Every week, members of the nationwide media vote on the nation’s high contenders on the Triple Crown path within the Nationwide Thoroughbred Racing Affiliation (NTRA) Prime Thoroughbred Ballot.
Week 3 of the 2026 NTRA Prime 3-Yr-Outdated Thoroughbred Ballot, covers races by way of Feb. 8. The ballot is led by convincing Holy Bull Stakes winner Almost, and becoming a member of the highest 10 this week are main prep race winners from the weekend of Feb. 6-7, Renegade, Silent Tactic, and Plutarch.
The three-Yr-Outdated ballot represents horses competing up and thru the Triple Crown. Rankings are primarily 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
1. Almost (13 first-place votes)
Proprietor: Centennial Farms
Coach: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
2026 report: 2 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Holy Bull Stakes, Jan. 31 at Gulfstream Park
Subsequent race: Curlin Florida Derby, March 28 at Gulfstream Park
2. Paladin (5 first-place votes)
Homeowners: Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Brook Smith, and Summer time Wind Equine
Coach: Chad Brown
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
2026 report: 0 begins – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Remsen Stakes, Dec. 6, 2025 at Aqueduct
Subsequent race: Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes, Feb. 14 at Truthful Grounds
3. Renegade (1 first-place vote)
Homeowners: Robert Low, Lawana Low, and Repole Secure
Coach: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
2026 report: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Sam F. Davis Stakes, Feb. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs
Subsequent race: Arkansas Derby, March 28 at Oaklawn Park
4. Golden Tempo (1 first-place vote)
Homeowners: Phipps Secure and St. Elias Secure
Coach: Cherie DeVaux
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
2026 report: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Lecomte Stakes, Jan. 24 at Truthful Grounds
Subsequent race: Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes, Feb. 14 at Truthful Grounds
5. Additional Ado (1 first-place vote)
Proprietor: Spendthrift Farm
Coach: Brad Cox
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
2026 report: 0 begins – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes, Nov. 29, 2025 at Churchill Downs
Subsequent race: ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby, March 7 at Tampa Bay Downs
Proprietor: John C. Oxley
Coach: Mark Casse
Jockey: Cristian Torres
2026 report: 2 begins – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Southwest Stakes, Feb. 6 at Oaklawn Park
Subsequent race: Insurgent Stakes, March 1 at Oaklawn Park
7. Brant (4 first-place votes)
Proprietor: Zedan Racing Stables
Coach: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Flavien Prat
2026 report: 0 begins – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 3rd, FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile introduced by TAA, Oct. 31, 2025 at Del Mar
Subsequent race: TBD, probably Insurgent Stakes, March 1 at Oaklawn Park, or Santa Anita Derby, April 4 at Santa Anita Park
8. Plutarch (1 first-place vote)
Homeowners: Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith
Coach: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Florent Geroux
2026 report: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Feb. 7 at Santa Anita Park
Subsequent race: Santa Anita Derby, April 4 at Santa Anita Park
Coach: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
2026 report: 0 begins – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Los Alamitos Futurity, Dec. 13, 2025 at Los Alamitos
Subsequent race: San Felipe Stakes Offered by DK Horse, March 7 at Santa Anita Park
10. Napoleon Solo
Proprietor: Gold Sq.
Coach: Chad Summers
Jockey: Joel Rosario
2026 report: 0 begins – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1st, Champagne Stakes, Oct. 4, 2025 at Aqueduct
Subsequent 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
