Every week, members of the nationwide media vote for the nation’s main candidates within the Triple Crown race within the Nationwide Thoroughbred Racing Affiliation (NTRA) Prime Thoroughbred Ballot.
Week 5 of the 2026 NTRA Prime 3-Yr-Outdated Thoroughbred Ballot covers races by way of February twenty second. Voting stays favorites for Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes winner Paladin and Holy Bull Stakes winner A busy weekend approaches for the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve with operating checklist for Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park The Gotham Stakes will likely be run at Aqueduct on February twenty eighth, adopted by the Insurgent Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 1st.
The three-year-old vote represents horses that can compete as much as the Triple Crown. Rankings are based mostly on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 voting system. The variety of votes for 1st place is in parentheses.
America’s Prime 3-Yr-Outdated Thoroughbreds for February 2026 twenty third
1. Paladin (25 first place votes)
Proprietor: Susan Magnier, Michael Taber, Derrick Smith, Brooke Smith, Summer season Wind Equine
coach: chad brown
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Data for 2026: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 second – 0 third
Final race: 1centFasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes, Feb. 14, on the Fairgrounds.
Subsequent race: Toyota Bluegrass Stakes, April 4th at Keeneland
2.Virtually (5 votes for 1st place)
Proprietor: Centennial Farms
coach: tod plecher
Jockey: John Velasquez
Data for 2026: 2 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1centHoly Bull Stakes, Jan. 31 at Gulfstream Park
Subsequent race: Curlin Florida Derby March 28 at Gulfstream Park
3. Renegade
Proprietor: Robert Rowe, Lawana Rowe, Lepore Stables
coach: tod plecher
Jockey: Airado Ortiz Jr.
Data for 2026: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 second – 0 third
Final race: 1centSam F. Davis Stakes, Feb. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs
Subsequent race: Arkansas Derby, March 28 Oaklawn Park
4. Plutarch
Proprietor: Susan Magnia, Michael Taber, Derrick Smith
coach: bob baffert
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Data for 2026: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 second – 0 third
Final race: 1centRobert B. Lewis Stakes, February 7, Santa Anita Park.
Subsequent race: Santa Anita Derby, April 4th at Santa Anita Park
5. Silence ways
Proprietor: John C. Oxley
coach: mark cass
Jockey: Christian Torres
Data for 2026: 2 begins – 1 win – 1 second – 0 three innings
Final race: 1centSouthwest Stakes, February sixth at Oaklawn Park
Subsequent race: Insurgent Stakes, March 1st at Oaklawn Park
6. Additional Preface (1 vote for 1st place)
Proprietor: Spendthrift Farm
coach: brad cox
Jockey: Airado Ortiz Jr.
Data for 2026: 0 begins – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1centKentucky Jockey Membership Stakes, November 29, 2025, Churchill Downs
Subsequent race: Esmark Tampa Bay Derby, March 7, Tampa Bay Downs
7. Golden time
Proprietor: Phipps Stables and St. Elias Stables
coach: Shelley Deveaux
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Data for 2026: 2 begins – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third
Final race: 3rdFasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes, Feb. 14, on the Fairgrounds.
Subsequent race: Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, March 21, Fairgrounds
8. Blunt (1 vote for 1st place)
Proprietor: Zedan Horse Racing Secure
coach: bob baffert
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Data for 2026: 0 begins – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 3rdFanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presenter by TAA, October 31, 2025, Del Mar
Subsequent race: San Felipe Stakes, sponsored by DK Horse, March seventh at Santa Anita Park
9. Litmus paper
Proprietor: SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Decided Stables, Golconda Secure, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Donovan, Catherine
coach: bob baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Data for 2026: 0 begins – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1centLos Alamitos Futurity, December 13, 2025, Los Alamitos
Subsequent race: Insurgent Stakes, March 1st at Oaklawn Park
10. Napoleon Solo
Proprietor: gold sq.
coach: Chad Summers
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Data for 2026: 0 begins – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Final race: 1centChampagne Stakes, October 4, 2025, Suidobashi
Subsequent race: Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes, February twenty eighth Gulfstream Park
