Below is the complete list of early nominees to Triple Crown 2009. There were 401 nominees during the early nomination process, which closed Jan. 24 with payment of $600 per horse. Late nominations can be made at a cost of $6,000, by the deadline of March 28.
| NAME | SEX | COLOR | SIRE | DAM | BREEDER | TRAINER | OWNER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rally Cat | C | Dk B/ | Storm Cat | Spunoutacontrol | Jayeff B Stables | D. Wayne Lukas | Robert C. Baker |
| Rebel Gold | C | Dk B/ | Teton Forest | Crypto Road | Eddie Platt & Steve Platt | David E. Pate | Bullet Breeze Racing Stable, Llc |
| Red Spider (gb) | C | B | Red Ransom | Lane County | Darley | John H. M. Gosden | Hrh Princess Haya Of Jordan |
| Red Vow | C | B | Broken Vow | Sedona Berry | Dr. & Mrs. Ronald H. Grothaus Dvm | Todd A. Pletcher | Zayat Stables, Llc |
| Red Wine | C | Ch | Distorted Humor | Andrea Gail | Silverleaf Farms, Inc | Steven M. Asmussen | Stonestreet Stables Llc |
| Regal Ransom | C | Dk B/ | Distorted Humor | Kelli's Ransom | Diamond A Racing Corporation | Saeed Bin Suroor | Godolphin Racing Llc |
| Remember Mike | C | Dk B/ | Vindication | Diggins | Donato Lanni | Melody Conlon | John M. Liviakis |
| Remus | C | Dk B/ | Empire Maker | Wixon (fr) | Robert H. Lail | Mike Puype | Lynda G. Lail |
| Rendezvous | C | Ch | Victory Gallop | Halo Babe | Lee Christian, Bill Nicholls &winstar Farm, Llc | Jerry Hollendorfer | Hollendorfer, Jerry, Todaro, George And Team Green |
| Rescue Squad | C | Dk B/ | Dynaformer | Search Party | Stuart S. Janney, Iii Llc. &phipps Stable | Claude R. Mcgaughey Iii | Janney, Iii, Stuart S. And Phipps Stable |
| Retap | C | Ch | Tapit | Free Spin | Winchell Thoroughbreds, Llc | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds Llc |
| Right Of Way | G | Ch | Belong To Me | Decorated Empress | Elisabeth R. Jerkens | H. Allen Jerkens | Hardwicke Stable |
| Right One | C | Dk B/ | Seeking The Gold | Ile De France | Stud Tnt | Robert J. Frankel | T N T Stud |
| Rocket To The Moon | C | Gr/ro | Unbridled's Song | Horns Gray | Gaines-gentry Thoroughbreds, Dearbornstables & Tom Van Meter | John C. Kimmel | Live Oak Plantation |
| Rocketing Returns | C | B | Gone West | Spring Meadow | Live Oak Stud | Nicholas P. Zito | Live Oak Plantation |
| Rockland | C | Ch | Smarty Jones | Wiscasset | Emory A. Hamilton | Michael R. Matz | Emory A. Hamilton |
| Royal Crest (gb) | G | B | Royal Applause (gb) | Noble Lady (gb) | Cheveley Park Stud Ltd | J. A. Osborne | J. A. Osborne |
| Rue | C | B | Repent | Pyrite Missy | Clear Creek Stud Llc & Mason Grasy | Richard E. Mandella | B. Wayne Hughes |
| Ruler's Vision | C | B | Monarchos | Vue | Cherry Valley Farm, Llc. | Nicholas P. Zito | Robert V. Lapenta |
| Russell Road | G | Ch | Wheaton | Roberta Grump | Robert H. Lloyd | James W. Casey | Mark E. Russell |