Churchill Downs Inc. announced Feb. 3 that a total of 367 of the world's top 3-year-old Thoroughbreds became eligible to compete in the 2026 Triple Crown series during the early nomination phase, which closed Jan. 26.
This year's early nominees span the globe and include several horses that have already made an impact on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, led by graded stakes winners Further Ado, Golden Tempo, Intrepido, Litmus Test, Napoleon Solo, Nearly, and Paladin.
Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher led all trainers with 31 nominees, followed by Bob Baffert (23), Chad Brown (22), Brad Cox (21), and Daisuke Takayanagi (14).
International representation included 37 horses from Japan, led by Godolphin's Pyromancer, who won the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun.
The 2026 Triple Crown series will begin with the 152nd running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) May 2 at Churchill Downs. The series continues with the $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1) at 1 3/16 miles May 16 at Laurel Park, and concludes with the $2 million Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course at 1 1/4 miles June 6. The Preakness and Belmont Park are not being run at their customary racetracks of Pimlico Race Course and Belmont Park due to reconstruction projects at those facilities.
Last year, there were 373 early nominees and another five late nominations.
See the Full List of Triple Crown Nominees
Early Triple Crown Nominees by the Numbers:
- 281 - Kentucky-bred nominees, most of any state. Others: Japan (37), New York (11), Florida (10), California (7), Pennsylvania (5), Ireland (3), Maryland (3), Virginia (3), Indiana (2), Ontario (2), Great Britain (1), Louisiana (1), Minnesota (1) and New Jersey (1)
- 171 - bay-colored horses. Other colors: dark bay/brown (84), chestnut (68), gray/roan (42) and gray (3)
- 127 - Trainers with horses nominated to the Triple Crown
- 55 - Stakes winners nominated and 19 graded stakes winners
- 16 - Horses sired by Taylor Mad Stallions' Not This Time , the most of any stallion. Others: Gun Runner (15), Into Mischief (14), Nyquist (14), Constitution (13), and Maxfield (12)
- 11 - Fillies Nominated: Bella Ballerina (trainer Brendan Walsh), Belle of the Barn (Caio Caramori), Counting Stars (Mark Casse), Dancin in Old Town (Keith Desormeaux), Energy Issei (Daisuke Takayanagi), Goldmunze (Takayanagi), Perfect Town (Steve Asmussen), Ten Time Top (Takayanagi), Tokai Ma Cherie (Takayanagi), Unnatamsa (Takayanagi) and Zany (Pletcher)
- Jan. 1, 2023 - Earliest foal among nominees: Star Ship
- May 24, 2023 - Latest foals among nominees: Silver Prince.
Three-year-olds not nominated during the early phase can still join the Triple Crown trail by making a late payment of $6,000 by Monday, April 6, at www.thetriplecrown.com.
Thirteen horses have swept the Triple Crown: Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977), Affirmed (1978), American Pharoah (2015), and Justify (2018).
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
