2012 Triple Crown Late Nominations

With just 5 weeks to the Kentucky Derby the field has yet to be set, although Union Rags and Hansen are looking like big favorites. Today the supplemental nominations were announced, with 20 owners paying the $6000 fee to get their horse in. Topping the list of new faces are Trinniberg winner of the Swale (G3), Isn't He Clever runner-up in the Sunland Derby (G3) and winner of the Borderland Derby, Heavy Breathing third in the Vinery Racing Spiral (G2), Flashy Dresser winner of the Rushaway, Golden Ticket second in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), and Jake Mo, runner-up in a division of the Southwest Stakes (G3).

If any additional horses not already nominated want to enter, they will have to be supplemented. Cost for this is $200,000 for the Kentucky Derby and $100,000 for the Preakness and/or Belmont. Even if a horse is supplemented, he is the lowest in priority for getting in the race with any early or late nominee getting preference over him. For the early and late nominees, graded stakes earnings determine their priority with the field limited to 20 starters for the Kentucky Derby with two also-eligibles allowed, something new for this year.

The early nomination period for the three Triple Crown races closed in January and 398 3-year-olds were made eligible for the three-race series at that time. The 20 late nominees, the most late nominations since the 25 that were added in 1993. bring the overall nomination total for 2012 to 418, the highest since the 460 nominated in 2007 and 2008.

Triple Crown quick links:

• Kentucky Derby Central - a guide to all things Derby
• Top Kentucky Derby Contenders - full profiles for all the top contenders with photos, stats, and links to more info
• Derby Contender Graded Stakes Earnings - This figure is what determines who can get into the Kentucky Derby as only the top 20 horses by earnings entered get to start. Updated weekly.
• Triple Crown Trail - prep race schedule with results updated weekly
• Kentucky Derby and Oaks Tickets prices going up - buy in advance to save on general admission prices
• 2012 Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool Two - The second pool for the 2012 Kentucky Derby Future Wager is now closed and the field wound up the favorite at 3-1 once again with Union Rags next at 4-1. The Kentucky Oaks Future Wager only had a single pool this year and the field was also the favorite there at 4-1 with Princess Arabella next at 6-1. Get all the horses, free past performances, final odds, and will-pays here.
• 2012 Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool One - The first pool for the 2012 Kentucky Derby Future Wager is now closed As usual, the field was a heavy favorite at 3-2 with Union Rags next at 7-1 then Algorithms at 12-1. Get all the horses, final odds, will-pays, and free past performances here.
• 2012 Triple Crown Nominations - 398 horses were nominated in the early period which closed in January.
• 2011 Experimental Free Handicap - ranks the top 2-year-olds of 2011 and determines the Dual Qualifiers for the Derby