NTRA poll: Commandment crashes 3-year-old party
Commandment rocketed from no. 11 to no. 2 on the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's top 3-year-old poll after capturing the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
The Brad Cox-trained colt held off Chief Wallabee by a neck to improve his record to 4: 3-0-0 in four career starts. The Into Mischief colt collected seven first-place votes and 253 points, up from zero votes and no. 11 a week ago.
Paladin retained the top spot with 21 first-place votes and 291 points. Nearly, who held 13 first-place votes, dropped to third with one first-place vote and 211 points.
Class President debuted in the poll at no. 4 with 196 points after his victory in the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn. Chief Wallabee made a significant jump of his own, climbing from no. 19 to no. 7 on the strength of his Fountain of Youth effort.
NTRA top 3-year-olds
| Horse | Age-Sex | 2026 record | Points | Pvs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Paladin (21) | 3-C | 1: 1-0-0 | 291 | 1 |
| 2. Commandment (7) | 3-C | 2: 2-0-0 | 253 | 11 |
| 3. Nearly (1) | 3-C | 2: 2-0-0 | 211 | 2 |
| 4. Class President | 3-C | 2: 1-1-0 | 196 | N/A |
| 5. Silent Tactic | 3-C | 3: 1-2-0 | 157 | 5 |
| 6. Renegade | 3-C | 1: 1-0-0 | 117 | 3 |
| 7. Chief Wallabee | 3-C | 2: 1-1-0 | 108 | 19 |
| 8. Further Ado (1) | 3-C | 0: 0-0-0 | 82 | 6 |
| 9T. Brant (1) | 3-C | 0: 0-0-0 | 60 | 8 |
| 9T. Iron Honor | 3-C | 1: 1-0-0 | 60 | N/A |
In the top Thoroughbred poll, Sovereignty maintained his no. 1 ranking with 15 first-place votes and 262 points, though his margin narrowed over Forever Young, who climbed from no. 2 to collect 14 first-place votes and 226 points after his Saudi Cup victory.
Knightsbridge provided the biggest jump on that poll, rising from no. 11 to no. 5 with 144 points. Magnitude also surged, going from no. 26 to no. 6 with 138 points. Nitrogen slipped from no. 5 to no. 8 with 128 points.
NTRA top Thoroughbreds
| Horse | Age-Sex | 2026 record | Points | Pvs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Sovereignty (15) | 4-C | 0: 0-0-0 | 262 | 1 |
| 2. Forever Young (14) | 5-H | 1: 1-0-0 | 226 | 2 |
| 3. Nysos | 5-H | 1: 0-1-0 | 215 | 3 |
| 4. Skippylongstocking | 7-H | 1: 1-0-0 | 168 | 4 |
| 5. Knightsbridge | 5-H | 2: 2-0-0 | 144 | 11 |
| 6. Magnitude | 4-C | 1: 1-0-0 | 138 | 26 |
| 7. Journalism | 4-C | 0: 0-0-0 | 129 | 6 |
| 8. Nitrogen (2) | 4-F | 1: 1-0-0 | 128 | 5 |
| 9. Imagination | 5-H | 1: 1-0-0 | 60 | 8 |
| 10. White Abarrio | 7-H | 1: 0-1-0 | 58 | 7 |
Week 6 of the 2026 NTRA top 3-year-old Thoroughbred Poll and top Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the NTRA, covering racing performances through March 1. 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 and concludes on Tuesday, Nov. 3, after the Breeders' Cup world championships.
Rankings for both polls are on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 basis, with first-place votes in parentheses.