368 horses nominated to 2016 Triple Crown

The 2016 Triple Crown opens with May 7 with the 142nd running of the Kentucky

Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs and continues with the 141st Preakness (G1) at

Pimlico two weeks later before concluding with the 148th Belmont Stakes (G1) on

June 11.

The early nomination period for 3-year-olds closed last Saturday with a total of

368 horses. Early nominations required a $600 fee, and the late nomination

period closes March 21 with a $6,000 cost.

Bob Baffert, who conditioned American Pharoah to the first Triple Crown tally

in 27 years, leads all trainers with 35 nominees. The Hall of Famer moved into a

three-way tie for second when capturing his fourth Kentucky Derby in 2015 and

Baffert ranks second behind D. Wayne Lukas (14) with a total of 12 Triple Crown

race wins. Zayat Stables, who owned and bred American Pharoah, leads all owners

with 15 Triple Crown nominees.

Trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel is

targeting the $500,000 Southwest S. (G3) at Oaklawn Park with a couple of Triple

Crown nominees in Synchrony and Suddenbreakingnews.

A former star three-year-old filly,

Untapable, has begun preparations for what could be her final season of racing.

The five-year-old champion worked at Fair Grounds on Thursday for trainer Steve

Asmussen as she readies for her 2016 debut.

The

Jockey Club of Canada's Graded Stakes Committee has upgraded the Natalma Stakes,

a turf event for 2-year-old fillies in the fall, to Grade 1 status.

Also at the TwinSpires.com blog on Thursday:

Keilly Reilly discusses California Chrome's Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) run

while Dick Powell gives his take on the current Dubai Carnival and recent

developments at Gulfstream Park in his weekly

Handicapping Insights.

James Scully

previews the eight mandatory races on Day 2 at National Handicapping

Championship (NHC) in Las Vegas.