The early nominations included 57 more horses (18.2%) than last year's total of 312. Any additional horses can still be nominated via a late payment of $6,000 through Monday, Mar. 27.

A total of 125 individual trainers nominated runners, with Brad Cox leading all trainers by nominations with 38, followed by Todd Pletcher at 36, and a tie between Steve Asmussen and Kenny McPeek with 13 apiece. Chad Brown and Hideyuki Mori follow with 12 each. The latter is based in Japan as part of a 37-horse contingent nominated from that country, which is 16 more than last year's previous record of 21.

Spendthrift Farm leads owners with 19 horses nominated, either as sole owners or as part of a partnership. Spendthrift's Into Mischief has sired 17 of the nominees, followed by Curlin at 15, Curlin's son Good Magic at 14, and Triple Crown winner Justify at 14.

A total of 285 of the nominees were bred in Kentucky with other states represented being Florida (19), New York (19), California (5), Maryland (3), Pennsylvania (3), Oklahoma (2), and Texas (1). Japan contributes 24 of the nominees, with Ireland at four, Canada at three, and Great Britain at one.

Horses not currently assigned a trainer or horses under the care of any trainer suspended from competing in the 2023 Kentucky Derby have their trainer listed as “TBD.” For the Kentucky Derby, horses under the care of any suspended trainer or affiliates may be transferred to a non-suspended trainer and become eligible for earning Road to the Kentucky Derby points in future races if the transfer is complete by Feb. 28.

The 2023 Triple Crown opens May 6 with the 149th running of the GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, is followed by the 148th GI Preakness S. May 20 at Pimlico Race Course, and finishes with the 155th running of the GI Belmont S. June 10 at Belmont Park.

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Early nominations to the 1 1/8-mile Longines Kentucky Oaks on Friday, April 30 – the nation's premier race for 3-year-old fillies – cost $200. A payment of $100 must be paid to become eligible for the 1 1/8-mile Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic, which annually attracts top older grass stars and is run immediately prior to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on Saturday, May 1.

Owners and trainers can nominate horses by calling the Churchill Downs Racing Office at (502) 636-3806. Stakes nomination forms are available online: https://www.churchilldowns.com/horsemen/stakes/nomination-forms/.

A late nomination period, for both the Longines Kentucky Oaks and Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic will run through Sunday, April 10. The late nomination fee to the Oaks is $1,500 and Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic is $1,000

For more information, visit https://www.churchilldowns.com/horsemen/stakes/.

The post Early Nominations To Kentucky Oaks, Old Forester Turf Classic Due Saturday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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