Early Nominations for 2023 Triple Crown Close Jan. 28

Early nominations for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds to become eligible to compete in the 2023 Triple Crown series are due Saturday with a $600 payment.

Payment for early Triple Crown nominations must be made at the time of entry on www.thetriplecrown.com. Information regarding phone or mail-in entries can also be found on the website.

Nominations are scheduled to be released to the public Monday, Feb. 6.

The 2023 Triple Crown opens Saturday, May 6 with the 149th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby (G1) at 1 1/4 miles at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. The 148th running of the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (G1), its 1 3/16-mile second jewel, is set for Saturday, May 20 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md. The 155th running of the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (G1), the series' 1 1/2-mile final leg, is scheduled for Saturday, June 10 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Last year's early Triple Crown nominations attracted 312 horses and nine late nominees.

Horses not nominated during the early phase can be made eligible through Monday, March 27 with a $6,000 payment. Any horse not nominated during either the early or late nomination phases has a final opportunity to become eligible for the races through payment of a supplemental nomination fee due at the time of entry for each Triple Crown race: Kentucky Derby ($200,000), Preakness ($150,000) and Belmont ($50,000).