Newly-crowned champion Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) heads a list of 418 3-year-olds made eligible during the early nomination phase for the 2017 Triple Crown races, which include the $2-million GI Kentucky Derby May 6, $1.5-million GI Preakness S. May 20 and $1.5-million GI Belmont S. June 10. This is a 13.6% increase from 2016 when 368 horses were nominated to the series.
Classic Empire will attempt to be the third consecutive champion juvenile to win the Kentucky Derby following in the footsteps of champions American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) (2015 Derby/Triple Crown) and Nyquist (Uncle Mo) (2016 Derby). Several Grade I winners of 2016 are among the list of nominees, including Mastery (Candy Ride {Arg}), Gormley (Malibu Moon), Practical Joke (Into Mischief) and Klimt (Quality Road).
GISW Pretty City Dancer (Tapit) and GSW “TDN Rising Star” Unique Bella (Tapit) are among five female nominees and there are 18 nominees based outside of the U.S., including a record nine runners from Japan. Several “TDN Rising Stars” appear in the nominations, including GSWs McCraken (Ghostzapper) and Mo Town (Uncle Mo); SWs El Areeb (Exchange Rate) and Uncontested (Tiz Wonderful); and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Valadorna (Curlin).
Calumet Farm led all owners with 14 nominees, which was just one more than Zayat Stables. Charles Fipke was third with 11 horses nominated followed by Reddam Racing, the Coolmore contingent of Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier, and WinStar Farm, who each had nine nominees.
Todd Pletcher, who won the 2010 Derby with Super Saver and the two Belmonts courtesy of the filly Rags to Riches (2007) and Palace Malice (2010) leads all trainers with 33 nominees. Hall of Famer Bob Baffert and trainer Doug O'Neill are second with 21 nominees each and Steve Asmussen is next on the list with 17.
Fipke topped the breeder division with 10 nominees, followed by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, who had nine nominees and one bred in partnership. Calumet Farm was third with seven sophomores nominated.
Owners were required to pay a nomination fee of $600 for the early nomination period, which ran through Jan. 14. A late nomination period, which requires a $6,000 payment, runs now through Mar. 20.
Horses that were not nominated to the Triple Crown during either the early or late nomination phases have a final opportunity to become eligible for the races through payment of a supplemental nomination fee. Due at the time of entry for either the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness or the Belmont, the supplemental fee process makes a horse eligible for the remainder of the Triple Crown series. A supplemental nomination at the time of entry to the Derby is $200,000, the Preakness is $150,000 and the Belmont is $75,000.
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