Triple Crown Power Rankings: No. 1 Spot Up for Grabs in Belmont Stakes

Racing
Belmont Stakes, Golden Tempo, Renegade, Triple Crown, 3-year-old Power Rankings
Kentucky Derby 1-2 finishers Golden Tempo and Renegade are set for rematch in the Belmont Stakes, a race that could decide the top-rated 3-year-old heading into the summer. (Alisa Adcock/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 19 of the 2026 NTRA Top 3-year-old Thoroughbred Poll covers races through May 31. Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve winner Golden Tempo continues to occupy the No. 1 ranking in the final poll taken before the running of the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets June 6 at Saratoga.

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 JUNE 1, 2026

Golden Tempo. (Coady Media/Alisa Adcock)

1. Golden Tempo (19 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: 1st, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 2 at Churchill Downs

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


Renegade. (Scott Serio/Eclipse Sportswire)

2. Renegade (8 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: 2nd, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 2 at Churchill Downs

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


Napoleon Solo. (Jason Moran/Eclipse Sportswire)

3. Napoleon Solo (2 first-place votes)

Owner: Sold by Gold Square to ESPOIR USA (reported on May 29)

Trainer: Chad Summers

Jockey: Paco Lopez

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

Last race: 1st, Preakness Stakes, May 16 at Laurel Park

Next race: NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes, July 18 at Monmouth Park


Chief Wallabee. (Coglianese Photos/Gulfstream Park)

4. 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: 4thKentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, May 2 at Churchill Downs

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


Crude Velocity. (Scott Serio/Eclipse Sportswire)

5. Crude Velocity

Owner: CSLR Racing Partners

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Florent Geroux

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

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

Next race: Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun, June 6 at Saratoga


Commandment. (Scott Serio/Eclipse Sportswire)

6. Commandment 

Owner: Wathnan Racing

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: John Velazquez

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

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

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


Stark Contrast. (Tere Poplin/Eclipse Sportswire)

7. Stark Contrast

Owner: Amerman Racing

Trainer: Michael McCarthy

Jockey: Flavien Prat

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

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

Next race: TBD


Always a Runner. (Coady Media)

8. 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: 1stLongines Kentucky Oaks, May 1 at Churchill Downs

Next race: DraftKings Acorn Stakes, June 5 at Saratoga


Iron Honor. (Scott Serio/Eclipse Sportswire)

9. Iron Honor

Owners: St. Elias Stable, William H. Lawrence, and Cathi Glassman

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Flavien Prat

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

Last race: 2ndPreakness Stakes, May 16 at Laurel Park

Next race: Possibly NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes, July 18 at Monmouth Park


The Puma. (Coglianese Photos/Gulfstream Park)

10. 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: Possibly NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes, July 18 at Monmouth Park


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