A total of 368 three-year-olds have been nominated for the 2016 Triple Crown series at the first nomination phase.

The series consists of the $2 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 7, the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 21 and the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 11.

The early nominations list is the smallest since 2011 when there were 364 nominees.

Later entries will need to pay a $6000 fee open until March 21 while supplementary nominations can be made after that date at a cost of $200,000 for the Kentucky Derby, $150,000 for the Preakness and $75,000 for the Belmont.

The nominations list is headed by the Doug O’Neill-trained champion juvenile male Nyquist, raced by the same connections as the 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another.

Other notable hopefuls include GIBreeders’ Futurity hero Brody’s Cause, GI Los Alamitos Futurity scorer Mor Spirit, GI Champagne Stakes winner Greenpointcrusader, GI Hopeful Stakes hero Ralis, the G2 winners Airoforce, Annual Report, undefeated Mohaymen and the well performed Exaggerator and Swipe.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert landed the Triple Crown last year with American Pharoah, taking his career classic victories to 12.

He leads the trainers nominations with 35 led by Mor Spirit, Collected, Let’s Meet In Rio, Toews On Ice and Drefong.

Seven-time champion trainer Todd Pletcher has 28 entries, D. Wayne Lukas 10, Mike Maker 10 and Mark Casse 11.

Zayat Stables leads the owners’ list with 15 nominees from Calumet Farm (11).;

There 327 colts, 30 geldings, eight ridglings and three fillies.

There are 17 entries from overseas including Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Hit It a Bomb.

First-crop sire Uncle Mo leads the sires list with 19 Triple Crown nominees, followed by Tapit (16) and Bernardini (13).