LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In the early nomination phase for this year’s esteemed Triple Crown series, 373 young Thoroughbreds have registered to vie for a spot in the prestigious races.

Heading the list is Citizen Bull, who earned the title of last year’s champion male at the age of two. Each of these contenders was entered by their connections through a fee of $600, allowing them the chance to compete in the Kentucky Derby scheduled for May 3, followed by the Preakness Stakes on May 17, and the Belmont Stakes, which will take place at Saratoga on June 7.

This year’s figures reflect a notable increase of 7.8% compared to the 346 horses nominated during the same period last year. Among the entrants, a record-setting 69 horses from Japan made their nominations, surpassing last year’s total of 47 nominations from the same country.

Prominent trainers are heavily represented among the nominees, with Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher leading the charge with 32 nominations. Following him is the legendary Bob Baffert, a two-time Triple Crown winner, who has nominated 21 horses. Other notable trainers include Brad Cox with 14, Chad Brown with 13, and Ken McPeek with 12 nominations.

For those horses that missed the early nomination deadline of January 27, there is still an opportunity to enter the series through a late fee of $6,000, available until April 7. This option ensures that even latecomers can still compete in one of the sport’s most celebrated events.