Paladin (left) passes Chip Honcho en route 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 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 performance through February 16. Voting is done by the national media.
The 3-year poll represents horses competing in 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 World Breeders’ Cup Championships.
The rankings in both polls are on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 basis with first place votes in brackets, 2026 record, and total points. AS: Age-Sex, Gender: C-foal, G-gelding, H-horse, F-filly, M-mare, R-ridgling.
TOP 3 YEAR OLD POLL
| PLACE | HORSE | IF | STATISTICS | POINTS | PVS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PALADIN (25) | 3-C | 1-1-0-0 | 320 | 2 |
| 2 | ALMOST (5) | 3-C | 2-2-0-0 | 277 | 1 |
| 3 | DEFECTOR | 3-C | 1-1-0-0 | 164 | 3 |
| 4 | SILENT TACTICS | 3-C | 2-1-1-0 | 149 | 6 |
| 5 | PLUTARCH | 3-C | 1-1-0-0 | 137 | 8 |
| 6 | CONTINUE ADO (1) | 3-C | 0-0-0-0 | 133 | 5 |
| 7 | BRANT (1) | 3-C | 0-0-0-0 | 102 | 7 |
| 8 | GOLDEN TIME | 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 that received 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), DESTRUCTION (5), GUNNER (4), SO HAPPY (4), POTENTE (4), OBLIGATION (4), ON TIME GIRL (3), STREET BEAST (3), BLACKOUT TIME (3), SOLDIER AND DIPLOMAT (2), PROM QUEEN (1), THE PUMA (1), PAVLOVIAN (1)
TOP THOROUGHBlood POLL
| PLACE | HORSE | IF | STATISTICS | 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 | SKIPPY LONG STOCKS (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 THEM DAMAGES | 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 BEAUTIFUL (6), PURPOSEFUL (5), SHISOSPICY (5), MAGNITUDE (3), CORNUCOPIAN (3), LAGYNOS (3), GRAND JOB (2), ANTIQUARIAN (1), VODKA VODK
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