Led by 2-year-old champion and upset Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Storm the Court, a total of 347 3-year-old Thoroughbreds were made eligible to compete in this year’s Triple Crown during the early nomination phase, which closed Jan. 25.
Each of the 347 horses from the 2017 foal crop was made eligible through a $600 payment to compete in any of the Triple Crown contests: the 146th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) on May 2 at Churchill Downs (1 ¼ miles); the 145th running of the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (GI) on May 16 at Pimlico Race Course (1 3/16 miles); and the 152nd running of the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (GI) on June 6 at Belmont Park (1 ½ miles).
The total slipped 4.1%, or 15 horses, from last year’s 362 that were nominated at the early stage.