In Louisville, Kentucky, 367 three-year-old horses have secured their spots for this year’s Triple Crown Series by meeting the early nomination criteria. Each nominated horse paid a $600 fee to compete in the Kentucky Derby on May 2, the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park on May 16, and the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga on June 6.
Veteran Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher leads with 31 horses entered, followed by Bob Baffert, a two-time Triple Crown winner, who has 23 horses nominated. Chad Brown has 22, Brad Cox has 21, and Japan’s Daisuke Takayanagi has 14 horses in the running. Among the international contenders are 37 horses from Japan, with 11 fillies included in the nominations.
Horses that missed the early January 26 deadline to enter the Triple Crown can still qualify by April 6 by paying a late fee of $6,000.
Fan Take: This early nomination count highlights the competitive spirit and global interest in the Triple Crown, promising an exciting and diverse lineup for fans to watch. The increasing international participation could elevate the sport’s profile worldwide and introduce new challenges to the traditional U.S. racing scene.
