Led by the newly crowned 2-year-old champions–both male and female–a total of 362 horses from all over the world have been nominated to the 2019 Triple Crown. Each was made eligible to the series–consisting of the $3-million GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs May 4, the $1.5-million GI Preakness S. at Pimlico Racecourse May 18 and the $1.5-million GI Belmont S. at the New York oval June 8–with a $600 early nomination fee. Horses not nominated to the series originally may be supplemented for $6,000 through Apr. 1. A comparable 360 horses were nominated at the first stage in 2018.
Gary and Mary West's Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}) clinched the Eclipse Award for champion 2-year-old male with a determined defeat of Knicks Go (Paynter) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile beneath the Twin Spires last November and is being prepared for a seasonal debut in California. He is one of 17 nominees from the powerhouse barn of dual Triple Crown-winning conditioner Bob Baffert. The Hall of Famer looks loaded for another run at glory, as his other trainees include GI Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity hero Improbable (City Zip) and recent GIII Robert B. Lewis S. hero Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man). The three aforementioned Baffert runners are among 18 'TDN Rising Stars' nominated to the Triple Crown.
Jaywalk (Cross Traffic) is one of four fillies nominated to this year's Triple Crown, having closed out her 2018 campaign with a powerful, front-running victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. The gray is trained by John Servis, who sent out Smarty Jones (Elusive Quality) to wins in the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness before the Pennsylvania-bred was upended in the Belmont.
Trainer Kenny McPeek has a half-dozen of his runners nominated, including the overachieving duo of Signalman (General Quarters), third in the Juvenile ahead of a tally in Churchill's GII Kentucky Jockey Club S.; and Harvey Wallbanger (Congrats), who tossed his hat into the ring with a 29-1 upset of the GII Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull S. Feb. 2, defeating 'TDN Rising Star' Maximus Mischief (Into Mischief) into third.
Other horses of note include impressive GIII Lecomte S. winner War of Will (War Front); comebacking 'TDN Rising Star' Instagrand (Into Mischief); Gray Attempt (Graydar), a latest winner of Oaklawn's Smarty Jones S.; GI Champagne S. runner-up Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}); Gunmetal Gray (Exchange Rate), victorious in the GIII Sham S. last month and second to Mucho Gusto in the Lewis; Mind Control (Stay Thirsty), the GI Hopeful S. hero who kicked of 2019 with a score in the Jerome S. at Aqueduct; and reformed claimer Tax (Arch), who served notice that he could be a 3-year-old of significance in last weekend's GIII Withers S. Notable for their absence on the list at the first stage are Champagne winner and 'Rising Star' Complexity (Maclean's Music), as well as Call Paul (Friesan Fire), who resumed with a game success in the GIII Swale S. Feb. 2.
A total of 20 entries were received from overseas–11 from Europe, five from Dubai and four from Japan. Coolmore has engaged seven horses, including the Ontario-bred GSW duo of 'TDN Rising Star' Sergei Prokofiev (Scat Daddy) and Van Beethoven (Scat Daddy).
Steve Asmussen led all trainers with 27, while Todd Pletcher and champion trainer Chad Brown joined Baffert with 17 nominees. Brad Kelley's Calumet Farm led among owners with 13 entries and tied with Chuck Fipke and Godolphin as the breeder of six nominees.
Among sires, Tapit leads the list for the third straight year with 19 nominees, followed by Into Mischief with 15 and Curlin with 13. Cairo Prince and Uncle Mo are the other stallions into double digits with 11.
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