stakes, March 1 at Oaklawn Park

Brant. (Richard Steele/Eclipse Sportswire)

7. Brant (4 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, possibly Rebel Stakes, March 1 at Oaklawn Park, or Santa Anita Derby, April 4 at Santa Anita Park

Plutarch. (BENOIT photo)

8. Plutarch (1 first-place vote)

Owners: Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Florent Geroux

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

Last race: 1^st, Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Feb. 7 at Santa Anita Park

Next race: Santa Anita Derby, April 4 at Santa Anita Park

Litmus Test. (BENOIT photo)

9. 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: San Felipe Stakes Presented by DK Horse, March 7 at Santa Anita Park

Napoleon Solo. (Jason Moran/Eclipse Sportswire)

10. 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