Dateline: 02/03/03

A record number of 446 early nominations for the 2003 Triple Crown was received by Triple Crown Productions, topping the previous record of 440 set two years ago. Each is hoping to sweep the three-race series, consisting of the May 3rd Kentucky Derby, May 17th Preakness Stakes, and the June 7th Belmont Stakes, to win the elusive $5 million bonus. The early nominations cost just $600 and were due in by January 18th. The second nomination period closes March 29th and costs $6000. If you do not nominate in either of these periods, you cannot run in any of the Triple Crown races unless you pay a $150,000 supplement fee. Not surprisingly, 12 of the 13 runners in the 2002 Breeders' Cup Juvenile were nominated including undefeated 2 year old champion Vindication.

Godolphin Racing and trainer Saeed bin Suroor led all owners with 19 nominations, half of all the foreign-owned horses nominated. Fifteen horses were nominated by their main rival on the international stage, Ireland-based Coolmore led by Michael Tabor. Godolphin has yet to win the Kentucky Derby while Coolmore was successful with Thunder Gulch in 1995.

Among North American owners, Bob and Beverly Lewis nominated 15 horses, Eugene Melnyk nominated 12, while Overbrook Farm and Dogwood Stable had 11 each.

Although 5 fillies were nominated, conspicuous by her absence on the list is champion 2-year-old filly Storm Flag Flying. Trainer Shug McGaughey has said that she will remain in her division and not face males this year.

Todd Pletcher led all trainers with 28 nominations, followed by D. Wayne Lukas with 23. Lukas is currently tied with the legendary James Fitzsimmons for most Triple Crown races won with 13, and will attempt to break the tie this year. Suroor is next with 19, then Mark Hennig with 10. Given that Hennig and Pletcher were former Lukas assistants, the former Team Lukas makes up a whopping 13% of the total.

1992 Horse of the Year and Belmont winner A.P. Indy leads all sires with 16, followed by Storm Cat with 15.

You may view the entire list with color, sex, sire - dam, owner, trainer, breeder, and where bred sorted by Horse, Sire, Owner, or Trainer.

Triple Crown quick links:

• Nomination Costs and Rules
• Kentucky Derby Contenders - with photos and profiles
• Experimental Free Handicap - ranks the top 2-year-olds of 2002 and determines who can be a dual qualifier
• Triple Crown Trail prep race schedule with results updated weekly
• Derby Tickets and Seats - how to get them
• Derby Ticket Requests - what really happens once you send one in to Churchill Downs
• Triple Crown Mania from the Blood Horse
• Triple Crown Index - the master list with even more info

Graphic ©2003, Cindy Pierson Dulay, licenced to About.

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