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Ted Noffey, NTRA 3-year-old poll, 2026 Kentucky Derby, Triple Crown

Ted Noffey Tops First 2026 Poll of Triple Crown Contenders

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 1 of the 2026 NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll, covers races through Jan. 25. The poll is topped by undefeated 2-year-old champion Ted Noffey. At this stage of the season, many of the top contenders have yet to make their 3-year-old debuts.

Southwest Stakes, Oaklawn Park, Smarty Jones Stakes, America's Best Racing, ABR, horse racing

2026 Southwest Stakes at a Glance

The Southwest Stakes may not have produced a Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve winner in 2025 as it did in 2024 with Mystik Dan, but with a seven-figure purse it’s no surprise the 1 1/16-mile stakes attracted a full field of 14 starters.

Holy Bull Stakes Gulfstream Park Kentucky Derby Barbaro Go for Gin Tiz the Law Itsmyluckyday Hal’s Hope Zito Matz Sackatoga Tagg Plesa Bailey Lael Stable Harold Rose horse racing history

Stars of Yesterday: Looking Back at Best Holy Bull Stakes Winners

Gulfstream Park’s road to the 2026 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve begins this Saturday with the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes. The race will offer 20 qualifying points to the winner as top 3-year-olds compete to accumulate points and earn a place in the Derby starting gate.

Holy Bull Stakes, Gulfstream Park, horse racing, Kentucky Derby, Incredibolt, Roger That Dana, Project Ace, Global Aviator, Cannoneer, Buetane, Nearly, Bravaro, Game for It, Brad Cox, Todd Pletcher, trainer, jockey, Irad Ortiz, Riley Mott, owner, ABR

2026 Holy Bull Stakes Cheat Sheet

Gulfstream Park kicks off its always influential prep series for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve Saturday with the 37th running of the Holy Bull Stakes.

Pegasus World Cup, Skippylongstocking, White Abarrio, Gulfstream Park, America's Best Racing, ABR, horse racing

Five Takeaways You Need to Know From Pegasus World Cup Weekend

Mike Curry offers takeaways from Pegasus World Cup day at Gulfstream Park, where Skippylongstocking and sunny Florida took center stage on a weekend when snow and ice blanketed much of the Midwest and East Coast.

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