Todd Pletcher’s training stable has caused notable shifts in the Triple Crown landscape this week, marked by the exit of the champion Ted Nophy and Neary’s standout victory at Gulfstream Park over the weekend. Neary’s impressive win in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes earned him 10 votes, propelling him to the top spot ahead of his stablemate Ted Nophy, who was withdrawn from Triple Crown contention on January 29 by Spendthrift Farm due to a bone bruise.
Neary, owned by Centennial Farm, has remained undefeated in his three starts since November, including a dominant 5 3/4-length victory over Not This Time in his stakes debut. Bred by Wind Hill Farm in Florida, Neary was acquired for $350,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is slated to compete next in the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on March 28.
Other top vote-getters in the Triple Crown ballot include Paladin in second place, Golden Tempo in third, Brant in fourth, Further Ado fifth, and Strategic Risk in seventh. Meanwhile, Ted Nophy was ranked 10th with five first-place votes.
Additional contenders on the ballot feature My World (30 votes), Bravalo (29), Canaletto (25), Boyd (20), Solitude Dude (17), Chief Wallaby (16), Intrepid (13), and several others with varying vote totals.
In contrast, the NTRA Top Thoroughbred rankings saw little change, with Sovereignty maintaining a lead, securing 23 first-place votes as the current Horse of the Year. Nisos, previously ranked fourth, is now tied with Journalism for third place and has recently arrived in Saudi Arabia to prepare for the $20 million Saudi Cup scheduled for February 14. Nisos, trained by Bob Baffert, was purchased by Baoma Corp for $550,000 at the 2023 OBS Spring Sale and bred in Kentucky by Susie Atkins.
Other horses on the NTRA ballot include Baeza (43 votes), Sea Fields Pretty (25), Magnitude (25), Shisospicy (23), and many others across the rankings.
This article was initially published by Paulick Report on February 3, 2026.
Fan Take: This week’s updates highlight the unpredictable nature of Triple Crown racing, where an injury and a breakout performance can instantly reshape the favorites. For horse racing enthusiasts, Neary’s rise signals fresh excitement and underscores the depth of talent that keeps the sport thrilling and dynamic.
