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448 Early Nominations Entered in 2008 Triple Crown Races
Almost reaching the record of 450 last year, 448 thoroughbreds, 446 of which are males and 2 fillies, were made eligible for the 2008 Triple Crown races: Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes when early nominations were released.
The nomination fee was $600. There are still chances to become eligible for the Triple Crown races, but the price rises considerably. Late nominations can be made at a cost of $6,000 before the deadline of March 29. After that, 3-year-olds can be made eligible before the Kentucky Derby for a $200,000 supplementary fee.
Four-time Eclipse Award winner Todd Pletcher led all trainers for the 5th year in a row with 31 nominees. Todd Pletcher ended a 0-for-28 run in Triple Crown races last year when his filly Rags to Riches won the Belmont Stakes. Among his promising 3-year-olds are Cowboy Cal and Monba.
Two-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer, Nick Zito nominated 19 3-year-olds for the Triple Crown races, including the undefeated War Pass.
War Pass, owned by Robert LaPenta, has won all four of his starts under horse trainer Nick Zito and capped his unbeaten 2-year-old season with an impressive 4 1/2 -length winner over Pyro in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on October 27 at Monmouth Park. The colt also won the Champagne Stakes.
War Pass is scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut this month at Gulfstream Park, followed by the Tampa Bay Derby on March 15 and the Wood Memorial at New York’s Aqueduct Racetrack on April 5 .
After missing the last 2 Kentucky Derbys, Nick Zito hopes to have a few starters of his own for the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs on May 3. After sending out a record-equaling 5 Kentucky Derby starters in 2005, his best finish was seventh with Bellamy Road. Among his other prospects this year are Anak Nakal, Aquarian, Cool Coal Man and Paint.
“We are pleased once again with the spectacular response from horsemen around the world,” Ed Seigenfeld, the executive vice president of Triple Crown Productions, said in a statement.
The nominees also include 20 thoroughbreds based outside the United States, with Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien leading the way with 7. Saeed bin Suroor, who trains for Dubai’s Sheik Mohammed, nominated 3 horses.
Other trainers with 10 or more nominees are Richard Mandella with 14, four-time Kentucky Derby winner D. Wayne Lukas and Barclay Tagg (13 each), Steve Asmussen and Ken McPeek (12 each) and three-time Derby winner Bob Baffert and Bill Mott (10 each).
Horse trainer Bob Baffert’s Indian Blessing, the 2-year-old champion filly, was not among the early nominees. The eligible fillies are Starlet Stakes winner Country Star and Demoiselle winner Mushka.
Steve Asmussen, who trains Horse of the Year Curlin, counts Pyro and Kodiak Kowboy, the 2-3 finishers in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and Z Fortune among his top Triple Crown prospects this year.
Bill Mott trains promising colts Court Vision, Majestic Warrior and Z Humor.
Ahmed Zayat’s Zayat Stable, with 11 nominees, led all owners for the second year in a row.
The first leg of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby, will be held at Churchill Downs on May 3. The Preakness Stakes will be on May 17 at Pimlico Race Course. Belmont Stakes will be at Belmont Park on June 7.
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