Nine Late Triple Crown Nominations

Nine horses were added to the list of nominations for the 2016 Triple Crown during its late nomination phase which closed Mar. 21. This brings the total nominations to 377 sophomores. The owners of eight colts and one gelding paid a fee of $6,000 during the late nomination phase to make their horses eligible to run in the 2016 renewals of the GI Kentucky Derby, GI Preakness S. and GI Belmont S.

The list of late nominees to this year's Triple Crown is as follows:

Stonehedge LLC's Abiding Star (Uncle Mo), winner of the Private Terms S. at Laurel for trainer Edward Allard

Gary and Mary West's American Pioneer (Awesome Again), a decisive maiden winner at Oaklawn Mar. 19 for trainer Wayne Catalano

Highclere America, McConnell Racing Stable, Wachtel Stable and D. Bilinski's Cards of Stone (Bustin Stones), a New York-bred gelding who won a restricted optional claimer by 13 lengths for trainer Todd Pletcher;

Jump Sucker Stable and Oak Bluff Stable's Governor Malibu (Malibu Moon), an Empire-bred who won the Gander S. at Aqueduct for trainer Christophe Clement

DB DOJO LLC's Isofass (Rodman), who has one win in four races for trainer Francis “Trey” Abbott III

Michael J. Bruder's Lookin for a Kiss (Lookin at Lucky), who has one win from two starts and was recently transferred to trainer Mike Tomlinson;

Sheep Pond Partners, Newport Stables LLC and Jay Bligh's My Man Sam (Trappe Shot), a “TDN Rising Star” with one win from three starts at Aqueduct for trainer Chad Brown

Beverly Anderson and Edward Seltzer's homebred Surgical Strike (Red Giant), winner of Turfway Park's John Battaglia Memorial S. for trainer Ben Colebrook

Lloyd Madison Farm IV LLC's Zapperini (Ghostzapper), a homebred with one win and a fifth in the GII Risen Star S. in three career races for trainer Greg Foley.

Last year's Triple Crown attracted 438 nominations, which included 429 early nominees and nine made eligible during the late nomination phase. The late nomination of Cards of Stone brought Todd Pletcher's nominations to 29, which remains below his 2015 total of 34. With his nomination of My Man Sam, trainer Chad Brown's nominee total rose to 13, which ranks second among trainers.

Three-year-olds not nominated to the Triple Crown during either the early or late nomination phases have a final opportunity to become eligible for the three-race series by payment of supplemental nomination fees. 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 Kentucky Derby requires payment of $200,000. The fee is $150,000 if paid prior to the Preakness or $75,000 at time of entry to the Belmont.

Churchill Downs adjusted its entry process in 2014 to permit horses that are made supplemental nominations prior to the Kentucky Derby to be treated the same as original nominees. If one or more supplemental nominees possess sufficient “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points to qualify for the Derby field, they will be allowed to start over original nominees that possess lesser qualifications. Under its previous policy, Churchill Downs gave preference in all cases to early and late Triple Crown nominees.