The 2016 Triple Crown opens with May 7 with the 142nd running of the Kentucky
Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs and continues with the 141st Preakness (G1) at
Pimlico two weeks later before concluding with the 148th Belmont Stakes (G1) on
June 11.
The early nomination period for 3-year-olds closed last Saturday with a total of
368 horses. Early nominations required a $600 fee, and the late nomination
period closes March 21 with a $6,000 cost.
Bob Baffert, who conditioned American Pharoah to the first Triple Crown tally
in 27 years, leads all trainers with 35 nominees. The Hall of Famer moved into a
three-way tie for second when capturing his fourth Kentucky Derby in 2015 and
Baffert ranks second behind D. Wayne Lukas (14) with a total of 12 Triple Crown
race wins. Zayat Stables, who owned and bred American Pharoah, leads all owners
with 15 Triple Crown nominees.
Trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel is
targeting the $500,000 Southwest S. (G3) at Oaklawn Park with a couple of Triple
Crown nominees in Synchrony and Suddenbreakingnews.
A former star three-year-old filly,
Untapable, has begun preparations for what could be her final season of racing.
The five-year-old champion worked at Fair Grounds on Thursday for trainer Steve
Asmussen as she readies for her 2016 debut.
The
Jockey Club of Canada’s Graded Stakes Committee has upgraded the Natalma Stakes,
a turf event for 2-year-old fillies in the fall, to Grade 1 status.
Also at the TwinSpires.com blog on Thursday:
Keilly Reilly discusses California Chrome’s Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) run
while Dick Powell gives his take on the current Dubai Carnival and recent
developments at Gulfstream Park in his weekly
Handicapping Insights.
James Scully
previews the eight mandatory races on Day 2 at National Handicapping
Championship (NHC) in Las Vegas.