A total of 366 3-year-olds have been early-nominated for the Triple Crown. Topping the class of 2010 are Eclipse Award 2-year-old champion Lookin At Lucky and 2009 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Vale of York,
Vale of York and Lookin At Lucky were just a head apart in their one-two finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and are joined on the roster of Triple Crown nominees by all the other runners from that race except the Irish-bred Alfred Nobel.
Pounced and Bridgetown, winner and runner-up of the Grade II Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, are absent from the nominee list, but Interactif and Awesome Act, third and fourth in the race, are on it. Buzzword, fifth in the Juvenile Turf, is not nominated. Dean's Kitten and Gallant Gent, sixth and seventh in the race, and Codoy, who finished last, are present.
Lookin at Lucky is owned by 1998 Kentucky Derby and Preakness-winning owner Mike Pegram, along with Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, and is trained by Bob Baffert, a three-time winner of both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Vale of York represents Godolphin Racing. He's trained by Saeed bin Suroor, who has overseen the development of Godolphin's massive racing operation into a successful worldwide operation.
Eight fillies, including Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and Eclipse Award 2-year-old filly champion She Be Wild and multiple Grade I winner Blind Luck, who finished third in the Juvenile Fillies before winning the Hollywood Starlet, are nominated. In addition, fillies Alilea, Christine Daae, Cozi Rosie, Crisp, Devil May Care and Switch are on the list.
The 2010 early nomination total is down from the 401 made eligible early for the three-race series in 2009, a reduction of 8.7%. Last year's number was down 11% from 2008.
Eleven horses were added to the overall list during the 2009 late nomination phase. The 2010 late period for nominations, at a cost of $6,000 each, will close on March 27.
“Our nomination total is down a bit, but the 366 horses on the roster of nominees represent as deep a field of quality prospects as we’ve seen over the years,” said Donald R. Richardson, Senior Vice-President of Racing for Churchill Downs, Inc.
“All the major players in the United States have come forward for these classics and have been joined by 17 representatives from abroad. The list includes eight of the top nine horses from the 2009 Experimental Free Handicap for 2-year-old males, along with the fillies that were considered the top two of their gender in 2009, so it’s clear that interest in this special series of classics that include the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes remains deep and widespread.”
Of the 17 overseas nominees, eight--Vale of York and recent purchase Tahitian Warrior--are part of the ongoing bid by Godolphin Racing to capture the Kentucky Derby, one of the few major races in the world that has eluded Sheikh Mohammed.
The rest of the overseas contingent hail from England and Ireland and include horses conditioned by trainers John Gosden, Aidan O’Brien, Dermot Weld and Jeremy Noseda.
After giving way to Steve Asmussen last year to end a six-year run as the trainer nominating the most horses to the Triple Crown, Todd Pletcher returns to that spot this year with 20 nominees.
D. Wayne Lukas, who routinely used to be at the head of the list for nominations, has 19 this year, second on the list. Lukas has won 13 Triple Crown races, tying him for the highest career total with “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons, who saddled a pair of Triple Crown winners in Gallant Fox and Omaha in 1930 and 1935.
Nick Zito and Baffert, always among the top nominators, are prominent again this year--Zito has 15 on the list and Baffert 13.
Joining them at double-figures are Southern California trainers John Sadler, with 16 nominees, and Richard Mandella with 11.
Asmussen, trainer of Preakness winners Curlin (2007) and Rachel Alexandra (2009), led with with 25 nominations last year. He has only six in this year’s early nominee list.
Thoroughbred Racing Legends, a partnership that has parceled its horses to Lukas, Zito and Baffert, with leads the owner's list with 12 nominees. Close behind is WinStar Farm with 10. Spendthrift Farm of B. Wayne Hughes and the Gary and Mary West Stables join Godolphin with eight nominations. Zayat Stables, which led owners with 22 early nominees in 2009, nominated just two horses in the early phase this year in the wake of a creditor problem and a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.
Leading the sire list of nominees are Distorted Humor and Tiznow, each with 10. Following with nine are Unbridled’s Song and Maria’s Mon. Afleet Alex and Giant’s Causeway are, respectively, the sires of eight early nominees.
--From a Churchill Downs release with additional content by Dick Downey
A Little Warm
A.P. Eli
Ace of Aces (Ire) (g)
Activity Report
Afleet Express
Aikenite
Ailalea (f)
Alburj
Alcindor
Alex le Great
Alex’s Vision
Allez Reef
Alphie’s Bet
American Lion
Apriority
Arkham Asylum
Ashore
Aspire
Awesome Act
B
Backtalk
Baiano
Beau Choix
Beethoven (Ire)
Berberis
Best Actor
Big Boy Billy (g)
Big in Argentina (g)
Biloxi
Bird Empire
Black Snowflake
Blind Luck (f)
Boisterous
Bold Victory
Boulder Creek
Brady Blue Eyes
Bravo Whiskey
Bravo Zulu
Broken Tango
Brother Bird
Buddy’s Saint
Bulldogger
Bulls and Bears
Bushwhacked
C
California Soldier (g)
Call Shot
Callide Valley
Came and Gone
Candeo
Canthavehim
Capixaba
Cappiwino (g)
Caracortado (g)
Cardiff Giant (g)
Catalan
Catch Twenty Two (g)
Catlettsburg
Charles Russell
Chibundi
Chief Counsel
Christine Daae (f)
Citrus Kid
City Trooper
Classical Slew
Clear Alternative (Ire)
Close to the Edge
Coastal Smarty
Codoy
Colizeo
Colonel Mustard
Concord Point
Connemara
Conveyance
Cool Bullet (g)
Cowboy Gets Even
Cozi Rosie (f)
Crafty Hedger (g)
Crisp (f)
D
D’Funnybone
Daddy Forty Nine (g)
Dave in Dixie
Day of Destiny
Dean’s Kitten
Deep Darkness
Delong Road
Depaul
Deputy Max
Desert Lord
Devil May Care (f)
Discreetly Mine
Distorted Dave
Distorted Economy
Dixie Trouper (r)
Domonation
Don Cavallo
Doubles Partner
Down With Dixie
Dreaming Blue
Drive Home
Drosselmeyer
Dryfly (g)
Dublin
E
Echo Tango
Economic Swoon
Eightyfiveinafifty
El Kingdom
El Mirage King
Enclosure
Endorsement
Equestrio
Erbeia
Eskendereya
Excessive Passion
Exfusion
Exhi
Explosive War
Extraextraordinary
F
Fareej
Fast Alex
Fearless Cowboy
Fenway Faithful
First Dude Fly By Phil (g)
Fly Down
Forward Harch
Freedom First (g)
Frozen Power (Ire)
G
Game Break
Game on Dude
Gaucho
General Maximus
Get a Grip (Ire)
Giant’s Tomb
Gleam of Hope
Golden Ghost
Gothics Peak
Grand Pride
Grand Rouge
Great Attack
Guys Reward
H
Havelock
Hawaiian Springs
Hear Ye Hear Ye
Heavenly Truth
Henry’s Time
Hollinger (g)
Homeboykris (g)
Hotep
Hurricane Ike
Hymn to Glory
I
I Am Doctor Em
Ibboyee
Ice Box
Il Marchese
Imperial Pride
In the Paint
Indian Firewater
Indy News
Indy Squall
Interactif
Invested
Irish Emperor
Island Soul
Itza Purrfect Ride
Ivory Fudge
J
Jackson Bend
Jambonied
Johnnie Gold
Johore
K
Kettle River
Khalifa
Kindergarden Kid
Kitty’s Turn
Kollege
L
Lambeau Legend
Last Empire
Latigo Shore
Launch n Relaunch
Laus Deo
Leaving New York
Lentenor
Leothelion
Lethal Combination (g)
Letsgetitonmon
Lights Out Lidge
Line of David
Liquidity Event
Liston
Litigation Risk
Little Top
Lookin At Lucky
Loro
Lost Aptitude
Lucky Rave (GB)
M
Mac Dehere
Macias
Majestic Afleet
Make History (r)
Make Music for Me
Make Note
Man of Action
Marble Arch
Marcello
Marching Tune
Matamor
Maximus Ruler
Mendip
Mesa Vista
Metrology (g)
Middle of the Nite
Midfielder
Miner’s Reserve
Mission Impazible
Mister Meehan
Monsignor
Moojab
Moon Lark
Morning Line
Mr. Saturday Night
Myositis Miracle
N
Nacho Friend
Nadal
New Madrid
New Millennium
Nextdoorneighbor
Ninewayhit
No Shenanigans
No Truth Told
Noah’s Dream
Noble’s Promise
Northern Giant
Nostalgic Bid
O
Oceanus
Octavo
Odysseus
Ommadon’s Answer
Ommadon’s Reign
One Nation
Onelittleindianboy
Our Champion
Outlaw Man
Overcommunication
P
Pacha
Pacific Surfliner
Paddy O’Prado
Papa’s Nice Cat
Party at My Place
Peppi Knows (g)
Petecarol
Piscitelli
Pleasant Prince
Pleasant Storm
Positive Split
Preamble
Prince Rooney
Prince Will I Am
Privilaged (r)
Prizefighting
Psychic Income
Pulpit’s Secret
Pulsion
Q
Quick Ride
Quiet All American
Quiet Invader
R
R Slick Fifty (g)
Radiohead (GB)
Raging Wit
Rainforest Magic (Ire)
Ranger Heartley (g)
Rauschenberg
Remand
Retired American
Ricky Tick
Rock Hard (g)
Roman Bay
Roman Invasion
Ron the Greek
Royal Crimson
Royal Paddy
Royal Straight
Rule
Scuba Diver
Seize Power
Setsuko
Shalocko
She Be Wild (f)
Shrimp Dancer
Sidney’s Candy
Silenced
Silver Country
Silver Craft
Six Clicks (g)
Smiling Tiger
Smokin Star (g)
So Elite
Soaring Empire
Soldier Field
Super Spectacular
Spangled Star
Spicer
Spoon River Lew
Spring Forth
Stately Victor
Stay Put
Storm on the Moon
Stormy’s Majesty
Super Saver
Switch (f)
T
Tahitian Warrior (g)
Take Control
Tempted to Tapit (g)
The Director
The Program
Thiskyhasnolimit
Thomas Got Even
Thomas J
Thousand Excuses
Three Day Rush
Thunder Perfect
Timbavati
Tiny Woods
Tir Chonaill
Tiz Chrome
Tiz Dangerous
Tiz the One
Toboggan Slide
Trackman
Trappe Shot
Travel Squad
Turf Melody
Tuvia’s Force
Twirling Candy
Godolphin Racing
Spendthrift Farm
(B. Wayne Hughes)
Gary and Mary West Stables
6
Wertheimer and Frere
5
Robert C. Baker and William L. Mack (in partnership)
K.K. and V.D. Jayaraman
Robert LaPenta
4
Darley Stable
Klaravich Stables and
W.H. Lawrence (in partnership)
Kona Stables (in partnership)
Lael Stables
Mr. and Mrs. Jerome S. Moss
Peachtree Stable Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey Team Valor Int'l
(individually and p-ship)
Ike and Dawn Thrash
Westrock Stables
3
Sid and Jenny Craig Trust
HRH Princess Haya of Jordan
Jay Em Ess Stable
Philip Lebherz
(individually and in partnership)
West Point Thoroughbreds
2
Augustin Stable
C R K Stable
CJZ Racing Stable and
Timothy Ritchey
Class Racing Stable
(individually and in partnership)
Mark Dedomenico (in partnership)
Dogwood Stable
Robert Evans
Mr. and Mrs. Marc C. Farrell
Flying Zee Stable (in partnership)
Fox Hill Farms Gainesway Stable
Gold Mark Farm Priscilla Graham George and Lori Hall Michael Imperio (in partnership)
Ellen and Peter Johnson
(individually and in partnership)
Alan Klein (in partnership)
Kuehne Racing Lanni Family Trust (in partnership)
Live Oak Plantation
M Racing
Earle Mack Maynard Farm (in partnership) Harry C. and Tom O. Meyerhoff
Moyglare Stud Farm
Padua Stables
Repole Stable
Sam-Son Farms
William Schettine
Bernard Schiappa (in partnership)
Silverton Hill
Sorin Stables
Sovereign Stable
Starlight Partners
Super Horse Inc.
Jim Tafel
Wachtel Stable
(individually and in partnership)
Mark Wagner (in partnership)
Warren Thoroughbreds
(Benjamin Warren)
Karl Watson, Michael Pegram and Paul Weitman
Sam Winstead Zayat Stables
Cathy and Bob Zollars
Steven Asmussen
William I. Mott
Timothy Ritchey
Barclay Tagg
5
Patrick Biancone
Timothy Ice
Kiaran McLaughlin
Kenneth McPeek
Dale Romans
Richard A. Violette Jr.
Dermot Weld
4
Chad Brown
Michael Maker
3
Thomas Amoss
Jeff Bonde
Wayne Catalano
Anthony Dutrow
John H.M. Gosden
Eoin Harty
R.B. Hess Jr.
Jerry Hollendorfer
Jonathan Sheppard
John Terranova
Michael Trombetta
Wesley Ward
George Weaver
2
Alexis Barba
Kelly Breen
Seth Brenzel
W. Bret Calhoun
David Carroll
Neil Drysdale
Mark Frostad
Kellen Gorder
Jorge Gutierrez
David Hofmans
James Jerkens
Eddie Kenneally
Brian Koriner
Bruce Levine
Michael Machowsky
Gary Mandella
Michael Mareino
Steve Margolis
Claude R. McGaughey III
Paul McGee
Darrin Miller
H. Graham Motion
Jeff Mullins
Leo O’Brien
Carl O’Callaghan
Jorge Periban
Eddie Plesa Jr.
Anthony Reinstedler
Derek Ryan
Richard Sacco
Robert Troeger
Timothy J. Tullock Jr.
Kathy Walsh
Candy Ride
El Corredor
Forestry
Grand Slam
Harlan’s Holiday
Mr. Greeley
Quiet American
3
Awesome Again
Dixie Union
Dynaformer
El Prado
Graeme Hall
Grand Reward
Indian Charlie
Johannesburg
Kitten’s Joy
Limehouse
Lion Heart
Medaglia d’Oro
Offlee Wild
Sky Mesa
Smarty Jones
Songandaprayer
Southern Image
Value Plus
Yes It’s True
HORSES BY SEX
Colts 324
Geldings 30
Fillies 8
Ridglings 4 TOTAL 366
HORSES BY COLOR
Bay 138
Chestnut 105
Dark Bay/Brown 93
Gray/Roan 30 TOTAL 366
BIRTHPLACES (IN U.S.)
Kentucky 270
Florida 34
New York 12
California 9
Maryland 7
Pennsylvania 6
Virginia 4
Illinois 2
Texas 2
Arizona 1
Indiana 1
Minnesota 1
Ohio 1
Oklahoma 1 TOTAL 351
BIRTHPLACES (OUTSIDE U.S.)
Ireland 8
Canada 4
Great Britain 3 TOTAL 15
HALL OF FAME
TRAINERS
(By Number of Nominations)
D. Wayne Lukas 19
Nicholas P. Zito 15
Bob Baffert 13
Richard A. Mandella 11
William I. Mott 6
Jonathan Sheppard 3
Neil Drysdale 2
Claude R. McGaughey III 2
Carl Nafzger 1
Deadlines and Cost
Deadline for early nominations to the 2010 Triple Crown: Jan. 16, 2010
Cost of early nomination to the 2010 Triple Crown:$600
Deadline for late nominations to the 2010 Triple Crown: March 27, 2010
Cost of late nomination to the 2010 Triple Crown: $6,000
Supplemental nomination fee for the Kentucky Derby. The cost is $200,000 for those not early- or late-nominated to the Triple Crown. Supplemental nomination fees are paid at the time of entry and are added to the purse.
The supplemental fee to enter the Preakness is $100,000; and the fee for the Belmont Stakes is also $100,000.
Contact Information
Horsemen can nominate on Triple Crown’s new website http://www.thetriplecrown.com or by calling Kelly Danner at (502) 638-3825 or by fax at (502) 638-3915. Payment of 2010 Triple Crown nomination fees can be made by check or credit card, with Visa being the preferred credit card. Each nomination makes the horse eligible for all three races.
Fees to enter and start in the Kentucky Derby
It costs a total of $50,000 to enter and start except for a waiver of part of the cost for horses that meet the criteria set in the Fair Grounds series. In 2010 for the first time, the $25,000 starter fee for the Kentucky Derby will be waived for any horse that starts in the Risen Star and the Louisiana Derby and finishes among the top three in either race.
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