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 4 of the 2026 NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll, covers races through Feb. 15. The poll is led by Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes winner Paladin followed by convincing Holy Bull Stakes winner Nearly.

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. 16, 2026

Paladin. (Hodges Photography.)

1. Paladin (25 first-place votes)

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

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

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

Last race: 1^st, Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes, Feb. 14 at Fair Grounds

Next race: Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 4 at Keeneland

Nearly. (Katie Vordenberg/Eclipse Sportswire)

2. Nearly (5 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

Renegade. (SV Photography)

3. Renegade 

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

Silent Tactic. (Bentley Breland/Eclipse Sportswire)

4. 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

Plutarch. (BENOIT photo)

5. Plutarch

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

Further Ado. (Coady Media)

6. 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

Brant. (Richard Steele/Eclipse Sportswire)

7. Brant (1 first-place vote)

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: Rebel Stakes, March 1 at Oaklawn Park

Golden Tempo. (Hodges Photography.)

8. Golden Tempo

Owners: Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable

Trainer: Cherie DeVaux

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

2026 record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third

Last race: 3^rd, Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes, Feb. 14 at Fair Grounds

Next race: Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 21 at Fair Grounds

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