Paladin (left) edges past Chip Honcho in the stretch to capture the Risen Star Stakes (G2) and remain perfect in three lifetime starts. The son of Gun Runner was ridden by Tyler Gaffalione and is trained by Chad Brown for an ownership group that includes Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook T. Smith and breeder Summer Wind Equine, LLC. Photo credit: Hodges Photography
NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll – February 17, 2026
Week 4 of the 2026 NTRA Top Three-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll and the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), covering racing performances through February 16. Voting is conducted by national media.
The 3-Year-Old poll represents horses competing up and through the Triple Crown.
The Top Thoroughbred poll represents horses competing for Horse of the Year. The Top Thoroughbred Poll concludes on Tuesday, November 3 following the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Rankings on both polls are on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 basis with first place votes in parentheses, 2026 record and total points. A-S: Age-Sex, Sex: C-colt, G-gelding, H-horse, F-filly, M-mare, R-ridgling.
TOP 3-YEAR OLD POLL
| PLACE | HORSE | A-S | STATS | POINTS | PVS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PALADIN (25) | 3-C | 1-1-0-0 | 320 | 2 |
| 2 | NEARLY (5) | 3-C | 2-2-0-0 | 277 | 1 |
| 3 | RENEGADE | 3-C | 1-1-0-0 | 164 | 3 |
| 4 | SILENT TACTIC | 3-C | 2-1-1-0 | 149 | 6 |
| 5 | PLUTARCH | 3-C | 1-1-0-0 | 137 | 8 |
| 6 | FURTHER ADO (1) | 3-C | 0-0-0-0 | 133 | 5 |
| 7 | BRANT (1) | 3-C | 0-0-0-0 | 102 | 7 |
| 8 | GOLDEN TEMPO | 3-C | 2-1-0-1 | 97 | 4 |
| 9 | LITMUS TEST | 3-C | 0-0-0-0 | 77 | 9 |
| 10 | NAPOLEON SOLO | 3-C | 0-0-0-0 | 75 | 10 |
Other horses receiving votes: CHIP HONCHO (57), COMMANDMENT (49), CANALETTO (21), INTREPIDO (16), BELLA BALLERINA (16), BOYD (14), STRATEGIC RISK (14), TED NOFFEY-1 (12), SOLITUDE DUDE (11), CHIEF WALLABEE (8), TAKEN BY THE WIND (7), BRAVARO (6), MY WORLD (6), ZANY (6), TALK TO ME JIMMY (6), OBLITERATION (5), CANNONEER (4), SO HAPPY (4), POTENTE (4), OBLIGATION (4), ON TIME GIRL (3), STREET BEAST (3), BLACKOUT TIME (3), SOLDIER N DIPLOMAT (2), PROM QUEEN (1), THE PUMA (1), PAVLOVIAN (1)
TOP THOROUGHBRED POLL
| PLACE | HORSE | A-S | STATS | POINTS | PVS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SOVEREIGNTY (16) | 4-C | 0-0-0-0 | 286 | 1 |
| 2 | FOREVER YOUNG (JPN) (14) | 5-H | 1-1-0-0 | 240 | 6 |
| 3 | NYSOS | 5-H | 1-0-1-0 | 238 | 4 |
| 4 | SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING (1) | 7-H | 1-1-0-0 | 215 | 2 |
| 5 | JOURNALISM | 4-C | 0-0-0-0 | 162 | 3 |
| 6 | NITROGEN (2) | 4-F | 1-1-0-0 | 151 | 5 |
| 7 | WHITE ABARRIO | 7-H | 1-0-1-0 | 96 | 7 |
| 8 | IMAGINATION | 5-H | 1-1-0-0 | 67 | N/A |
| 9 | BOOK 'EM DANNO | 5-G | 0-0-0-0 | 60 | 8 |
| 10 | TEST SCORE | 4-C | 1-1-0-0 | 49 | 9 |
Other horses receiving votes: KNIGHTSBRIDGE (47), BAEZA (40), SPLENDORA (30), HIT SHOW (28), REEF RUNNER (21), FULL SERRANO (11), WESTWOOD (9), NOTABLE SPEECH (GB) (8), DESTINO D’ORO (7), BISHOPS BAY (7), FORMIDABLE MAN (6), BENTORNATO (6), SHE FEELS PRETTY (6), GOAL ORIENTED (5), SHISOSPICY (5), MAGNITUDE (3), CORNUCOPIAN (3), LAGYNOS (3), GRAND JOB (2), ANTIQUARIAN (1), VODKA VODKA (1), PATCH ADAMS (1), DETERMINISTIC (1)