NTRA poll: Emerging Market cracks top 10 after Louisiana Derby
Emerging Market debuted at no. 6 on the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's top 3-year-old poll after capturing the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on Saturday at Fair Grounds.
The Chad Brown-trained colt wore down pacesetter Pavlovian by a head in just his second lifetime start. The Candy Ride colt collected one first-place vote and 122 points to enter the poll as the highest-ranked newcomer. Emerging Market earned 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and is 2-for-2 after breaking his maiden at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7.
Brown has now trained the winners of both major Fair Grounds preps, having also saddled Paladin in the Risen Star Stakes (G2). Paladin held firm at no. 1 for a fifth consecutive week with 22 first-place votes and 300 points. He heads next to the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland on April 4.
Commandment remained at no. 2 with seven first-place votes and 266 points, followed by Nearly at no. 3 with two first-place votes and 208 points. Both colts are entered in Saturday's Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.
The top five remained unchanged from a week ago, with Class President fourth and Silent Tactic fifth. Emerging Market's arrival pushed Renegade, Chief Wallabee, Potente and The Puma down one spot apiece. Renegade is entered in Saturday's Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn.
Fulleffort, who rallied from last to win the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park collected 33 votes in the others receiving votes category. The Brad Cox-trained colt also earned 100 Derby qualifying points.
NTRA top 3-year-olds
| Horse | A-S | 2026 record | Points | Pvs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Paladin (22) | 3-C | 1: 1-0-0 | 300 | 1 |
| 2. Commandment (7) | 3-C | 2: 2-0-0 | 266 | 2 |
| 3. Nearly (2) | 3-C | 2: 2-0-0 | 208 | 3 |
| 4. Class President | 3-C | 2: 1-1-0 | 175 | 4 |
| 5. Silent Tactic | 3-C | 3: 1-2-0 | 123 | 5 |
| 6. Emerging Market (1) | 3-C | 2: 2-0-0 | 122 | N/A |
| 7. Renegade | 3-C | 1: 1-0-0 | 107 | 6 |
| 8. Chief Wallabee | 3-C | 2: 1-1-0 | 98 | 7 |
| 9. Potente | 3-C | 2: 2-0-0 | 81 | 8 |
| 10. The Puma | 3-C | 3: 1-1-1 | 57 | 9 |
Others receiving votes: Incredibolt (51), Fulleffort (33), Pavlovian (29), Iron Honor (17), Plutarch (16), Canaletto (13), Further Ado (12), Golden Tempo (9), Explora (8), Englishman (7), Litmus Test (7), Reagan's Honor (5), Zany (5), Solitude Dude (4), Bella Ballerina (4), Cherokee Nation (1), Intrepido (1), Crude Velocity (1).
In the top Thoroughbred poll, Sovereignty held no. 1 with 14 first-place votes and 258 points. Forever Young collected 15 first-place votes – one more than Sovereignty – but remained second with 237 points. Nysos stayed third with 223 points.
Skippylongstocking made the biggest move on the older-horse poll, jumping from no. 6 to no. 4 with one first-place vote and 202 points after dominating the Essex Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn on Saturday. The 7-year-old recorded his 12th career graded stakes victory and his third in a row, having also taken the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) in January. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. pointed the horse toward the Alysheba Stakes (G2) on May 1 at Churchill Downs.
Knightsbridge and Magnitude each slipped one spot to fifth and sixth, respectively. White Abarrio returned to the top 10 at no. 10 after sitting at no. 11 a week ago.
NTRA top Thoroughbreds
| Horse | A-S | 2026 record | Points | Pvs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Sovereignty (14) | 4-C | 0: 0-0-0 | 258 | 1 |
| 2. Forever Young (15) | 5-H | 1: 1-0-0 | 237 | 2 |
| 3. Nysos | 5-H | 1: 0-1-0 | 223 | 3 |
| 4. Skippylongstocking (1) | 7-H | 2: 2-0-0 | 202 | 6 |
| 5. Knightsbridge | 5-H | 2: 2-0-0 | 161 | 4 |
| 6. Magnitude | 4-C | 1: 1-0-0 | 147 | 5 |
| 7. Journalism | 4-C | 0: 0-0-0 | 132 | 7 |
| 8. Splendora | 5-M | 2: 2-0-0 | 89 | 8 |
| 9. Imagination (2) | 5-H | 1: 1-0-0 | 75 | 9 |
| 10. White Abarrio | 7-H | 1: 0-1-0 | 37 | 11 |
Others receiving votes: Book 'Em Danno (35), Touchuponastar (34), Nitrogen (32), Baeza (25), Hit Show (16), Reef Runner (15), Test Score (12), Lagynos (10), British Isles (8), Majestic Oops (3), Destino d'Oro (3), Cornucopian (3), Bishops Bay (1), Bentornato (1), Full Serrano (1).
Week 9 of the 2026 NTRA top 3-year-old Thoroughbred Poll and top Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the NTRA, covering racing performances through March 22. 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.