Bourbon Empire on Friday was announced as an early nominee to the Triple Crown, bringing to 419 the number of nominees at this stage of the process.

There were 418 3-year-olds announced as early nominees on Tuesday. Bourbon Empire's omission then, and addition on Friday, was because of a "clerical error," according to a press release from Churchill Downs.

Bourbon Empire has won once in two starts. He is entered in the Gander Stakes for New York-breds on Saturday at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher is expected to send out a trio of runners against Jerome Stakes winner El Areeb in next Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct.

Pletcher’s horses Bonus Points and Win With Pride, who finished second and fourth in the Jerome, will try El Areeb again. They will be joined by Fillet of Sole, a colt coming off a maiden victory at Parx in November.

With divisional champion Classic Empire heading the prospective lineup, a field of seven or eight is forming for the first major 3-year-old event of the Gulfstream championship meet, the Grade 2, $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes next Saturday.

Classic Empire was scheduled to have his final prerace breeze this weekend at his Palm Meadows base, according to trainer Mark Casse.

“So far, everything’s going to plan,” Casse said Friday. “We’re in good shape.”

Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte Stakes, one mile and 70 yards, Fair Grounds, Jan. 21, 2017

 (10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

 Winner: Guest Suite, by Quality Road

 Trainer: Neil Howard

 Jockey: Robby Albarado

 Owner: W.S. Farish and Lora Jean Kilroy

 Beyer Speed Figure: 82

Reigning leading sire Tapit, who sired his second American classic winner last year, leads all stallions by early nominations to the 2017 Triple Crown series. The nominations were released Tuesday.

The Gainesway resident’s 19 nominees include the graded stakes-placed Capitaine and Ticonderoga; Japanese-bred Foggy Night, who won at Tokyo Racecourse in his first start; and two fillies, Grade 1 winner Pretty City Dancer and Grade 2 winner Unique Bella.

OCALA, Fla. -- Master Plan definitely didn’t run according to plan in the $100,000 males’ division of the OBS Championship Stakes on Tuesday, but his talent allowed him to overcome a speed-favoring track bias and rally for a 2 1/2-length victory under jockey John Velazquez.

Classic Empire won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, was named the Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old male of 2016, and on Tuesday headed a robust list of 418 3-year-olds who were announced as early nominees to this year’s Triple Crown.

There were 368 horses nominated at this stage a year ago, so this year’s total is a significant bump from 2016. There were 429 nominated at the early stage in 2015. The record is 450 in 2007, which followed a huge foal crop of 37,948 in 2004. The 2014 foal crop was estimated at 22,300.

A substantial overhaul from Pool 1 just nine weeks earlier has resulted in 10 new names being among the 23 separately listed wagering interests for Pool 2 of the 2017 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens Friday at noon Eastern for a three-day run.

The new names for Pool 2 are American Anthem, Battalion Runner, El Areeb, Faja, Guest Suite, Mont Saint Legame, Petrov, Sonic Mule, State of Honor, and Untrapped.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Trainer Rohan Crichton said he is leaning toward running The Money Monster in the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on March 4 following the undefeated colt’s victory last Saturday in the $53,500 Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.