Below is the complete list of early nominees to Triple Crown 2008. There were 448 nominees during the early nomination process, which closed Jan. 19 with payment of $600 per horse. Late nominations can be made at a cost of $6,000, before the deadline of March 29.
| NAME | SEX | COLOR | SIRE | DAM | BREEDER | TRAINER | OWNER |
| A Diehl | C | Ch | Aldebaran | Dream Deal | G. Watts Humphrey, Jr. | George R. Arnold, Ii | G. Watts Humphrey, Jr. |
| A R Rio Bravo | G | Ch | Pulpit | Affirmative Choice | Brookdale | D. Wayne Lukas | Atwood, Tom And Wells, John J. |
| A. P. Answer | C | B | A.p. Indy | Pas De Reponse | Wertheimer & Frere | Richard E. Mandella | Wertheimer And Frere |
| Aaron's Rod | C | Dk B/ | Rod And Staff | Ways Of Prudence | Jim H. Plemmons | Kenneth G. Mcpeek | Jim H. Plemmons |
| Access Code | C | B | Mineshaft | Quick Tip | W. S. Farish | Neil J. Howard | W.s. Farish |
| Accredit | C | Dk B/ | E Dubai | Pocketbrook | David Humphery | Kiaran P. Mclaughlin | Darley Stable |
| Admirality | C | Ch | Deputy Commander | Fit For A Queen | Tracy Farmer | Nicholas P. Zito | Tracy Farmer |
| Adriano | C | Ch | A.p. Indy | Gold Canyon | Courtlandt Farm | H. Graham Motion | Courtlandt Farms |
| Afleet Ruler | C | Dk B/ | Northern Afleet | Canyon Winds | Chris Alexander | John W. Sadler | Joy Ride Racing |
| Agave Ridge | C | Ch | Cactus Ridge | Bonnieview Miss | Row/ken Partnership | Laura Dennis | P.t.k., Llc |
| Alaazo | C | Dk B/ | A.p. Indy | Atelier | Alexander, Groves & Matz, Llc | William I. Mott | Zayat Stables, Llc |
| Alonzo | C | B | Pleasant Tap | Set Them Free | Mr. & Mrs. Jerome S. Moss | John A. Shirreffs | Moss, Mr. And Mrs. Jerome S. |
| American Hustler | C | B | Hussonet | Gibson Girl | B.d. Gibbs Farm Llc, Fleetwoodbloodstock & Scott Pierce | Steven M. Asmussen | Zollars, Bob And Wagner, Mark |
| Anak Nakal | C | Dk B/ | Victory Gallop | Misk | Buckram Oak Farm | Nicholas P. Zito | Four Roses Thoroughbreds |
| Anewday | C | Dk B/ | Vindication | Charm A Gendarme | Devil Eleven Stable, Inc. & Bobby &leslie Hurley | Michael R. Matz | Five Fiths Stable |
| Apple Special | C | Dk B/ | Outflanker | Apple Juice | W. S. Farish & Gasparilla Stable Llc | John J. Robb | Morgan W. Wayson, Jr. |
| Aquarian | C | Dk B/ | Fusaichi Pegasus | No Knocks | Pillar Investments, Inc. | Nicholas P. Zito | Tracy Farmer |
| Arizona | C | Carson City | Splash Em Baby | Gulf Coast Farms Bloodstock | Kenneth G. Mcpeek | M S Stables | |
| Atlas Mountain | C | B | Fusaichi Pegasus | Pleasant Baby | Mds Farms, Llc & Ashford Stud | Thomas M. Bush | Mark D. Spitzer |
| Atoned | C | Dk B/ | Repent | Amidst | Anthony Robinson & Mitzi Robinson | Todd A. Pletcher | Dogwood Stable |
| Attempted Humor | C | B | Distorted Humor | Day Lily | Stewart L. Armstrong | Todd A. Pletcher | James T. Scatuorchio |