Triple Crown Nominees Post Gains in 2012

Sunday, February 05, 2012

PLANTATION, FLA., February 4, 2012—Led by co Experimental highweights, champion Hansen and Breeders’ Cup runnerup Union Rags and despite a smaller foal, 397 three year olds, including six fillies, were nominated to the 2012 Triple Crown series.

This represents the foals of 2009 that were nominated at the first deadline. A second round of nominees, at 10 times the $600 early nomination deadline, closes on March 24. The series’ first leg, the Kentucky Derby, will be renewed at May 5.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has nominated 32 runners with Bob Baffert next at 21. Ahmed Zayat heads the owners list with 13 nominees with Robert LaPenta second on this list at 10.

Of the six fillies nominated, On Fire Baby, who raced well against colts earlier this year when third in the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park, owns a win over the Derby track, having taken the Golden Rod Stakes impressively as a juvenile.

Undefeated champion My Miss Aurelia, currently sidelined by an injury, was not nominated but is expected to return to the race later this season.

Six fillies are nominated, including Golden Rod Stakes winner On Fire Baby. My Miss Aurelia, the unbeaten winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, is currently recuperating from a minor injury and, not surprisingly, was not nominated.

Ahmed Zayat’s Zayat Stables leads all owners with 13 nominees. Robert LaPenta is next with 10.

Tiznow and Unbridled’s Song each have 12 of their get nominated, but it’s Bernardini that’s currently the hottest sire on the Triple Crown trail. The first round of Derby advance wagering takes place on the final weekend of the month.

1. Gary Walker says:
   06 Feb 2012  at  06:23 am | #

   John,
   I see Dubai’s Connection entered at Parx today with Scott Lake listed as trainer.
   Curious as to the reason for the shift in barns/venue.
   Anyway, best of luck!

2. Don Reed says:
   06 Feb 2012  at  08:32 pm | #

   Sorry, John, but racing nominations bore me at the same torrid (tepid?) velocity as pro basketball.

   But while I’m not enthiastically here, may I ask, why blogs by “Pricci” AND “Broadway John”?

   You may, as long as we’re going for a Ripley’s record number of non sequitars, might also enjoy the Rich Hall “Live At The Apollo” (London) comedy gig (two parts, funny and funnier).

   I did, but that’s not likely to encourage anyone, so forget I said that.

   Also, the guy in Vegas bets - and collects - on the prop “Who scores what first” (NYG safety, 2 points) ---

   AND HE ONLY GOT 50-1?!?!?!

   (Repeated for Unnecesary Emphasis: ?!?!?!?!?)

   This summer, he’ll be at the racetrack, and someone standing next to him will start whining that their winning odds of the previous race dropped from 7/2 to 9/5 after the gates opened.

   What will deter him from picking the guy up and tossing him onto the track at the finish line, just as the horses are finshing up their run?

3. John Pricci says:
   07 Feb 2012  at  01:58 pm | #

   Russ,

   I’m one of four people with a stake in Dubai. It was a group decision to enter for $5,000 at Parx and shoot for a $25,000. Seemed like a good idea at the time.

   Don, the Pricci blog and column are dedicated to racing. Broadway John gets to run his mouth on anything at all, and he need not be reverent about it. Capice?

   And, as Bradoway might say, what was the right price on a safety? I have no idea. But from my friend’s “man,” I got even money on TD v FG and Giants’ backs Over 107 yards rushing. They went off for 114. That and Giants plus-3 made for a nice evening. Hope you did the same.

   That’s all the non sequitors I have for now.

   Later,

   JP

   Sorry the response was a little late.

4. Don Reed says:
   08 Feb 2012  at  10:31 am | #

   As the busted & contrite Bart Simpson said to the store detective, “I get it - everything but the ‘caprice’!”

   I would love to say that I did the same, but there’s no legal betting in these them here parts if you’re not booking a roundtrip to Vegas with $25,000 in 100s in a snazzy executive briefcase.

   Unfortunately, no one wanted anything to do with informal bets, which I would have been leary of anyway (I like to keep friends.  Their losing bets is a good way to drasticly change relationships).

   But I am happy for you.  Remember how awful it was to be a Giants fan in the 1970s?  Embezzlers got more respect!

   Got it on the racing blog/Broadway John differentiation.  Given the shallow sense of humor of the average racing fans, it is clear where your wit can be safely expressed.

   Wake me up for the Florida Derby.

5. WFCapleJr says:
   10 Feb 2012  at  10:19 am | #

   Nominations are up and I consider that a good thing. Shows confidence and the three TC winners from last year only had one win each under their belts as two-year olds.  derbydeals.com

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